"mānāpamānayostulyastulyo mitrāripakṣayoḥ ." — Bhagavad Gita Chapter 14, Verse 25

#Sincere Work #Ego Transcendence #Neutrality #Social Resilience

Shloka 14.25

मानापमानयोस्तुल्यस्तुल्यो मित्रारिपक्षयोः | सर्वारम्भपरित्यागी गुणातीतः स उच्यते ||१४-२५||

mānāpamānayostulyastulyo mitrāripakṣayoḥ . sarvārambhaparityāgī guṇātītaḥ sa ucyate ||14-25||

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The Translation

“He who is the same in honor and dishonor, the same toward friends and enemies, and who has renounced all selfish undertakings—he is said to have transcended the modes.”

Commentary & Insights

Historical Context

Krishna completes His description of the guṇātīta, highlighting their neutrality in social status and their renunciation of ego-driven projects.

The Sacred Meaning

Modern Relevance

"He who is equal to friend and foe, and also in honor and dishonor, who is equal in heat and cold, pleasure and pain, and who is free from attachment..."

Verse 18.23 — Action without Attachment Read Verse

"An action that is ordained, performed without attachment, without love or hatred, by one who does not desire its fruit, is said to be in the mode of goodness."

Sages' Views

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Adi Shankara

Advaita Vedanta

Shankara explains that 'sarva-ārambha-parityāgī' means abandoning all actions that are initiated by personal desires for worldly or heavenly gains, while performing only what is necessary for bare bodily sustenance. Such a person is truly beyond the modes.

॥ इति ॥

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Ramanujacharya

Vishishtadvaita

Ramanuja interprets the renunciation of all undertakings as giving up the sense of ownership and agency over actions, dedicating everything to the Supreme Lord, which is the hallmark of a devotee who has crossed the Gunas.

॥ इति ॥

Practical Application

Start a work task today with the sole purpose of making it high-quality and helpful, letting go of any desire for personal credit or applause.

Reflections & Notes

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Self-Reflection Prompts

What does it mean to abandon all selfish undertakings (sarvārambhaparityāgī) while still acting in the world? How does this apply to work or creative projects?
How can you train your mind to remain steady when someone insults or disrespects you?

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14.25

मानापमानयोस्तुल्यस्तुल्यो मित्रारिपक्षयोः