Bhagavad Gita Chapter 12 – Part 8: The Qualities of Krishna’s Beloved Devotees (Verse 12.13)
In Bhagavad Gita Chapter 12, Lord Krishna shifts His focus from outer practices to inner transformation. After guiding Arjun on surrender, practice, and renunciation, He now describes the virtues that make a devotee truly dear to Him.
Swami Mukundananda Ji beautifully explains that these qualities are not about appearances or rituals, but about the heart’s inner fragrance. In Verse 12.13, Shree Krishna outlines seven essential qualities. Together, they form the foundation of devotion.
अद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्रः करुण एव च ।
निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः समदुःखसुखः क्षमी ॥ १२.१३ ॥
🔗 Bhagavad Gita Chapter 12, Verse 13
Translation:
"Those devotees are very dear to Me who are free from malice toward all living beings, who are friendly, and compassionate. They are free from attachment to possessions and egotism, equipoised in happiness and distress, and ever-forgiving."
Let us explore these qualities through Swami Ji’s insights, stories of saints, and practical lessons for our spiritual journey.
🌿 Why Krishna Begins with These Qualities
Before speaking of meditation, knowledge, or rituals, Shree Krishna highlights these virtues. Why? Because without them, even devotion becomes tainted. A heart full of malice, ego, or resentment cannot hold God’s love.
Swami Ji explains that these virtues act as the soil in which the seed of bhakti grows. Just as a farmer first clears weeds before planting, a devotee must purify the heart with these qualities
🌿 1. Adveṣhṭā – Free from Malice
Shree Krishna first says His devotee is free from malice toward all beings. Such a devotee holds no hatred or envy, not even toward those who harm them.
Story from Swami Ji’s discourse: He describes how saints respond to insults or harm not with anger, but with tolerance and compassion, seeing ignorance rather than offense.
Modern Application
- On social media, if someone mocks your beliefs, respond with calmness, not retaliation.
- At work, instead of resenting someone’s promotion, practice blessing them silently.
Obstacle: Malice is fueled by ego and the sense of “I” and “mine.” The devotee dissolves this by remembering everything belongs to God.
🌿 2. Maitraḥ – Friendly
A devotee is friendly to all beings. Their heart radiates natural goodwill.
Swami Ji explains that true friendliness is not limited by personal benefit. Like the sun gives light to all, the devotee’s warmth extends universally.
Practical Example
- Offering genuine warmth even to strangers or adversaries.
- Creating harmony instead of competition in relationships.
Reflection: Ask yourself, Do I extend friendliness only to those who agree with me, or to all without bias?
🌿 3. Karuṇaḥ – Compassionate
Compassion flows naturally from a devotee’s purified heart.
Story: Sant Eknath
Swami Ji narrates how mischief-makers spat on Sant Eknath repeatedly. Instead of reacting with anger, he calmly washed himself and offered blessings. His compassion saw beyond the insult to the ignorance behind it.
Analogy: American Airlines Luggage
Swami Ji compares compassion to helping travelers struggling with heavy luggage at an airport. Just as compassion means stepping forward to assist, so too devotees lighten others’ burdens with kindness.
Practice:
- Notice small ways to relieve others’ pain.
- Instead of ignoring suffering, act with care.
🌿 4. Nirmamaḥ – Free from Possessiveness
“Nirmama” means without possessiveness — free from the sense of “mine.”
Story: Raja Jimutketu and Dattatreya
When asked whose palace it was, Raja Jimutketu replied, “This belongs to God. I am merely a caretaker.” This vision frees one from greed and anxiety.
Swami Ji emphasizes that a devotee lives as a trustee, not an owner. Everything is God’s property.
Modern Reflection
- Parents realize children belong to God; they are caretakers.
- Wealth is seen as entrusted for service, not personal pride.
🌿 5. Nirahankāraḥ – Free from Ego
Ego is the root of bondage. Krishna says His devotee is egoless.
Swami Ji’s Insight
The egoless devotee attributes success to God’s grace, not personal doership. Even failures are accepted as His will.
Example from saints
Swami Ji explains how saints always bowed to God, never claiming their miracles or wisdom as personal achievement.
Obstacle: Ego constantly whispers, “I am the doer.” Devotion deepens only when this illusion is surrendered.
🌿 6. Sama-duḥkha-sukhaḥ – Balanced in Happiness and Distress
The world alternates between joy and sorrow. Krishna says His dear devotee remains balanced, treating both alike as gifts from God.
Analogy: Boat in Water
Swami Ji shares the example: a boat floats safely so long as water remains outside. If water enters, the boat sinks. Similarly, a devotee remains steady if joys and sorrows are kept outside the heart.
Practical Tip
- Accept praise without pride, criticism without despair.
- See both as prasad from God.
🌿 7. Kṣhamī – Forgiving
Finally, Krishna says His devotee is forgiving.
Story: Saint Eknath and the Donkey
Swami Ji narrates how Saint Eknath once offered Yamuna water to a thirsty donkey, even though people mocked him. He saw God in the donkey and forgave the mockers.
Forgiveness, Swami Ji explains, is not weakness but divine strength. It purifies the heart, preparing it for devotion.
🌸 Obstacles to Cultivating These Qualities
Swami Ji points out that the biggest hurdles are:
- Ego (blocks humility).
- Attachment (creates possessiveness).
- Anger (fuels malice).
- Expectations (destroy equanimity).
Recognizing these enemies is the first step to overcoming them.
🌸 Step-by-Step Practice Guide
- Morning Introspection: Start the day with a prayer: “O Lord, bless me with compassion and humility today.”
- Daily Reflection: Before sleep, ask:
- Did I harbor malice?
- Was I friendly and compassionate?
- Did I claim ownership or remain a trustee?
- Did I forgive easily?
- Weekly Service: Dedicate time to selfless service. Service cultivates compassion and reduces ego.
🌸 Self-Reflection Checklist
- Do I wish harm upon anyone?
- Do I greet others with warmth?
- Do I feel moved by others’ pain?
- Do I think “This is mine” or “This is God’s”?
- Do I credit myself for success?
- Do I remain steady in loss and gain?
- Do I forgive without delay?
The more “yes” answers, the closer one is to Krishna’s heart.
🌸 Closing Insight
Swami Ji reminds us: Krishna does not measure devotion by rituals alone, but by the qualities of the heart. Cultivating these seven virtues makes us dear to Him. They are not optional extras — they are the very essence of bhakti.
✅ FAQs
❓ What are the qualities in Bhagavad Gita Chapter 12, Verse 13?
Krishna lists seven: free from malice, friendly, compassionate, detached, egoless, balanced in joy and sorrow, and forgiving.
❓ Why does Krishna emphasize forgiveness?
Because forgiveness cleanses the heart of hatred and softens it for divine love.
❓ How can one practice detachment (nirmama) in daily life?
By seeing oneself as a caretaker of wealth, family, and body — not as their owner.
❓ What is meant by sama-duḥkha-sukhaḥ?
It means equanimity — staying steady in both happiness and sorrow, seeing both as God’s prasad.
📚 References
- Shlokas and translations: holy-bhagavad-gita.org
- Discourses by Swami Mukundananda Ji (Part 8 & Part 9, Chapter 12).
🙏 Call to Action
"Swami Mukundananda Official Youtube Channel."
"Bhagavad Gita Krishna Bhakti Channel"
📅 Stay tuned! In the next blog (Part 9, releasing tomorrow at 8:00 PM CST), we will explore Verse 12.14, where Krishna reveals the next set of divine qualities of His beloved devotees.