2.11-2.30: counters first argument – compassion – by Jayana

Krishna takes it further and says that actually there are two natures. So we will talk about what will be the fruit of tolerance

BG 2.15

yam hi na vyathayanty ete

purusham purusharshabha

sama–duhkha–sukham dhiram

so ‘mritatvaya kalpate

SYNONYMS

yam — one to whom; hi — certainly; na — never; vyathayanti — are distressing; ete — all these; purusham — to a person; purusha–rishabha — O best among men; sama — unaltered; duhkha — in distress; sukham — and happiness; dhiram — patient; sah — he; amritatvaya — for liberation; kalpate — is considered eligible.

TRANSLATION

O best among men [Arjuna], the person who is not disturbed by happiness and distress and is steady in both is certainly eligible for liberation.

yam hi na vyathayanty ete, so one who is not bewildered by such things na vyathayantya. purusham purusharshabha, that Purusa is the best of all Purusas so what about such a person sama–duhkha–sukham dhiram, such a person is same in happiness and distress such a person is so ‘mritatvaya kalpate such a person will attain eternal existence. So here the fruit of spiritual life is talked about centered on tolerance, it is just knowing what to put first.

We should know what to put first, when we are going to road…we already decide which road to take, not based on which road appears good or best, but based on our destination or where that particular road takes us. Similarly we don’t decide our life priority based on appearances or first look. Krishna is saying these appearances are not the way people look or appear, their hair style or dress. Krishna is talking about something much deeper, the way things feel to us at first may not necessarily be the best indicators of what they actually are. So Krishna is telling don’t be distracted by these temporary change of the world, whether it is happiness or distress sama–duhkha–sukham dhiram, what ever be the cause, just tolerate and let it go away. Yam hi na vyathayanty ete, so one who is not bewildered, purusham purusharshabha, that person or most of the persons, what happens to that person? sama–duhkha–sukham dhiram, after being equipoised in happiness and distress so ‘mritatvaya kalpate, such a person will attain eternal existence.

This verse talks about the fruits of liberation, triggered by tolerance. One will achieve liberation so ‘mritatvaya kalpate, who is able to tolerate the momentary happiness and distress in life. When we are no more distracted by petty things, we are able to focus on bigger things in life.