Chapter 12
Chapter 12: Bhakti Yoga
The Yoga of Devotion
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Verse 12.1
arjuna uvāca
evaṁ satata-yuktā ye bhaktās tvāṁ paryupāsate |
ye cāpy akṣaram avyaktaṁ teṣāṁ ke yoga-vittamāḥ ||1||
arjuna uvacha
evam satata-yukta ye bhaktas tvam paryupasate |
ye chapy aksharam avyaktan teshan ke yoga-vittamah ||1||
Translation: Arjuna inquired: Which are considered to be more perfect, those who are always properly engaged in Your devotional service or those who worship the impersonal Brahman, the unmanifested?
Verse 12.2
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
mayyāveśya mano ye māṁ nityayuktā upāsate |
śraddhayā parayopetāste me yuktatamā matāḥ ||2||
shri-bhagavan uvacha
mayyaveshya mano ye mam nityayukta upasate |
shraddhaya parayopetaste me yuktatama matah ||2||
Translation: The Supreme Lord said: Those who fix their minds on My personal form and are always engaged in worshiping Me with great and transcendental faith are considered by Me to be most perfect.
Verses 12.3–4
ye tv akṣaram anirdeśyam avyaktaṁ paryupāsate |
sarvatra-gam acintyaṁ ca kūṭa-stham acalaṁ dhruvam ||3||
ye tv aksharam anirdeshyam avyaktam paryupasate |
sarvatra-gam achintyan cha kuta-stham achalan dhruvam ||3||
sanniyamyendriya-grāmaṁ sarvatra sama-buddhayaḥ |
te prāpnuvanti mām eva sarva-bhūta-hite ratāḥ ||4||
sanniyamyendriya-gramam sarvatra sama-buddhayah |
te prapnuvanti mam eva sarva-bhuta-hite ratah ||4||
Translation: But those who fully worship the unmanifested, the impersonal Brahman, which is beyond the perception of the senses, all-pervading, unthinkable, fixed, and immovable—controlling the various senses and being equipoised regarding all, engaged in the welfare of all living beings—ultimately achieve Me.
Verse 12.5
kleśo ’dhikatarasteṣāmavyaktāsaktacetasām |
avyaktā hi gatir duḥkhaṁ dehavadbhir avāpyate ||5||
klesho ’dhikatarasteshamavyaktasaktachetasam |
avyakta hi gatir duhkhan dehavadbhir avapyate ||5||
Translation: For those whose minds are attached to the unmanifested, impersonal feature of the Supreme, advancement is very troublesome. To make progress in that discipline is always difficult for those who are embodied.
Verses 12.6–7
ye tu sarvāṇi karmāṇi mayi sannyasya matparāḥ |
ananyenaiva yogena māṁ dhyāyanta upāsate ||6||
ye tu sarvani karmani mayi sannyasya matparah |
ananyenaiva yogena man dhyayanta upasate ||6||
teṣām ahaṁ samuddhartā mṛtyu-saṁsāra-sāgarāt |
bhavāmi na cirāt pārtha mayy āveśita-cetasām ||7||
tesham aham samuddharta mrityu-samsara-sagarat |
bhavami na chirat partha mayy aveshita-chetasam ||7||
Translation: But those who worship Me, giving up all their activities unto Me and devoting themselves to Me without deviation, engaged in devotional service and always meditating upon Me—having their minds fixed upon Me—for them I am the swift deliverer from the ocean of birth and death.
Verse 12.8
mayy eva mana ādhatsva mayi buddhiṁ niveśaya |
nivasiṣyasi mayy eva ata ūrdhvaṁ na saṁśayaḥ ||8||
mayy eva mana adhatsva mayi buddhim niveshaya |
nivasishyasi mayy eva ata urdhvam na samshayah ||8||
Translation: Just fix your mind upon Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and engage all your intelligence in Me. Thus you will live in Me always, without a doubt.
Verse 12.9
atha cittaṁ samādhātuṁ na śaknoṣi mayi sthiram |
abhyāsa-yogena tato mām icchāptuṁ dhanañjaya ||9||
atha chittam samadhatum na shaknoshi mayi sthiram |
abhyasa-yogena tato mam ichchhaptun dhananjaya ||9||
Translation: My dear Arjuna, O winner of wealth, if you cannot fix your mind upon Me without deviation, then follow the regulated principles of bhakti-yoga. In this way you will develop a desire to attain Me.
Verse 12.10
abhyāse ’py asamartho ’si mat-karma-paramo bhava |
mad-artham api karmāṇi kurvan siddhim avāpsyasi ||10||
abhyase ’py asamartho ’si mat-karma-paramo bhava |
mad-artham api karmani kurvan siddhim avapsyasi ||10||
Translation: If you cannot practice the regulations of bhakti-yoga, then just try to work for Me, because by working for Me you will come to the perfect stage.
