अद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्रः करुण एव च। निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः समदुःखसुखः क्षमी॥
adveṣṭā sarvabhūtānāṃ maitraḥ karuṇa eva ca । nirmamo nirahaṅkāraḥ samaduḥkhasukhaḥ kṣamī ॥
PM's MessageRevered Bapu's entire life is a beacon of truth, non-violence, compassion and service that will continue to guide humanity in every age.
Meaning of Adveṣṭā Sarvabhūtānāṃ Maitraḥ Karuṇa
A person who harbours no hatred towards any living being, who embraces all with friendship and compassion, who is free from attachment and ego, remains equanimous in joy and sorrow and is ever forgiving-such a person is the highest seeker.
Word by word
- अद्वेष्टाadveṣṭā
One who hates no one
- सर्वभूतानांsarvabhūtānāṃ
Towards all living beings
- मैत्रःmaitraḥ
Friendly, well-disposed
- करुणkaruṇa
Compassionate
Sandhi form of करुणः before एव.
- एवeva
Indeed
- चca
And
- निर्ममोnirmamo
Free from the possessive sense of mine
Sandhi form of निर्ममः before निरहङ्कारः.
- निरहङ्कारःnirahaṅkāraḥ
Free from ego
- समदुःखसुखःsamaduḥkhasukhaḥ
Even-minded in sorrow and happiness
सम + दुःख + सुख describes equal composure in both states.
- क्षमीkṣamī
Forgiving, patient under hurt
Commentary
The verse describes a person who meets every living being without hatred and with friendship and compassion. Nirmama points to freedom from the possessive sense of "mine", while nirahaṅkāra describes freedom from ego. Samaduḥkhasukhaḥ joins sorrow and happiness in one expression, asking for steadiness through both, and kṣamī adds the capacity to forgive and endure hurt. These qualities make care for others compatible with inner composure, even when circumstances are painful. The accompanying tribute to Gandhi connects this teaching with his life of truth, non-violence, compassion and service. In everyday disagreements, the verse invites us to respond without resentment or the need to defend our pride.
Original Post
More from Bhagavad Gita
View source pageनित्यं परिचरेच्चैव तद्वै सुकृतमुत्तमम्। कीर्तिं पुण्यं यशो लोकान् प्राप्स्यसे राजसत्तम॥
nityaṃ paricareccaiva tadvai sukṛtamuttamam । kīrtiṃ puṇyaṃ yaśo lokān prāpsyase rājasattama ॥
Daily service is praised as an excellent deed that brings merit, renown and higher realms.
स्वे स्वे कर्मण्यभिरतः संसिद्धिं लभते नरः। स्वकर्मनिरतः सिद्धिं यथा विन्दति तच्छृणु॥
sve sve karmaṇyabhirataḥ saṁsiddhiṁ labhate naraḥ । svakarmanirataḥ siddhiṁ yathā vindati tacchṛṇu ॥
The Bhagavad Gita teaches that devotion to one's own work is a path to perfection.
अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत्। स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते॥
anudvegakaraṁ vākyaṁ satyaṁ priyahitaṁ ca yat । svādhyāyābhyasanaṁ caiva vāṅmayaṁ tapa ucyate ॥
The Bhagavad Gita describes truthful, pleasant, beneficial, and non-agitating words, together with regular study, as austerity of speech.
More subhashitams on Character
View topic pageवत्सराजोऽपि तं प्राप्तं प्रदत्तोपायनं नृपम्। प्रीत्या सम्मानयामास शूरा हि प्रणतिप्रियाः॥
vatsarājo 'pi taṃ prāptaṃ pradattopāyanaṃ nṛpam । prītyā sammānayāmāsa śūrā hi praṇatipriyāḥ ॥
Vatsaraja honours a king who comes with gifts, illustrating the brave person's regard for respectful homage.
ज्ञानवांश्च तथा वाग्मी कर्मस्वपि च निष्ठितः। एवं युक्तोऽपि न श्रेयान् यदि शीलविवर्जितः॥
jñānavāṃśca tathā vāgmī karmasvapi ca niṣṭhitaḥ । evaṃ yukto'pi na śreyān yadi śīlavivarjitaḥ ॥
Knowledge, eloquence, and skill in work do not make a person worthy of esteem if good character is absent.
शुचित्वं त्यागिता शौर्यं सामान्यं सुखदुःखयोः। दाक्षिण्यं चानुरक्तिश्च सत्यता च सुहृद्गुणाः॥
śucitvaṃ tyāgitā śauryaṃ sāmānyaṃ sukhaduḥkhayoḥ । dākṣiṇyaṃ cānuraktiśca satyatā ca suhṛdguṇāḥ ॥
Purity, generosity, courage, steadiness in joy and sorrow, courtesy, affection, and truthfulness are the qualities of a true friend.