Chapter 12
Bhakti Yoga
भक्तियोग
The Yoga of Devotion · 20 verses
Summary · Path of Devotion
Which is better — worship of the formless, or of a form? Krishna is clear: fix your mind on Him in a form, for embodied beings struggle with the Absolute. Better still is to live for the welfare of all beings, free of hate and ego — "for one who acts for Me, holds Me supreme, is devoted, detached and without hate, I am swiftly reached."
form and formlesswelfare of allqualities of the devotee
1 Bhakti Yoga अर्जुन उवाच |
एवं सततयुक्ता ये भक्तास्त्वां पर्युपासते |
ये चाप्यक्षरमव्यक्तं तेषां के योगवित्तमाः ||१२-१|| 12.1 Arjuna said Those devotees, who, ever integrated, thus meditate on You, and those again, who meditate on the Imperishable and the Unmanifest - which or these have greater knowledge of Yoga? ›2 Bhakti Yoga श्रीभगवानुवाच |
मय्यावेश्य मनो ये मां नित्ययुक्ता उपासते |
श्रद्धया परयोपेताः ते मे युक्ततमा मताः ||१२-२|| 12.2 The Lord said Those who, ever integrated with Me and possessed of supreme faith, worship Me, focusing their minds on Me - these are considered by Me the highest among the Yogins. ›3 Bhakti Yoga ये त्वक्षरमनिर्देश्यमव्यक्तं पर्युपासते |
सर्वत्रगमचिन्त्यञ्च कूटस्थमचलन्ध्रुवम् ||१२-३|| Swami Adidevananda did not comment on this sloka ›4 Bhakti Yoga सन्नियम्येन्द्रियग्रामं सर्वत्र समबुद्धयः |
ते प्राप्नुवन्ति मामेव सर्वभूतहिते रताः ||१२-४|| 12.4 Having subdued all the senses, being even-minded, engaged in the welfare of all beings - they too come to Me only. ›5 Bhakti Yoga क्लेशोऽधिकतरस्तेषामव्यक्तासक्तचेतसाम् |
अव्यक्ता हि गतिर्दुःखं देहवद्भिरवाप्यते ||१२-५|| 12.5 Greater is the difficulty of those whose minds are thus attached to the unmanifest. For the way of the unmanifest is hard to reach by embodied beings. ›6 Bhakti Yoga ये तु सर्वाणि कर्माणि मयि संन्यस्य मत्परः |
अनन्येनैव योगेन मां ध्यायन्त उपासते ||१२-६|| 12.6 For, those who dedicate all actions to Me, hold Me as their supreme goal, intent on Me, and worship Me meditating on Me with exclusive devotion; ›7 Bhakti Yoga तेषामहं समुद्धर्ता मृत्युसंसारसागरात् |
भवामि नचिरात्पार्थ मय्यावेशितचेतसाम् ||१२-७|| 12.7 Of those whose minds are thus focused on Me, I become soon their saviour from the ocean of mortal life. ›8 Bhakti Yoga मय्येव मन आधत्स्व मयि बुद्धिं निवेशय |
निवसिष्यसि मय्येव अत ऊर्ध्वं न संशयः ||१२-८|| 12.8 Focus your mind on Me alone; and let your Buddhi enter into Me. Then, you will live in Me alone; there is no doubt. ›9 Bhakti Yoga अथ चित्तं समाधातुं न शक्नोषि मयि स्थिरम् |
अभ्यासयोगेन ततो मामिच्छाप्तुं धनञ्जय ||१२-९|| 12.9 If now you are unable to focus your mind on Me, then seek to reach Me, O Arjuna, by the practice of repetition. ›10 Bhakti Yoga अभ्यासेऽप्यसमर्थोऽसि मत्कर्मपरमो भव |
मदर्थमपि कर्माणि कुर्वन्सिद्धिमवाप्स्यसि ||१२-१०|| 12.10 If you are incapable of even this practice of repetition, then devote yourself to My deeds (service). For even by working for My sake, you will attain perfection. ›11 Bhakti Yoga अथैतदप्यशक्तोऽसि कर्तुं मद्योगमाश्रितः |
सर्वकर्मफलत्यागं ततः कुरु यतात्मवान् ||१२-११|| 12.11 If you are unable to do even this, i.e., taking refuge in My Yoga, then, with your self controlled, renounce the fruits of every action. ›12 Bhakti Yoga श्रेयो हि ज्ञानमभ्यासाज्ज्ञानाद्ध्यानं विशिष्यते |
ध्यानात्कर्मफलत्यागस्त्यागाच्छान्तिरनन्तरम् ||१२-१२|| 12.12 Far better is knowledge of the self then the repeated practice (of remembrance of the Lord). Better is meditation than this knowledge; Better is renunciation of fruits of action than meditation. From such renunciation, peace ensues. ›13 Bhakti Yoga Essential अद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्रः करुण एव च |
निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः समदुःखसुखः क्षमी ||१२-१३|| 12.13 He who never hates any being, who is friendly and compassionate, who is free from the feelings of I and mine, who looks upon all pain and pleasure the same as and who is enduring; ›14 Bhakti Yoga सन्तुष्टः सततं योगी यतात्मा दृढनिश्चयः |
मय्यर्पितमनोबुद्धिर्यो मद्भक्तः स मे प्रियः ||१२-१४|| 12.14 He who is content, who ever meditates and is self-restrained and who is firm in his convictions, who has his mind and reason dedicated to Me - he is dear to Me. ›15 Bhakti Yoga यस्मान्नोद्विजते लोको लोकान्नोद्विजते च यः |
हर्षामर्षभयोद्वेगैर्मुक्तो यः स च मे प्रियः ||१२-१५|| 12.15 He from whom the world has no cause to be frightened, who is not frightened by the world, who is free from joy and impatience, fear and repulsion - he is dear to me. ›16 Bhakti Yoga अनपेक्षः शुचिर्दक्ष उदासीनो गतव्यथः |
सर्वारम्भपरित्यागी यो मद्भक्तः स मे प्रियः ||१२-१६|| 12.16 He who is free from desires, who is pure, expert, indifferent and free from agony, who has renounced every undertaking - he is dear to Me. ›17 Bhakti Yoga यो न हृष्यति न द्वेष्टि न शोचति न काङ्क्षति |
शुभाशुभपरित्यागी भक्तिमान्यः स मे प्रियः ||१२-१७|| 12.17 He who rejoices not, nor hates, nor grieves, nor desires, who renounces good and evil, who is full of devotion to me - dear to me is such
a devotee. ›18 Bhakti Yoga समः शत्रौ च मित्रे च तथा मानापमानयोः |
शीतोष्णसुखदुःखेषु समः सङ्गविवर्जितः ||१२-१८|| Swami Adidevananda did not comment on this sloka ›19 Bhakti Yoga तुल्यनिन्दास्तुतिर्मौनी सन्तुष्टो येन केनचित् |
अनिकेतः स्थिरमतिर्भक्तिमान्मे प्रियो नरः ||१२-१९|| 12.19 He who regards alike both blame and praise, who is silent and content with any lot, who has no home, who is firm of mind, and who is devoted to Me - dear to Me is such a man. ›20 Bhakti Yoga Essential ये तु धर्म्यामृतमिदं यथोक्तं पर्युपासते |
श्रद्दधाना मत्परमा भक्तास्तेऽतीव मे प्रियाः ||१२-२०|| 12.20 But those devotees who follow this nectar of virtuous-duty as taught above, who are full of faith and who regard Me as the Supreme - they are exceedingly dear to Me. ›