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Chapter 6 · Dhyāna-yoga · 47 verses

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Mind & yogaChapter 6 · Dhyāna-yoga
6.86.10

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 6.9

The mind as friend or enemy; equanimity

सुहृन्मित्रार्युदासीनमध्यस्थद्वेष्यबन्धुषु ।

साधुष्वपि च पापेषु समबुद्धिर्विशिष्यते ॥ ९ ॥

suhṛn-mitrāry-udāsīna-

madhyastha-dveṣya-bandhuṣu

sādhuṣv api ca pāpeṣu

sama-buddhir viśiṣyate

Translation

A person is considered still further advanced when he regards honest well-wishers, affectionate benefactors, the neutral, mediators, the envious, friends and enemies, the pious and the sinners all with an equal mind.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

An Equal Mind

  1. 1A more advanced person regards all kinds of people with an equal mind.
  2. 2This includes friends and enemies, neutral people, the pious, and sinners.
  3. 3Practice keeping an equal mind toward both well-wishers and those who are envious.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 6, Dhyāna-yoga: the mind as friend or enemy; equanimity.

What it teaches

Theme summary

A disciplined mind is one's best friend.

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: manas, indriya, yoga.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 6.9 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to mind & yoga?

Practice

Sit quietly for ten minutes and gently return the mind.

4

The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 6 ›
5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 6.5The mind as a friend or enemyBG 6.6The mind as friend or enemy; equanimity

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

Ask the study guide

Ask about BG 6.9 — get a simple answer linked to related ideas and verses.

Back to step 3The key ideasNext · Step 5 of 7 · 5 minLive the teachingsBring it into your day with a practice and a question, straight from Prabhupāda's purports.