Aequanimitas

His heart, O Arjuna, no bias knows:
On all an equal aspect he bestows,
Friends let them be or foes.

A lamp is he, shining with steadfast light,
Not shining to the stranger dark as night,
While to the household bright.

As trees whose shadows on their planter fall
Or on who hews them down, — so he to all
Alike impartial.

Sweet to its tender is the cane; nor less
To him who crushed it in the cruel press, —
Sweet with no bitterness;
So he who deems a friend or foe the same,
Alike unmoved though the world should blame,
Or though it grant him fame.

Lo, as the unperturbed skies enfold
The changing seasons, does this one behold
Or scorching heat or cold.

Whether a north wind or a south wind blow
It matters not to Meru, — even so
To him is joy or woe.

Ah, sweetly, sweetly does the moonlight fall
Alike upon the monarch and the thrall, —
So he the same to all.