VERSES 1-5: WHICH IS SUPERIOR, DEVOTION OR KNOWLEDGE?
12.1
Arjuna says:
Between the devotees who worship You, meditating on You in the way
described, and those who contemplate on the imperishable, impersonal
aspect of You — who is superior?
arjuna uvāca
evaṁ satata-yuktā ye bhaktās-tvāṁ paryupāsate |
ye cāpyakṣaram-avyaktaṁ teṣāṁ ke yoga-vittamāḥ || 1 ||
12.2
Lord Kṛṣṇa says:
In My opinion, those who are forever absorbed in Me with strong faith
and worship My personal form with focussed minds, are on the highest
path.
śrī bhagavān uvāca
mayyāveśya mano ye māṁ nitya-yuktā upāsate |
śraddhayā parayopetās-te me yuktatamā matāḥ || 2 ||
12.3
But those who contemplate on the imperishable, the indefinable, the
unmanifest, omnipresent, inconceivable, transcendent, unchanging,
immovable impersonal aspect of the Truth.
ye tvakṣaram-anirdeśyam-avyaktaṁ paryupāsate |
sarvatragam-acintyaṁ ca kūṭastham acalaṁ dhruvam || 3 ||
12.4
Having subdued all their senses, remaining equal-minded and engaged in
the welfare of all beings — they too eventually come to Me.
But greater is the difficulty of those whose minds are attached to the
impersonal Truth. For those who are embodied, that path is filled with
suffering.
kleśo’dhikataras-teṣām avyaktā-sakta-cetasām |
avyaktā hi gatir-duḥkhaṁ dehavadbhir-avāpyate || 5 ||
VERSES 6-7: THE LORD RESCUES HIS DEVOTEES
12.6
But for those who love and surrender all their actions to Me, who
worship Me with exclusive devotion and fix their minds on Me alone;
ye tu sarvāṇi karmāṇi mayi saṁnyasya mat-parāḥ |
ananyenaiva yogena māṁ dhyāyanta upāsate || 6 ||
12.7
For such people, Arjuna, who have their consciousness absorbed in this
way, I quickly deliver them from the ocean of birth and death.
Place your mind on Me alone and let all your understanding be absorbed
in Me. Then without doubt you will dwell in Me.
mayyeva mana ādhatsva mayi buddhiṁ niveśaya |
nivasiṣyasi mayyeva ata ūrdhvaṁ na saṁśayaḥ || 8 ||
12.9
But if you are unable to centre your mind on Me, then seek to reach Me,
O Arjuna, by constantly practicing yoga.
atha cittaṁ samādhātuṁ na śaknoṣi mayi sthiram |
abhyāsa-yogena tato mām-icchāptuṁ dhanañjaya || 9 ||
12.10
But if you are unable to practise this yoga, then devote yourself to
serving Me. For even by dedicating your actions to Me, you will attain
perfection.
Knowledge is far better than simple practice. Meditation is better than
knowledge, and renouncing the fruits of action is better than
meditation; from such renunciation peace immediately appears.
VERSES 13-20: THE QUALITIES OF A DEVOTEE WHO IS DEAR TO KṚṢṆA
12.13
The person who has no hatred towards any living being, who is friendly
and compassionate to all, who is free from the notions of ‘I’ and
‘mine’, who regards pain and pleasure with equanimity, who is
forbearing;
adveṣṭā sarva bhūtānāṁ maitraḥ karuṇa eva ca |
nir-mamo nir-ahaṅkāraḥ sama duḥkha sukha kṣamī || 13 ||
12.14
Contented, who is constantly contemplating, self-restrained and firm in
one’s convictions, dedicating his mind and intellect to Me — such a
devotee is dear to Me.
santuṣṭaḥ satataṁ yogī yatātmā dṛḍha-niścayaḥ |
mayyarpita mano buddhiḥ yo mad-bhaktaḥ sa me priyaḥ || 14 ||
12.15
He who does not disturb the world, and is not disturbed by the world,
who is free from joy and sorrow, fear and passion — he is dear to Me.
yasmān no dvijate loko lokān nodvijate ca yaḥ |
harṣāmarṣabhayo-dvegaiḥ mukto yaḥ sa ca me priyaḥ || 15 ||
12.16
One who is free from expectations, who is pure, skilled, impartial and
free from anxiety and who has renounced material pursuits — he is dear
to Me.
anapekṣaḥ śucir dakṣaḥ udāsīno gatavyathaḥ |
sarvārambha parityāgī yo mad bhaktaḥ sa me priyaḥ || 16 ||
12.17
One who is full of devotion to Me, who does not rejoice or hate, who
does not grieve or desire, who renounces both enjoyable and vile objects
— such a devotee is dear to Me.
yo na hṛṣyati na dveṣṭi na śocati na kāṅkṣati |
śubhāśubha parityāgī bhaktimān yaḥ sa me priyaḥ || 17 ||
12.18
He who is the same to both enemy and friend, who sees honour and
dishonour as equal, who is indifferent to cold and heat, pleasure and
pain, who is free from all attachments;
samaḥ śatrau ca mitre ca tathā mānāpamānayoḥ |
śītoṣṇa sukha duḥkheṣu samaḥ saṅga vivarjitaḥ || 18 ||
12.19
Who is unaffected by both praise and blame, and content with any
condition, who has no home, who is steady in mind, and who is devoted to
Me — such a person is dear to Me.