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तुल्यनिन्दास्तुतिर्मौनी सन्तुष्टो येनकेनचित्।अनिकेतः स्थिरमतिर्भक्ितमान्मे प्रियो नरः।।12.19।।

tulya-nindā-stutir maunī santuṣhṭo yena kenachit aniketaḥ sthira-matir bhaktimān me priyo naraḥ

Sanskrit Chant Recitation
Chapter 12, Verse 19
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Scripture Translation Room

Sanskrit to English Translation

Translator:
He to whom censure and praise are equal, who is silent, content with anything, homeless, of a steady mind, and full of devotion; that man is dear to me.

A Reading - Rantideb

Why: one who holds praise and blame as equal, is silent, content with whatever comes, homeless, of steady mind, and full of devotion, is dear to Krishna, adding reaction to praise and blame specifically as one of the harder, more persistent tests of steadiness.

In life: reaction to praise and blame is often one of the very last areas where reactivity fully settles, even people quite advanced in other areas of steadiness can still be strongly moved by public praise or criticism.

Teaching: treat your own reaction to praise and blame as a specifically advanced, later-stage area of practice, don't be discouraged if this remains harder to steady than some of the other pairs on the list.

tulyaalike
nindā-stutiḥreproach and praise
maunīsilent contemplation
santuṣhṭaḥcontented
yena kenachitwith anything
aniketaḥwithout attachment to the place of residence
sthirafirmly fixed
matiḥintellect
bhakti-mānfull of devotion
meto me
priyaḥvery dear
naraḥa person

Deep Classical Commentary (Bhashya)

Author:
12.19 तुल्यनिन्दास्तुतिः to whom censure and praise are eal? मौनी -- silent? सन्तुष्टः contented? येनकेनचित् with anything? अनिकेतः homeless? स्थिरमतिः steadyminded? भक्तिमान् full of devotion? मे to Me? प्रियः dear? नरः (that) man.Commentary He is neither elated by praise nor pained by censure. He keeps a balanced state of mind. He has controlled the organ of speech and so he is silent. His mind also is serene and silent as he has controlled the thoughts also. He is ite content with the bare means of bodily sustenance. It is said in the Mahabharata (Santi Parva? Moksha Dharma) Who is dressed in anything? who eats any kind of food? who lies down anywhere? him the gods call a Brahmana or a liberated sage or Jivanmukta.He does not dwell in one place. He has no fixed abode. He is homeless. He regards the world as his dwelling place. His mind is ever fixed on Brahman. (Cf.VII.17IX.29XII.17)