Verse 12.11
athaitad apy aśakto ’si kartuṁ mad-yogam āśritaḥ |
sarva-karma-phala-tyāgaṁ tataḥ kuru yatātmavān ||11||
athaitad apy ashakto ’si kartum mad-yogam ashritah |
sarva-karma-phala-tyagan tatah kuru yatatmavan ||11||
Translation: If, however, you are unable to work in this consciousness of devotion, then try to act giving up all the results of your work and try to be self-situated.
Verse 12.12
śreyo hi jñānam abhyāsāj jñānād dhyānaṁ viśiṣyate |
dhyānāt karma-phala-tyāgas tyāgāc chāntir anantaram ||12||
shreyo hi jnanam abhyasaj jnanad dhyanam vishishyate |
dhyanat karma-phala-tyagas tyagach chhantir anantaram ||12||
Translation: If you cannot take to this practice, then take to knowledge of the self. Better than knowledge, however, is meditation, and better than meditation is renunciation of the results of action, for by such renunciation one can attain peace of mind.
Verses 12.13–14
adveṣṭā sarva-bhūtānāṁ maitraḥ karuṇa eva ca |
nirmamo nirahaṅkāraḥ samaduḥkha-sukhaḥ kṣamī ||13||
adveshta sarva-bhutanam maitrah karuna eva cha |
nirmamo nirahankarah samaduhkha-sukhah kshami ||13||
santuṣṭaḥ satataṁ yogī yatātmā dṛḍha-niścayaḥ |
mayyarpita-mano-buddhir yo mad-bhaktaḥ sa me priyaḥ ||14||
santushtah satatam yogi yatatma dridha-nishchayah |
mayyarpita-mano-buddhir yo mad-bhaktah sa me priyah ||14||
Translation: One who is not envious but is a kind friend to all living entities, who does not think himself a proprietor and is free from false ego, who is equal in both happiness and distress, who is tolerant, always satisfied, self-controlled, and engaged in devotional service with determination, his mind and intelligence fixed on Me—such a devotee of Mine is very dear to Me.
Verse 12.15
yasmān nodvijate loko lokān nodvijate ca yaḥ |
harṣāmarṣabhayodvegair mukto yaḥ sa ca me priyaḥ ||15||
yasman nodvijate loko lokan nodvijate cha yah |
harshamarshabhayodvegair mukto yah sa cha me priyah ||15||
Translation: He by whom no one is put into difficulty and who is not disturbed by anyone, who is poised in happiness and distress, fear and anxiety, is very dear to Me.
Verse 12.16
anapekṣaḥ śucir dakṣa udāsīno gata-vyathaḥ |
sarvārambha-parityāgī yo mad-bhaktaḥ sa me priyaḥ ||16||
anapekshah shuchir daksha udasino gata-vyathah |
sarvarambha-parityagi yo mad-bhaktah sa me priyah ||16||
Translation: My devotee who is not dependent on the ordinary course of work, who is pure, expert, without cares, free from all pains, and who does not strive for the result of some work, is very dear to Me.
Verse 12.17
yo na hṛṣyati na dveṣṭi na śocati na kāṅkṣati |
śubhāśubha-parityāgī bhaktimān yaḥ sa me priyaḥ ||17||
yo na hrishyati na dveshti na shochati na kankshati |
shubhashubha-parityagi bhaktiman yah sa me priyah ||17||
Translation: One who neither rejoices nor laments, who neither lusts nor sorrows, and who renounces both auspicious and inauspicious things—such a devotee is very dear to Me.
Verses 12.18–19
samaḥ śatrau ca mitre ca tathā mānāpamānayoḥ |
śītoṣṇa-sukha-duḥkheṣu samaḥ saṅga-vivarjitaḥ ||18||
samah shatrau cha mitre cha tatha manapamanayoh |
shitoshna-sukha-duhkheshu samah sanga-vivarjitah ||18||
tulya-nindā-stutir maunī santuṣṭo yena kenacit |
aniketaḥ sthira-matir bhaktimān me priyo naraḥ ||19||
tulya-ninda-stutir mauni santushto yena kenachit |
aniketah sthira-matir bhaktiman me priyo narah ||19||
Translation: One who is equal to friends and enemies, who is equibalanced in honor and dishonor, heat and cold, happiness and distress, fame and infamy, who is always free from contaminating association, always silent and satisfied with anything, who doesn’t care for any residence, who is fixed in knowledge and who is engaged in devotional service—such a person is very dear to Me.
Verse 12.20
ye tu dharmyāmṛtam idaṁ yathoktaṁ paryupāsate |
śraddadhānā mat-paramā bhaktās te ’tīva me priyāḥ ||20||
ye tu dharmyamritam idam yathoktam paryupasate |
shraddadhana mat-parama bhaktas te ’tiva me priyah ||20||
Translation: Those who follow this imperishable path of devotional service and who completely engage themselves with faith, making Me the supreme goal, are very, very dear to Me.