yo na hṛṣyati na dveṣṭi na śocati na kāṅkṣati śubhāśubha-parityāgī bhaktimān yaḥ sa me priyaḥ
"One who neither rejoices nor hates, neither grieves nor desires, who renounces both good and evil, full of devotion—that one is dear to Me."
What This Means:
The ideal devotee doesn't swing between elation and hatred, grief and craving. They've moved beyond good and evil as categories for attachment. Full of devotion, they are dear to Krishna.
Going Deeper:
Four negations: na hṛṣyati (doesn't rejoice excessively), na dveṣṭi (doesn't hate), na śocati (doesn't grieve), na kāṅkṣati (doesn't crave). 'Śubhāśubha-parityāgī'—renouncing good and evil means transcending dualistic thinking, not becoming amoral. 'Bhaktimān' ensures this equanimity comes from devotion, not from apathy. This is the emotional freedom born of divine love.
How To Apply This:
Watch your emotional reactions to 'good' news and 'bad' news. Can you receive both with equanimity? This doesn't mean suppression but a deeper stability that isn't thrown by life's ups and downs.
Key Sanskrit Terms: