Who hateth nought Of all which lives, living himself benign, Compassionate, from arrogance exempt, Exempt from love of self, unchangeable By good or ill; patient, contented, firm In faith, mastering himself, true to his word, Seeking Me, heart and soul; vowed unto Me,-- That man I love! Who troubleth not his kind, And is not troubled by them; clear of wrath, Living too high for gladness, grief, or fear, That man I love! Who, dwelling quiet-eyed,[FN#25] Stainless, serene, well-balanced, unperplexed, Working with Me, yet from all works detached, That man I love! Who, fixed in faith on Me, Dotes upon none, scorns none; rejoices not, And grieves not, letting good or evil hap Light when it will, and when it will depart, That man I love! Who, unto friend and foe Keeping an equal heart, with equal mind Bears shame and glory; with an equal peace Takes heat and cold, pleasure and pain; abides Quit of desires, hears praise or calumny In passionless restraint, unmoved by each; Linked by no ties to earth, steadfast in Me, That man I love! But most of all I love Those happy ones to whom 'tis life to live In single fervid faith and love unseeing, Drinking the blessed Amrit of my Being!BhG 12.4 · Bhagavad Gita
BhG 12.4
Bhagavad Gita · translated by Edwin Arnold
Themes in this passage
LoveFaithPatienceAngerAttachmentCompassionContentmentDesire
Love in other traditions
The same theme, as Christianity, Buddhism, Islam and Hellenism address it.
For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.Luke 6:32 · Bible · Luke
From affection comes grief, from affection comes fear; he who is free from affection knows neither grief nor fear.Dhp 16.213 · Dhammapada · Pleasure
Say, (O Muhammad, to mankind): If ye love Allah, follow me; Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.Quran 3:31 · Quran · The Family Of Imran
Then he: “O prince! allied in blood and fame, Dearer than all that own a brother’s name; Of all that Hecuba to Priam bore, Long tried, long loved: much loved, but honoured more! Since you, of all our numerous race alone Defend my life, regardless of your own.”Iliad 22.22 · Iliad · 22
See what all six traditions say about love →
Search every tradition at once
Ask a question in your own words and see how six traditions answer it.