Bhagavad Gita 2.38
सुखदुःखे समे कृत्वा लाभालाभौ जयाजयौ। ततो युद्धाय युज्यस्व नैवं पापमवाप्स्यसि॥
sukha-duḥkhe same kṛtvā lābhālābhau jayājayau | tato yuddhāya yujyasva naivaṁ pāpam avāpsyasi ||
“Treating alike pleasure and pain, gain and loss, victory and defeat, then engage in your work. So acting, you will not incur any wrong.”- equanimity
- duty
- results
- anxiety
What this verse is about
This verse speaks to a mind that stays steady through pleasure and pain, duty and what the moment quietly asks of us, and the pull to control how things turn out.
✦ Contemplation
You do not have to feel calm to act calmly. You only need a small steady place inside to act from.
✦ A small practice
Do one small thing today without worrying about how it turns out.
Chapter 2
The Yoga of KnowledgeSāṅkhya Yoga
Krishna introduces the deathless Self, the duty of action, and the ideal of a mind that stays steady through pleasure and pain.
Dilemmas this verse speaks to
Questions real people carry that this verse has something to say about.
What should I do when I feel confused about my career?
You’re not stuck, you’re just unclear.
Read reflection ›
Should I cut off a toxic family member?
You love them. You are also hurt by them. Both things are true.
Read reflection ›
Why do I overthink everything and how can I stop?
Your mind won’t slow down, even when nothing is wrong.
Read reflection ›
Sit with this verse a little longer.
Ask Dharma how this verse might land in your own life, and receive a calm, verse-grounded reflection.
Ask Dharma about 2.38