Gita Bhashya -Sankara 248

Shri Sankara's Gita Bhashya

(Sri Sankaracharya's Commentary on the Gita)

CHAPTER -6

Suhrn-mitrāryudāsīna-madhyastha-dvesyabandhusu Sādhusvapi ca pāpesu samabuddhir-vHkyate 9. He who sees equally the well-wisher, the friend, the foe, the neutral, the arbitrator, the hateful and the relative, as also the righteous and even the un­ righteous, attains excellence. He who sees equally, i.e. without considering who one is or what he does, the well-wisher who does a favour without expecting any service in return, the friend who has affection for him, the foe who is adverse, the neutral who takes no side, the arbitrator who wishes for the welfare of both the opposing parties, the hateful one who is not liked by himself, and the relative who is a kinsman, as also the righteous who follow the śāstras (scriptures), and even the unrighteous who engage themselves in (scripturally) prohibited acts, attains excellence. Another reading for "visisyate" (attains excellence) is "vimucyate" (is freed.) The .Sensc is that such a person is the best among all yogārūdhas, those who have attained to yoga. Wherefore, in order to attain this superlative result,