“The one who doesn't disturb the world, and whom the world doesn't disturb, who is free from over-excitement, resentment, fear and anxiety, is dear to me.”

Neither disturbing nor disturbed

This verse continues Lord Krishna’s portrait of the person dear to him, which began at 12.13. It is short, balanced and very wise.

Yasmān nodvijate lokaḥ: “from whom the world does not shrink away”. This person doesn’t make others anxious. They don’t bully, gossip or stir up trouble. Then the mirror image: lokān nodvijate ca yaḥ, “and who does not shrink from the world”. Other people’s moods and dramas don’t knock them off balance either.

Then four things they are free from: harṣa (over-excitement), amarṣa (resentment), bhaya (fear) and udvega (anxiety). Notice that even harṣa, getting carried away by good things, is on the list. Steadiness works in both directions.

Picture a calm friend everyone loves to be around. They don’t create storms, and they don’t get swept up in other people’s storms. That friend is this verse.

For a student: you don’t have to join in when a group chat turns mean. For a parent: a calm home is built by adults who neither shout nor take every shout personally. At work: be the colleague who lowers the temperature in the room.

For kids: “I don’t upset others, and I don’t let others upset me.”