Chapter 12

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?

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.

But those who contemplate on the imperishable, the indefinable, the unmanifest, omnipresent, inconceivable, transcendent, unchanging, immovable impersonal aspect of the Truth.

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.

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;

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.

But if you are unable to centre your mind on Me, then seek to reach Me, O Arjuna, by constantly practicing yoga.

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.

But if you are unable to even to act in remembrance of Me, then to gain self-control renounce the fruits of every action.

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.

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;

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.

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.

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.

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.

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;

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.

But those devotees who practise this immortal teaching with full faith as taught by Me, and who regard Me as the Supreme, are exceedingly dear to Me.