adveṣṭā sarva-bhūtānāṁ maitraḥ karuṇa eva ca nirmamaḥ nirahaṅkāraḥ sama-duḥkha-sukhaḥ kṣamī
"One who hates no being, who is friendly and compassionate to all, free from possessiveness and ego, equal in pain and pleasure, forgiving—"
What This Means:
Krishna begins describing the ideal devotee. First qualities: hating no one, being friendly and compassionate, free from 'mine' and 'I', unshaken by pleasure or pain, and forgiving.
Going Deeper:
These are the first six qualities of a devotee: (1) adveṣṭā—non-hatred, (2) maitraḥ—friendliness, (3) karuṇaḥ—compassion, (4) nirmamaḥ—free from 'mine,' (5) nirahaṅkāraḥ—free from ego, (6) sama-duḥkha-sukhaḥ—equanimous, (7) kṣamī—forgiving. Notice how devotion manifests in ethical qualities, not just religious practices. True bhakti transforms character.
How To Apply This:
Use this as a checklist: Am I harboring hatred toward anyone? Am I genuinely friendly? Do I feel compassion for others' suffering? Am I clinging to possessions or positions? Am I forgiving? Work on the weakest area.
Key Sanskrit Terms: