The Gita on Why People Who Judge You Are Hiding Something Bigger
Riya Kumari | Sep 18, 2025, 23:59 IST
Gita
( Image credit : AI )
There is a quiet strength in refusing to be defined by someone else’s opinion. The Bhagavad Gita teaches that judgment is rarely about the person being judged, it is a mirror of the critic’s own unrest. When people point out your flaws with sharp words, they often reveal wounds and fears they have not faced themselves.
When someone points a finger at you, it can feel personal and cutting. But the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita and the wider Hindu scriptures reveals something far more profound: judgment is rarely about the one being judged. More often, it exposes the inner state of the person who is judging.
Every human being carries memories, fears, and unhealed wounds. When we react sharply to another person, it is often because something about them disturbs what we have not faced within ourselves. Krishna tells Arjuna that the true battle is inside, the restless mind, the tug of desires, the ego that clings to being right.
When someone criticizes or mocks you, their words often reveal their own insecurities or hidden struggles more than your supposed flaws.
In Chapter 16, Krishna lists the qualities of a person who lives in harmony with the Divine. Among them is apaisunam, freedom from fault-finding. A person seeking spiritual growth avoids the habit of judging others because they know it clouds the mind and feeds the ego.
The Gita also reminds us in Chapter 6 that the wise see all beings with an equal eye, whether a friend, an enemy, a stranger, or themselves. To judge is to separate and to forget that the same Self, the same spark of the Divine, lives in everyone.
The Bhagavata Purana praises those who guard their speech and see the good in others, warning that constant criticism leads only to suffering. The Manusmriti speaks of dama, self-restraint, as a core virtue, and restraint in thought and speech includes the refusal to belittle others.
The Upanishads remind us that when we speak of others harshly, we are really speaking from the small self, not the true Self.
People judge for many reasons, but most come from within:
When you feel judged, the Gita’s guidance is clear: stay steady. Pause before reacting. Remember that the other person’s words are shaped by their own struggles. You can listen for any truth without taking on their anger or insecurity. Respond only if it helps bring clarity or set a healthy boundary; silence can be stronger than defense.
The deeper invitation is to look within. Ask yourself, “What part of me is stirred by their words?” This is not self-blame but self-knowledge. As Krishna teaches, the wise person watches the play of the senses and thoughts without being ruled by them. The goal is not to become indifferent, but to become free.
Everyone, across cultures and ages, faces misunderstanding and criticism. The Gita’s insight is timeless: do not measure yourself by another’s judgment, and do not imprison yourself by judging others. See each encounter as a chance to know the Self that is beyond praise or blame.
This is not theory for me; it is practice. I have been judged, and I have judged. Each time I catch myself wanting to criticize, I remember Krishna’s call to steadiness and compassion. When I meet judgment, I breathe and return to the truth that who I am cannot be reduced to someone else’s opinion.
Seeing Judgment for What It Really Is
When someone criticizes or mocks you, their words often reveal their own insecurities or hidden struggles more than your supposed flaws.
What the Gita Teaches
The Gita also reminds us in Chapter 6 that the wise see all beings with an equal eye, whether a friend, an enemy, a stranger, or themselves. To judge is to separate and to forget that the same Self, the same spark of the Divine, lives in everyone.
Echoes Across the Shastras
The Upanishads remind us that when we speak of others harshly, we are really speaking from the small self, not the true Self.
Why People Judge
- Fear of being exposed or compared
- Projection of qualities they dislike in themselves
- Desire for control or superiority to feel safe or important
- Unresolved hurt that makes compassion difficult
How to Respond
The deeper invitation is to look within. Ask yourself, “What part of me is stirred by their words?” This is not self-blame but self-knowledge. As Krishna teaches, the wise person watches the play of the senses and thoughts without being ruled by them. The goal is not to become indifferent, but to become free.
A Universal Lesson
This is not theory for me; it is practice. I have been judged, and I have judged. Each time I catch myself wanting to criticize, I remember Krishna’s call to steadiness and compassion. When I meet judgment, I breathe and return to the truth that who I am cannot be reduced to someone else’s opinion.