Verse 2.57

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 2.57:

यः सर्वत्रानभिस्नेहस् तत् तत् प्राप्य शुभाशुभम् ।
नाभिनन्दति न द्वेष्टि तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता ॥ ५७ ॥

yaḥ sarvatrānabhisnehas tat tat prāpya śubhāśubham |
nābhinandati na dveṣṭi tasya prajñā pratiṣṭhitā || 57 ||

yaḥ–he who; sarvatra–in all situations (even for one’s children and friends); anabhisnehaḥ–without excessive attachment; tat tat–whatever; prāpya–achieving; śubha–favourable; aśubham–unfavourable; na abhinandati–he does not rejoice; na–nor; dveṣṭi–hate; tasya–his; prajñā–intelligence; pratiṣṭhitā–is well fixed.

One who is always devoid of mundane affection and who neither rejoices in prosperity nor despairs in adversity is known to be a person of fixed intelligence.

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Ṭīkā

(By Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura; the innermost intention of the commentary named ‘the shower of essential meanings’)

Here, the word anabhisnehaḥ means ‘free from all affection arising from material designations’. Such persons certainly feel some affection due to compassion, but their affection is free from material designations. They do not welcome pleasing situations, such as being honoured or offered palatable food, nor do they glorify those from whom they receive them by saying, “You are a highly religious personality who has rendered service to great saintly persons (paramahaṃsas). May you be happy.” Conversely, when they are faced with an unpleasant situation, such as being dishonoured or beaten, they do not feel any aversion, nor do they curse their adversary, saying, “You sinful person! May you go to hell!” The intelligence of such a person is completely fixed, or situated in trance (samādhi). He indeed is called sthita-prajña, one of fixed intelligence.

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Prakāśikā-vṛtti

(By Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja; the explanation that illuminates the commentary named Sārārtha-varṣiṇī)

Affection is of two types: (1) in relation with the body and (2) in relation with Śrī Bhagavān. Affection in relation with the body can be seen in ordinary persons who identify themselves with their bodies. Those who are of fixed intelligence are free from identification with their bodies and are therefore devoid of that type of affection. Because they are the well-wishers of all living entities, they are endowed with the second type of affection, which is in relation to Śrī Bhagavān. This type of affection is continuously flowing within their hearts, but it rarely manifests externally. It may be seen in some special circumstances, but an ordinary person cannot detect it.