Chapter 12

Arjuna said: Among the devotees who worship You, constantly absorbed in the way described, and those who contemplate on the imperishable unmanifest—who has the highest knowledge of yoga?

Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: Those whose mind is absorbed in Me, are ever united with Me and worship Me with supreme faith—I consider them to be most perfected in yoga.

But those who have subdued all their senses, who remain equal-minded at all times, who are intent on the welfare of all beings, and worship the imperishable, indefinable, unmanifest, all-pervading, inconceivable, unchangeable, immovable, eternal Supreme—they too reach Me alone.

Greater is the hardship of those whose minds are attached to the unmanifest. That state is attained with difficulty for those who are embodied.

I swiftly deliver those who surrender all actions to Me, who have Me as their supreme goal, who meditate on Me, worship Me with exclusive devotion, and whose minds are absorbed in Me, from the ocean of birth and death, O Pārtha.

Place your mind on Me alone and let all your intellect be fixed in Me; hereafter you shall dwell in Me alone, without doubt.

But if you are unable to fix your mind on Me in a stable manner, then strive to attain Me, O Dhanañjaya, by the constant practice of yoga.

But if you are incapable in practice, be devoted to My works. Also by performing actions for My sake, you shall attain perfection.

But if you are incapable of doing even that, then resort to My yoga, give up the fruit of all action, and act with a controlled mind.

Knowledge is better than practice. Meditation is better than knowledge, and renouncing the fruits of action is better than meditation because from such renunciation, peace immediately follows.

My devotee who is without hatred toward any living being, who is friendly and compassionate, who is free from the sense of possession and doership, who faces pain and pleasure with equanimity, who is forgiving, contented, who always engages in yoga, is self-controlled, and firm in resolve, and whose mind and intellect are dedicated to Me, is dear to Me.

One who does not disturb the world and is not disturbed by the world, who is free from excitement, impatience, fear, and passion—such a person is dear to Me.

My bhakta who is free from expectations, who is pure, skilled, impartial, free from agitation, and who has given up all selfish pursuits, is dear to Me.

One who is full of devotion, who neither rejoices nor hates, who neither laments nor desires, and who renounces both the pleasant and unpleasant, is dear to Me.

He who is equal to both enemy and friend and likewise to honor and dishonor, who is indifferent to cold and heat, pleasure and pain, who is free from all attachments, unaffected by both praise and blame and content with anything, who is without home, steady in mind, and full of devotion—such a person is dear to Me.

But those devotees who regard Me as the Supreme and devotedly follow this nectar of dharma as taught by Me with full faith, are exceedingly dear to Me.