Acceptance — Lesson 10

Verses

Transliteration

adveṣṭā sarva-bhūtānāṁ maitraḥ karuṇa eva ca
nirmamo nirahaṅkāraḥ sama-duḥkha-sukhaḥ kṣamī

santuṣṭaḥ satataṁ yogī yatātmā dṛḍha-niścayaḥ
mayy arpita-mano-buddhir yo mad-bhaktaḥ sa me priyaḥ

Meaning

One who has no hatred, is friendly and compassionate, free from possessiveness and ego, balanced in pleasure and pain, forgiving, content, and steady— such a person lives in peace and alignment.

Key Words

• adveṣṭā — free from hatred
• maitraḥ — friendly
• karuṇa — compassionate
• nirmama — free from possessiveness
• nirahaṅkāra — free from ego
• santuṣṭaḥ — content

Teaching

Krishna now describes the natural result of acceptance. These verses also show bhakti in a mature form. Devotion is not only prayer or emotion. It is emotional maturity expressed in life. When a person accepts life, negativity reduces. Comparison reduces. Ego reduces. Resistance reduces. What remains is: friendliness, compassion, and calmness. This is not forced behavior. It is the natural outcome of a settled and devoted mind.

Connection to Acceptance

Acceptance transforms relationships. When we are not reacting constantly, we relate more openly and calmly. Bhakti supports this. When the heart is aligned with Ishvara, it becomes easier to live with compassion, forgiveness, and contentment. This creates harmony in life.

Reflection

Do I react to people with resistance or openness? What changes when I approach others with acceptance and calmness?