Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 2, Verse 14

Contents

0.1 मात्रास्पर्शास्तु कौन्तेय शीतोष्णसुखदु: खदा: |
0.2 आगमापायिनोऽनित्यास्तांस्तितिक्षस्व भारत || 14||

1 भावार्थ:
2 Translation

Chapter 2, Verse 14

मात्रास्पर्शास्तु कौन्तेय शीतोष्णसुखदु: खदा: |

आगमापायिनोऽनित्यास्तांस्तितिक्षस्व भारत || 14||

mātrā-sparśhās tu kaunteya śhītoṣhṇa-sukha-duḥkha-dāḥ
āgamāpāyino ’nityās tans-titikṣhasva bhārata

भावार्थ:

हे कुंतीपुत्र! सर्दी-गर्मी और सुख-दुःख को देने वाले इन्द्रिय और विषयों के संयोग तो उत्पत्ति-विनाशशील और अनित्य हैं, इसलिए हे भारत! उनको तू सहन कर॥14॥

Translation

O son of Kunti, the contact between the senses and the sense objects gives rise to fleeting perceptions of happiness and distress. These are non-permanent, and come and go like the winter and summer seasons. O descendent of Bharat, one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed.

Explanation in English:

Krishna now explains the nature of physical and emotional experiences — such as pleasure, pain, heat, cold, joy, and sorrow.

1. “Mātrā-sparśāḥ” – “Contact with the senses”

Experiences like pain or pleasure arise when the senses interact with the external world — for example, the skin feels cold, or the eyes see something beautiful.

2. “Śītoṣṇa-sukha-duḥkha-dāḥ” – “They give rise to heat and cold, pleasure and pain”

All such sensations are opposites — temporary reactions of the body and mind.

3. “Āgamāpāyinaḥ anityāḥ” – “They come and go; they are impermanent”

Krishna reminds Arjuna that these sensations do not last — they arrive, stay for a while, and then pass away, like seasons.

4. “Tāṁs titikṣasva” – “Endure them patiently”

The wise way to deal with them is tolerance (titikṣā) — to remain steady without being disturbed by pain or carried away by pleasure.

Key Teaching:

Krishna is training Arjuna to develop equanimity — to not let temporary experiences control his emotions or decisions.

Life will always bring opposites — pleasure & pain, success & failure, joy & sorrow.
A true seeker or warrior learns to withstand them calmly, knowing they are not permanent.

Summary:

“Pleasure and pain come and go like seasons — endure them calmly, for they do not last.”

This verse introduces the practice of emotional resilience and inner strength, which is essential for walking the path of dharma with clarity and peace.

Next: Chapter 2, Verse 15

The Bhagawad Gita: Chapter 2

The Bhagawad Gita