
6
CHAPTER
VERSE
7
जितात्मन: प्रशान्तस्य परमात्मा समाहित: |
शीतोष्णसुखदु:खेषु तथा मानापमानयो: || 6.7 ||
Jitātmanaḥ praśhāntasya parātmā samāhitaḥ
Shītoṣhṇa-sukha-duḥkheṣhu tathā mānāpamānayoḥ ||
For one who has conquered the mind, the Supreme Self is already attained, for such a person, heat and cold, pleasure and pain, honor and dishonor are all the same.
Lesson:
Lord Krishna explains the state of equanimity achieved by one who has mastered their mind through self-discipline and spiritual practice.
The term "jitātmanaḥ" refers to someone who has conquered their mind, who has achieved control over their thoughts, desires, and emotions. This conquest of the mind is essential in the path of spiritual growth, as the mind is often the source of distraction, attachment, and suffering.
Such an individual is described as "praśhāntasya," which means tranquil or serene. They have attained inner peace and calmness by transcending the fluctuations of the mind. Their consciousness is steady and undisturbed by external circumstances.
For such a person, the "parātmā," or Supreme Self, is already realized. They have a direct experience of their true nature, beyond the limitations of the ego and individual identity. They recognize their oneness with the divine and abide in that realization.
As a result of this self-mastery and realization, such individuals remain unaffected by the dualities of life, symbolized here by "shītoṣhṇa" (heat and cold), "sukha-duḥkheṣhu" (pleasure and pain), and "mānāpamānayoḥ" (honor and dishonor). They no longer cling to or reject experiences based on their likes and dislikes, but instead, they accept whatever comes their way with equanimity.
This verse emphasizes the importance of inner strength and resilience in the face of life's challenges. It teaches us that true happiness and peace are not dependent on external circumstances but are the result of mastering the mind and realizing our inherent divinity. By cultivating inner peace and detachment, we can navigate the ups and downs of life with grace and serenity.