Acceptance — Lesson 12

Verses

Transliteration

samaḥ śatrau ca mitre ca tathā mānāpamānayoḥ
śītoṣṇa-sukha-duḥkheṣu samaḥ saṅga-vivarjitaḥ

tulya-nindā-stutir maunī santuṣṭo yena kenacit
aniketaḥ sthira-matir bhaktimān me priyo naraḥ

Meaning

One who remains the same in friend and enemy, in honor and insult, in comfort and discomfort, who is balanced in praise and criticism, content and steady— such a person lives with deep acceptance.

Key Words

• samaḥ — equal, balanced
• māna-apamāna — honor and insult
• nindā-stuti — blame and praise
• santuṣṭaḥ — content
• sthira-matiḥ — steady mind

Teaching

Krishna now shows the maturity of acceptance. Life brings different situations: praise and criticism, success and failure, comfort and discomfort. The immature mind reacts strongly. The mature mind remains steady. This does not mean insensitivity. It means freedom from dependence on external conditions.

Connection to Acceptance

Acceptance removes emotional swings. The mind is no longer controlled by changing situations. This creates stability and peace.

Reflection

What affects me more — praise or criticism? What would it mean to stay steady in both?