Bhagavad Geeta 6.9

भगवद् गीता – अध्याय 6, श्लोक 9 Sanskrit: सुहृन्मित्रार्युदासीनमध्यस्थद्वेष्यबन्धुषु | साधुष्वपि च पापेषु समबुद्धिर्विशिष्यते || Transliteration: Suhr̥n-mitrāry-udāsīna-madhyastha-dveṣya-bandhuṣu Sādhuṣv api ca pāpeṣu sama-buddhir viśiṣyate

English Translation: “That yogi excels who regards all alike — the well-wishers, friends, enemies, the neutral, the mediators, the hateful, the relatives, the righteous, and even the sinful — with equal mind.”

Verse Breakdown: This verse lists various types of people we encounter in life: Suhr̥t (सुखृत्) – One who wishes you well, selflessly Mitra (मित्र) – A friend or ally Ari (अरि) – An enemy Udāsīna (उदासीन) – One who is indifferent or neutral Madhyastha (मध्यस्थ) – A mediator or arbitrator Dveṣya (द्वेष्य) – One who hates you Bandhu (बन्धु) – A relative Sādhu (साधु) – The righteous Pāpi (पापि) – The sinner

Key Concept: समबुद्धिः (Sama-buddhiḥ) – Equanimity of Mind Lord Krishna explains that the true yogi, the one who excels, is not swayed by external relations or others’ behavior. Whether someone loves or hates them, helps or harms them, the yogi remains even-minded, free from attachment or aversion. This equal vision stems from understanding that all beings are expressions of the same Divine Self. This doesn’t mean the yogi loses discernment — rather, he transcends emotional bias and stays spiritually grounded.

Essence of the Verse: True yoga is not just about sitting in meditation — it’s about how you see and treat others. The yogi who remains unbiased, calm, and loving toward all, regardless of their role or conduct, is considered spiritually advanced.