Chapter12 Shloka17 - Shrimad Bhagvad Gita

Shrimad Bhagvad Gita

Chapter 12 : Bhakti Yoga, The yoga of devotion

Ch 12 : Sh 17

यो न हृष्यति न द्वेष्टि न शोचति न काङ्क्षति।
शुभाशुभपरित्यागी भक्तिमान्यः स मे प्रियः॥

Transliteration

yo na hṛṣyati na dveṣṭi na śocati na kāṅkṣati |
śubhāśubha parityāgī bhaktimān yaḥ sa me priyaḥ || 17 ||

Translation

One who is full of devotion to Me, who rejoices not, nor hates, nor grieves, nor desires, and who renounces both auspicious and inauspicious things — such a devotee is dear to me.

Purport

Bhagvan Shri Krishna further lists the kind of people who are noble and dear to Shri Krishna.
The categories of human listed are:

1. Neither rejoices nor hates
Here it is noted that two words are used together, “To rejoice” and “To hate”, for this reason, the meaning of rejoicing should be drawn in respect of others cause hate is a behavior that arises in respect of another person. One should not hate but also he should not rejoice for his own success and other failures.

2. Neither grieves nor desires

Again the word “to grieve” and to “To desire” occurred together in the Shloka “na śocati na kāṅkṣati”. To derive the meaning it is hence suggested to read both words together. To have world desires is absolutely not suggesting as sorrow is every intrinsic part of desires. Cause desires can very easily be unfulfilled and secondly, desires arise out of the need of the body. But even if one has a just desire but not fulfilled he should not lament for the same, as desires not been fulfilled is very much one of the possible outcomes.

3. Who renounces both auspicious and inauspicious things

Worldly possessions can be both good and bad, but both bind the human soul to this material world. One is a golden cage and the other an iron. A nobleman should renounce both to get free from the cycle of births and rebirths.

4. One who is full of devotion to Me

Bhagvan Shri Krishna has declared at many places in Shrimad Bhagvad Gita has announced the glory of true devotion. There can be many enlightened humans but only a true devotee to Shri Krishna has the glory to reach to Shri Krishna. Also, a true devotee even if is illiterate, has not studied any scriptures is regarded highest.
Shri Krishna has declared

“Na me bhakta Pranashyati”
my devotee never falls

"Bhaktya mam abhijanati"
only my devotee can know me in totality.

This shloka is asserting the glory of devotion to Shri Krishna.

All four categories of humans having the above qualities are dear to Shri Krishna.