Chapter 12भक्तियोगःBhakti Yoga
About this chapter
Question and answer (12.1–12.7). Arjuna: are the devotees of the Lord with form the best, or the worshippers of the imperishable, unmanifest (akshara-avyakta) (12.1)? Krishna: those who fix their mind on me and worship me with supreme faith are yuktatama, the most fully united (12.2); the worshippers of the imperishable — with self-restraint, an even mind and devotion to the welfare of all beings — also reach me alone (12.3–12.4); but for embodied beings the path of the unmanifest is hard (12.5); those who offer all their actions to me and worship me with undivided devotion, I swiftly deliver (12.6–12.7).
The ladder of practice (12.8–12.12). Mind and intellect in me (12.8); if not that, then practice (12.9); if not that, then action for my sake (12.10); if not that, then giving up the fruits of all action (12.11); from renunciation comes peace at once (12.12).
The beloved devotee (12.13–12.20). Free of hatred, full of friendliness and compassion, without possessiveness, without ego, forgiving, contented (12.13–12.14); disturbs no one and is disturbed by no one (12.15); free of expectation, pure, capable (12.16); free of elation, aversion, grief and craving (12.17); even towards enemy and friend, honour and dishonour (12.18); the same in blame and praise, restrained in speech, without attachment to a home (12.19); those who live by this nectar of dharma are exceedingly dear (12.20).
AI-assisted draft translation — under review.
20 shlokas
- 12.1एवं सततयुक्ता ये भक्तास्त्वां पर्युपासतेArjuna said: "Those devotees who, ever united in this way, worship you, and those who worship the unmanifest…
- 12.2मय्यावेश्य मनो ये मां नित्ययुक्ता उपासतेThe Blessed Lord said: "Those who fix their mind on me, ever united, and worship me with supreme faith — in my view…
- 12.3ये त्वक्षरमनिर्देश्यम् अव्यक्तं पर्युपासतेBut those who worship the imperishable — indefinable, unmanifest, all-pervading, unthinkable, unchanging (kutastha)…
- 12.4सन्नियम्येन्द्रियग्रामं सर्वत्र समबुद्धयः— keeping the senses restrained, even-minded in every situation, engaged in the welfare of all beings — they too reach…
- 12.5क्लेशोऽधिकतरस्तेषाम् अव्यक्तासक्तचेतसाम्For those whose minds are set on the unmanifest, the difficulty is far greater — for the unmanifest goal is reached…
- 12.6ये तु सर्वाणि कर्माणि मयि सन्न्यस्य मत्पराःBut those who offer all their actions to me, take me as their goal, and worship me, meditating on me with undivided…
- 12.7तेषामहं समुद्धर्ता मृत्युसंसारसागरात्— O Partha, for those devotees whose minds are set on me, I soon become the one who lifts them out of the ocean of…
- 12.8मय्येव मन आधत्स्व मयि बुद्धिं निवेशयFix your mind on me alone, let your intellect rest in me alone — after this you will dwell in me alone; of this there…
- 12.9अथ चित्तं समाधातुं न शक्नोषि मयि स्थिरम्O Dhananjaya, if you are unable to keep your mind steadily on me, then seek to reach me (strive) through the yoga of…
- 12.10अभ्यासेऽप्यसमर्थोऽसि मत्कर्मपरमो भवIf you are unable even to practise, then devote yourself to doing work for my sake; even by doing work for me, you will…
- 12.11अथैतदप्यशक्तोऽसि कर्तुं मद्योगमाश्रितःIf you are unable to do even this, then taking refuge in me and keeping your mind restrained, give up the fruits of all…
- 12.12श्रेयो हि ज्ञानमभ्यासाज्ज्ञानाद् ध्यानं विशिष्यतेKnowledge is better than practice, meditation is superior to knowledge, giving up the fruits of action is better than…
- 12.13अद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्रः करुण एव चOne who hates no living being, who holds friendliness and compassion towards all, who is free of possessiveness and…
- 12.14सन्तुष्टः सततं योगी यतात्मा दृढनिश्चयः— one who is ever contented, a yogi, self-controlled, firm in resolve, who has offered mind and intellect to me — such…
- 12.15यस्मान्नोद्विजते लोको लोकान्नोद्विजते च यःOne by whom no one is troubled, and who is troubled by no one; who is free of elation, impatience (irritation), fear…
- 12.16अनपेक्षः शुचिर्दक्ष उदासीनो गतव्यथःOne who is free of expectation, pure (shuchi), capable (daksha), impartial (udasina), free of distress, and has given…
- 12.17यो न हृष्यति न द्वेष्टि न शोचति न काङ्क्षतिOne who neither rejoices (when the pleasant comes) nor hates (the unpleasant), neither grieves nor craves; who has…
- 12.18समः शत्रौ च मित्रे च तथा मानापमानयोःOne who is the same towards enemy and friend, in honour and dishonour; the same in cold and heat, in pleasure and pain…
- 12.19तुल्यनिन्दास्तुतिर्मौनी सन्तुष्टो येन केनचित्One who is the same in blame and praise, restrained in speech, content with whatever comes, free of attachment to a…
- 12.20ये तु धर्म्यामृतमिदं यथोक्तं पर्युपासतेBut those devotees, full of faith and holding me as the supreme goal, who partake of this nectar of dharma as it has…