सुहृन्मित्रार्युदासीनमध्यस्थद्वेष्यबन्धुषु । साधुष्वपि च पापेषु समबुद्धिर्विशिष्यते ॥
suhṛnmitrāryudāsīnamadhyasthadveṣyabandhuṣu | sādhuṣvapi ca pāpeṣu samabuddhirviśiṣyate ||
Translation
One who has equal intelligence toward the well-wisher, friend, enemy, the indifferent, the neutral, the hateful, the kinsman, the righteous, and the unrighteous — such a one excels.
Interpretation
The yogi's equal vision extends from objects to people. Seven categories are listed: well-wisher (suhrit — unconditional friend), friend (mitra — companion), enemy (ari), the indifferent (udasina), the neutral (madhyastha), the hateful (dveshya), and kinsmen (bandhu). Then the ultimate test: equal toward the righteous (sadhu) and the unrighteous (papeshu). This is not moral relativism but the recognition that the divine Self shines equally in all, regardless of how that Self is expressed through a particular personality.