“Someone with no hatred for any being, who is friendly and compassionate, free of possessiveness and pride, steady in pain and pleasure, and forgiving.”

Friendly and kind to all

Chapter 12 is the chapter of bhakti, loving devotion. Lord Krishna ends it (12.13–12.20) with a beautiful portrait: the qualities of a person who is dear to him. This verse begins that portrait, and its sentence finishes in the next verse with sa me priyaḥ, “such a one is dear to me”.

Look at the first words: adveṣṭā sarva-bhūtānām, “without hatred for any being”. Not for most people, or for people like us: for all beings, animals included. Then maitraḥ, friendly, and karuṇaḥ, compassionate. Then two harder ones: nirmamaḥ, free from “mine, mine”, and nirahaṅkāraḥ, free from pride. Finally, kṣamī: forgiving.

It is a lovely checklist, and a humbling one. No one ticks every box. That is why it is a direction to walk in, not a test to pass.

For a student: kindness to the new child in class is this verse in action. For a parent: forgiveness shown at home is forgiveness learned. For everyone: Lord Krishna’s list starts with “no hatred”. Start there.

For kids: “Be friendly and kind to everyone, even animals, and forgive quickly.”