Chapter 12 · 20 verses

The Yoga of Devotion (Bhakti Yoga) भक्तियोग

Is devotion to the personal form better, or worship of the formless? Krishna describes the path of devotion and the qualities of the devotee dear to him: free of hatred, friendly and compassionate to all.

This English meaning is newly written by Bhajan Dhun and is still being reviewed by scholars.

1. 12.1

   अर्जुन उवाच

   एवं सततयुक्ता ये भक्तास्त्वां पर्युपासते ।
   ये चाप्यक्षरमव्यक्तं तेषां के योगवित्तमाः ॥१२.१॥

   Arjuna said: Of those devotees who, ever steadfast, worship you in this way, and those who worship the imperishable, unmanifest Absolute — which know yoga better?

2. 12.2

   श्री भगवानुवाच

   मय्यावेश्य मनो ये मां नित्ययुक्ता उपासते ।
   श्रद्धया परयोपेतास्ते मे युक्ततमा मताः ॥१२.२॥

   The Lord said: Those who fix their minds on me and worship me, ever united and endowed with supreme faith, I consider the most perfect in yoga.

3. 12.3

   ये त्वक्षरमनिर्देश्यमव्यक्तं पर्युपासते ।
   सर्वत्रगमचिन्त्यं च कूटस्थमचलं ध्रुवम् ॥१२.३॥

   But those who worship the imperishable — the indefinable, unmanifest, all-pervading, unthinkable, unchanging, immovable and eternal —

4. 12.4

   संनियम्येन्द्रियग्रामं सर्वत्र समबुद्धयः ।
   ते प्राप्नुवन्ति मामेव सर्वभूतहिते रताः ॥१२.४॥

   restraining all the senses, even-minded everywhere and devoted to the welfare of all beings, they too come to me.

5. 12.5

   क्लेशोऽधिकतरस्तेषामव्यक्तासक्तचेतसाम् ।
   अव्यक्ता हि गतिर्दुःखं देहवद्भिरवाप्यते ॥१२.५॥

   But the effort is greater for those whose minds are set on the unmanifest, for the path of the unmanifest is hard for embodied beings to travel.

6. 12.6

   ये तु सर्वाणि कर्माणि मयि संन्यस्य मत्पराः ।
   अनन्येनैव योगेन मां ध्यायन्त उपासते ॥१२.६॥

   But those who offer all their actions to me, regard me as the supreme goal and worship me, meditating on me with undivided devotion —

7. 12.7

   तेषामहं समुद्धर्ता मृत्युसंसारसागरात् ।
   भवामि नचिरात्पार्थ मय्यावेशितचेतसाम् ॥१२.७॥

   for them, whose minds are absorbed in me, O Partha, I soon become the deliverer from the ocean of death and worldly existence.

8. 12.8

   मय्येव मन आधत्स्व मयि बुद्धिं निवेशय ।
   निवसिष्यसि मय्येव अत ऊर्ध्वं न संशयः ॥१२.८॥

   Fix your mind on me alone and let your intellect rest in me. Then you will surely dwell in me hereafter; there is no doubt.

9. 12.9

   अथ चित्तं समाधातुं न शक्नोषि मयि स्थिरम् ।
   अभ्यासयोगेन ततो मामिच्छाप्तुं धनञ्जय ॥१२.९॥

   If you cannot fix your mind steadily on me, O Dhananjaya, then seek to reach me through the yoga of practice — bringing the mind back again and again.

10. 12.10

    अभ्यासेऽप्यसमर्थोऽसि मत्कर्मपरमो भव ।
    मदर्थमपि कर्माणि कुर्वन् सिद्धिमवाप्स्यसि ॥१२.१०॥

    If you are unable even to practise, devote yourself to working for me. Even by doing actions for my sake you will attain perfection.

11. 12.11

    अथैतदप्यशक्तोऽसि कर्तुं मद्योगमाश्रितः ।
    सर्वकर्मफलत्यागं ततः कुरु यतात्मवान् ॥१२.११॥

    If you cannot do even this, then take refuge in me, control yourself and give up the fruits of all your actions.

12. 12.12

    श्रेयो हि ज्ञानमभ्यासाज्ज्ञानाद्ध्यानं विशिष्यते ।
    ध्यानात्कर्मफलत्यागस्त्यागाच्छान्तिरनन्तरम् ॥१२.१२॥

    Knowledge is better than mere practice; meditation is better than knowledge; giving up the fruits of action is better than meditation — for from such renunciation, peace follows at once.

13. 12.13

    अद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्रः करुण एव च ।
    निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः समदुःखसुखः क्षमी ॥१२.१३॥

    One who bears no ill will to any being, who is friendly and compassionate, free from possessiveness and ego, even in pain and pleasure, and forgiving,

14. 12.14

    सन्तुष्टः सततं योगी यतात्मा दृढनिश्चयः ।
    मय्यर्पितमनोबुद्धिर्यो मद्भक्तः स मे प्रियः ॥१२.१४॥

    ever content, disciplined, self-controlled, of firm resolve, with mind and intellect dedicated to me — such a devotee is dear to me.

15. 12.15

    यस्मान्नोद्विजते लोको लोकान्नोद्विजते च यः ।
    हर्षामर्षभयोद्वेगैर्मुक्तो यः स च मे प्रियः ॥१२.१५॥

    One by whom the world is not troubled and who is not troubled by the world, who is free from elation, envy, fear and anxiety — such a one is dear to me.

16. 12.16

    अनपेक्षः शुचिर्दक्ष उदासीनो गतव्यथः ।
    सर्वारम्भपरित्यागी यो मद्भक्तः स मे प्रियः ॥१२.१६॥

    One who expects nothing, who is pure and capable, impartial and free from worry, who has given up all selfish undertakings — such a devotee is dear to me.

17. 12.17

    यो न हृष्यति न द्वेष्टि न शोचति न काङ्क्षति ।
    शुभाशुभपरित्यागी भक्तिमान्यः स मे प्रियः ॥१२.१७॥

    One who neither rejoices nor hates, neither grieves nor craves, and who has given up both good and bad outcomes — such a devoted person is dear to me.

18. 12.18

    समः शत्रौ च मित्रे च तथा मानापमानयोः ।
    शीतोष्णसुखदुःखेषु समः सङ्गविवर्जितः ॥१२.१८॥

    One who is the same to friend and foe, in honour and dishonour, in cold and heat, in pleasure and pain, and free from attachment,

19. 12.19

    तुल्यनिन्दास्तुतिर्मौनी सन्तुष्टो येनकेनचित् ।
    अनिकेतः स्थिरमतिर्भक्तिमान्मे प्रियो नरः ॥१२.१९॥

    who takes praise and blame alike, who is quiet, content with whatever comes, without attachment to a home, and steady in mind — such a devoted person is dear to me.

20. 12.20

    ये तु धर्म्यामृतमिदं यथोक्तं पर्युपासते ।
    श्रद्दधाना मत्परमा भक्तास्तेऽतीव मे प्रियाः ॥१२.२०॥

    But those who follow this immortal teaching of dharma as I have given it, with faith and holding me as the supreme goal — those devotees are exceedingly dear to me.