Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 5, verse 18 · Krishna
Bhagavad Gita 5.18 · Vidya Vinaya Sampanne
विद्याविनयसम्पन्ने ब्राह्मणे गवि हस्तिनि ।
शुनि चैव श्वपाके च पण्डिताः समदर्शिनः ॥
vidyāvinayasampanne brāhmaṇe gavi hastini |
śuni caiva śvapāke ca paṇḍitāḥ samadarśinaḥ ||
Translation
The wise see with an equal eye a learned and humble Brahmin, a cow, an elephant, a dog and an outcaste.
Explanation
Sama-darshana, equal vision. The wise do not ignore real differences, but they see the same Self in every being and treat all with equal respect.
Context
Spoken by Krishna in chapter 5, Karma Sannyasa Yoga — “The Yoga of Renunciation”, which has 29 verses.
Frequently asked questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 5.18 mean?
The wise see with an equal eye a learned and humble Brahmin, a cow, an elephant, a dog and an outcaste.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 5.18?
Krishna, speaking to Arjuna, in chapter 5, Karma Sannyasa Yoga (The Yoga of Renunciation).
Sanskrit text: traditional, public domain. Translation and explanation are our own.