duḥkheṣv anudvigna-manāḥ sukheṣu vigata-spṛhaḥ vīta-rāga-bhaya-krodhaḥ sthita-dhīr munir ucyate
"One whose mind is not disturbed in sorrow, who has no craving for pleasure, and who is free from attachment, fear, and anger—such a person is called a sage of steady wisdom."
What This Means:
The wise person doesn't get shaken by pain or crave pleasure. They're free from three major afflictions: attachment (clinging to things), fear (of losing things or facing threats), and anger (when things don't go their way). This freedom is what makes them a true sage.
Going Deeper:
Note the balance: undisturbed by sorrow AND without craving for pleasure. This isn't numbness—it's equilibrium. The three freedoms (vita-raga-bhaya-krodha) address the full range of reactive emotions: attachment to the pleasant, fear of the unpleasant, and anger when obstructed. The sage has transcended this entire mechanism.
How To Apply This:
Observe your own raga (attachment), bhaya (fear), and krodha (anger). These three drive most of human suffering. Notice what you cling to, what you fear losing, and what triggers your anger. These are maps to your attachments. As you understand them, they gradually loosen their grip.
Key Sanskrit Terms: