"Equanimity" Verse 3

Verse 1

As one's own friend, one should lift oneself up, not make oneself sink..

Verse 2

One does not desire the return of lost Sattva-light, happiness, clarity;
is not excited or disturbed by growing Rajas-attraction and repulsion;
is not upset by increasing Tamas-dullness, confusion...

Verse 3

One who sees that pain is not an enemy - is a friend to one's self
One who seeks pleasure as if one's best friend - is an enemy to oneself
Equanimity regards both the same; one is sva-stha, self-abiding

One who determines that a clump of earth, a stone or a piece of gold have equal value - lifts oneself up. Step by step one elevates oneself beyond the fear of survival that creates anxiety about money.

One who seeks the comfort of "pleasant" and avoids "unpleasant"
makes oneself sink. Equanimity regards both the same and remains firm and steady.

Choosing to be dejected by criticism and elated by praise, one makes an enemy of oneself. Equanimity regards both the same.

This verse relies on a type of compound word called Bahu-vrīhi - "much-rice". Its name is itself an example of the compound. It means "a person who has much rice, is prosperous."

Sama-duhkha-sukha - Same-pain-happiness refers to a person for whom pain and happiness are the same.

* The word "sama" is used to begin the first two quarter-verses (pada) and then its synonym "tulya-equal" in the third and fourth. The word "sama-tvam" means the "state of sama". Verse 2.48 gives the very first definition of "yoga" offered in the Gītā.

Samatvam yoga ucyate

Equanimity is Yoga, it is said (by the wise)

Pronunciation Tips to increase your enjoyment
th and dh are pronounced dental as described but with added breath.
ṭ ḍ and ṣ are cerebral sounds with tip of tongue turn up towards the front of the palate vault.
Note: their position occurs naturally in the word loṣṭa, sh sound ṣ guides the tongue to a cerebral ṭ.

Each segment is repeated twice: 1st Listen - 2nd Repeat