12. Devotion

Bhakti Yog

BG 12.1 - 20

Verse 1

अर्जुन उवाचएवं सततयुक्ता ये भक्तास्त्वां पर्युपासते
येचाप्यक्षरमव्यक्तं तेषां के योगवित्तमाः


Arjuna asked: Who has a greater knowledge of yoga - the one who worships you as a personified God, or those who worship you in your imperishable and unmanifested form?

Commentary

Verse 2

श्री भगवानुवाचमय्यावेश्य मनो ये मां नित्ययुक्ता उपासते
श्रद्धया परयोपेतास्ते मे युक्ततमा मताः


Krishna replied: Those who keep their mind fixed on me, who worship me with unwavering faith and concentration, are the highest practitioners of Yoga.

Commentary

Verse 3 - 4

ये त्वक्षरमनिर्देश्यमव्यक्तं पर्युपासते
सर्वत्रगमचिन्त्यं च कूटस्थमचलं ध्रुवम्
संनियम्येन्द्रियग्रामं सर्वत्र समबुद्धयः
ते प्राप्नुवन्ति मामेव सर्वभूतहिते रताः


Those who worship me as the imperishable, the incomprehensible, the omnipresent, the unthinkable, the primal, the immutable, and the eternal,

having subdued all the senses, remaining equanimous at all times, and engaged in the welfare of all beings - they also attain me.

Commentary

Verse 5

क्लेशोऽधिकतरस्तेषामव्यक्तासक्तचेतसाम्
अव्यक्ता हि गतिर्दुःखं देहवद्भिरवाप्यते

Those who fix their attention on the unmanifest encounter greater challenges, as it is difficult for those with a body to realize me as being without one.

Commentary

Verse 6 - 7

ये तु सर्वाणि कर्माणि मयि संन्यस्य मत्पराः
अनन्येनैव योगेन मां ध्यायन्त उपासते
तेषामहं समुद्धर्ता मृत्युसंसारसागरात्
भवामि नचिरात्पार्थ मय्यावेशितचेतसाम्


Those who dedicate their actions to me, hold me as their supreme goal, contemplate me and meditate upon me with devotion -

to those whose mind is set on me, I rescue them from their drowning in the ocean of life and death.

Commentary

Verse 8

मय्येव मन आधत्स्व मयि बुद्धिं निवेशय
निवसिष्यसि मय्येव अत ऊर्ध्वं न संशयः

Focus your mind on me alone, letting the intellect rest within me, and you will certainly dwell in me alone.

Commentary

Verse 9

अथ चित्तं समाधातुं न शक्नोषि मयि स्थिरम्
अभ्यासयोगेन ततो मामिच्छाप्तुं धनञ्जय

If you are unable to fix your mind firmly on me, then seek to reach me through constant practice.

Commentary

Verse 10

अभ्यासेऽप्यसमर्थोऽसि मत्कर्मपरमो भव
मदर्थमपि कर्माणि कुर्वन् सिद्धिमवाप्स्यसि

If you are incapable of steady practice, then devote yourself to my service and perform all action for my sake - this is also a path to success.

Commentary

Verse 11

अथैतदप्यशक्तोऽसि कर्तुं मद्योगमाश्रितः
सर्वकर्मफलत्यागं ततः कुरु यतात्मवान्

If you are not capable of this either, then seek refuge in my Yoga by renouncing the fruit of your actions with self-control.

Commentary

Verse 12

श्रेयो हि ज्ञानमभ्यासाज्ज्ञानाद्ध्यानं विशिष्यते
ध्यानात्कर्मफलत्यागस्त्यागाच्छान्तिरनन्तरम्

Knowledge of the self is superior to practice, and meditation is superior to knowledge. Renunciation of the fruit of actions is superior to meditation, and in such a path of renunciation, only peace can follow.

Commentary

Verse 13 - 14

अद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्रः करुण एव च
निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः समदुःखसुखः क्षमी
सन्तुष्टः सततं योगी यतात्मा दृढनिश्चयः
मय्यर्पितमनोबुद्धिर्यो मद्भक्तः स मे प्रियः


One who treats all beings with friendliness and compassion, is free from selfishness and pride, can look upon pleasure and pain with equanimity, is forgiving,

ever content, steady in meditation, self-controlled, with firm convictions, whose mind and intellect are dedicated to me - such a devotee is most dear to me.

Commentary

Verse 15

यस्मान्नोद्विजते लोको लोकान्नोद्विजते च यः
हर्षामर्षभयोद्वेगैर्मुक्तो यः स च मे प्रियः

One who does not harm the world, and who the world is unable to harm, who is not carried away by impulses of joy, anger, or fear, is most beloved to me.

Commentary

Verse 16

अनपेक्षः शुचिर्दक्ष उदासीनो गतव्यथः
सर्वारम्भपरित्यागी यो मद्भक्तः स मे प्रियः

One who is free from desires, who is pure, skillful, impartial, courageous, and has renounced every undertaking - they are dear to me.

Commentary

Verse 17

यो न हृष्यति न द्वेष्टि न शोचति न काङ्क्षति
शुभाशुभपरित्यागी भक्ितमान्यः स मे प्रियः

One who neither rejoices nor hates, neither grieves nor desires, to whom good and evil fortunes are the same - such a devotee is most dear to me.

Commentary

Verse 18 - 19

समः शत्रौ च मित्रे च तथा मानापमानयोः
शीतोष्णसुखदुःखेषु समः सङ्गविवर्जितः
तुल्यनिन्दास्तुतिर्मौनी सन्तुष्टो येनकेनचित्
अनिकेतः स्थिरमतिर्भक्ितमान्मे प्रियो नरः


One who gives equal treatment to friend and foe, honor and dishonor, cold and heat, pleasure and pain, and is free from all attachments -

such a person who is indifferent to both praise and blame, who is silent and content with anything, who has no home, is firm of mind, and full of devotion - such a person is most dear to me.

Commentary

Verse 20

ये तु धर्म्यामृतमिदं यथोक्तं पर्युपासते
श्रद्दधाना मत्परमा भक्तास्तेऽतीव मे प्रियाः

Those who practice this spiritual wisdom with unwavering faith and concentration are my most beloved.

Commentary
Chapter 12