bhaktiyogaḥ · 12.15
Neither Disturbing nor Disturbed
यस्मान्नोद्विजते लोको(कः) लोकान्नोद्विजते च यः ।
हर्षामर्षभयोद्वेगैः(र्) र्मुक्तो यः(स्) स च मे प्रियः ॥
yasmānnodvijate loko(ḥ) lokānnodvijate ca yaḥ ।
harṣāmarṣabhayodvegaiḥ(r) mukto yaḥ(s) sa ca me priyaḥ ॥
"Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa says that the devotee by whom the world is not disturbed, who is not disturbed by the world, and who is free from elation, intolerance, fear, and anxiety, is dear to Him."
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Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa continues describing the parā-bhakta, the highest devotee, who has gone through the stages of bhakti-yoga and has gained inner freedom. This freedom is not about escaping the world physically. It is inner freedom from the regular emotional disturbances that make the mind a burden.
The first mark of such a devotee is that the world is not disturbed by him. This means he is sensitive, considerate, and aware of the feelings of others. He does not deliberately hurt people. He is ahiṁsaka in attitude. Unknowingly, someone may still feel hurt, but his intention and way of living are not harmful.
The second mark is that he is not disturbed by the world. People may criticize, insult, misunderstand, or behave unfairly. Still, he does not collapse inwardly. His heart is tender like a flower when dealing with others, but firm like a diamond when receiving difficult experiences.
Because he does not hurt others, he is free from guilt. Because he does not get hurt by others, he is free from inner wound. Hurt and guilt are two powerful sources of mental disturbance, and the parā-bhakta is free from both.
Bhagavān then mentions four inner disturbances: harṣa, amarṣa, bhaya, and udvega. Harṣa is over-excitement or elation that clouds discrimination. Amarṣa is intolerance, impatience, or envy when others excel. Bhaya is fear born of dependence on insecure things. Udvega is mental disturbance, anxiety, or sorrow caused by these inner reactions. The parā-bhakta is free from these; therefore he is dear to Bhagavān.