The Yoga of Devotion
Verse 12.15
यस्मान्नोद्विजते लोको लोकान्नोद्विजते च यः।हर्षामर्षभयोद्वेगैर्मुक्तो यः स च मे प्रियः।।12.15।।
yasmān nodvijate loko lokān nodvijate cha yaḥ harṣhāmarṣha-bhayodvegair mukto yaḥ sa cha me priyaḥ
Word Meanings
yasmāt—by whom; na—not; udvijate—are agitated; lokaḥ—people; lokāt—from people; na—not; udvijate—are disturbed; cha—and; yaḥ—who; harṣha—pleasure; amarṣha—pain; bhaya—fear; udvegaiḥ—anxiety; muktaḥ—freed; yaḥ—who; saḥ—they; cha—and; me—to me; priyaḥ—very dear
Translation · English
He whom the world does not agitate, and who cannot be agitated by the world, and who is freed from joy, anger, fear, and anxiety—he is dear to Me.
Deep Meaning · English
In this verse, Bhagavan Krishna delineates the external manifestation of an internal state of absolute equilibrium. The devotee described here has dissolved the boundaries of the ego; by ceasing to project their own internal conflicts onto the world, they no longer perceive the world as a source of threat or agitation. When the ego, which is the seat of reactivity, is surrendered, the relationship between the individual and the collective shifts from one of friction to one of seamless harmony. This individual becomes a calm center in the storm of the material world, offering 'abhaya' (fearlessness) to all beings simply by existing in a state of tranquil presence. The spiritual significance lies in the transcendence of the 'dvandvas' or dualities. By being liberated from the binary traps of pleasure and pain, or joy and intolerance, the devotee acts as a clear mirror of the Divine. Krishna identifies this state as exceptionally dear because such a person is no longer an agent of karmic disturbances, but rather a conduit for the peace of the Brahman. This is not merely an external social grace, but the natural fruition of a heart that has realized its oneness with the Source and, consequently, experiences no 'other' to fear or to provoke.
True devotion is characterized by an inner freedom that eliminates the dualities of emotional reactivity, turning the devotee into a peaceful sanctuary for the entire world.
Connected Verses
Continues the sequence of defining the 'dear' devotee as one who is identical to both friend and foe, emphasizing the state of total equanimity.
Highlights the 'well-wisher' who views friends and foes with equal vision, essential for the emotional freedom described in this verse.
Explains how the wise see the same divinity in everyone, which is the foundational realization that prevents one from agitating others.
Describes the sage who is unperturbed by misery and free from longing, fear, and anger, mirroring the qualities in 12.15.
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