With commentry by Swami Shivananda
Author: Krishna
The Bhagavad Gita, often called the "Song of God," is a 700-verse sacred Hindu scripture embedded within the ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata. It is a philosophical dialogue between the warrior Arjuna and his charioteer, the god Krishna, offering profound guidance on duty, ethics, and spiritual liberation.
Chapter 12: Bhakti Yoga
The Yoga of Devotion
Verse #1
अर्जुन उवाच एवं सततयुक्ताः ये |
भक्ताः त्वाम् पर्युपासते ये च अपि |
अक्षरम् अव्यक्तम् तेषाम् के योगवित्तमाः ||
arjuna uvāca evaṃ satatayuktāḥ ye | bhaktāḥ tvām paryupāsate ye ca api | akṣaram avyaktam teṣām ke yogavittamāḥ ||
arjuna uvaca eva satatayukta ye | bhakta tvam paryupasate ye ca api | aksaram avyaktam tesam ke yogavittama ||
Those devotees who, eversteadfast, thus worship you, and also those who worship the imperishable, the unmanifested --- which of them are better versed in YOGA?
Verse #2
श्रीभगवानुवाच मयि आवेश्य मनः ये |
माम् नित्ययुक्ताः उपासते श्रद्धया परया |
उपेताः ते मे युक्ततमाः मताः ||
śrībhagavānuvāca mayi āveśya manaḥ ye | mām nityayuktāḥ upāsate śraddhayā parayā | upetāḥ te me yuktatamāḥ matāḥ ||
sribhagavanuvaca mayi avesya mana ye | mam nityayukta upasate sraddhaya paraya | upeta te me yuktatama mata ||
The Blessed Lord said: Those who, fixing their mind on Me, worship Me, ever steadfast and endowed with supreme faith, these, in my opinion, are the best in YOGA.
Verse #3
ये तु अक्षरम् अनिर्देश्यम् अव्यक्तम् पर्युपासते |
सर्वत्रगम् अचिन्त्यम् च कूटस्थम् अचलम् ध्रुवम् ||
ye tu akṣaram anirdeśyam avyaktam paryupāsate | sarvatragam acintyam ca kūṭastham acalam dhruvam ||
ye tu aksaram anirdesyam avyaktam paryupasate | sarvatragam acintyam ca kutastham acalam dhruvam ||
Those who worship the imperishable, the indefinable, the unmanifest, the omnipresent, the unthinkable. the unchangeable. the immovable and the eternal, . . .
Verse #4
सन्नियम्य इन्द्रियग्रामं सर्वत्र समबुद्धयः ते |
प्राप्नुवन्ति माम् एव सर्वभूतहिते रताः ||
sanniyamya indriyagrāmam sarvatra samabuddhayaḥ te | prāpnuvanti mām eva sarvabhūtahite ratāḥ ||
sanniyamya indriyagramam sarvatra samabuddhaya te | prapnuvanti mam eva sarvabhutahite rata ||
Having restrained all the senses, even-minded everywhere, rejoicing ever in the welfare of all beings --- verily theyalso come unto Me.
Verse #5
क्लेशः अधिकतरः तेषाम् अव्यक्तासक्तचेतसाम् अव्यक्ता |
हि गतिः दुःखम् देहवद्भिः अवाप्यते ||
kleśaḥ adhikatarah teṣām avyaktāsaktacetasām avyaktā | hi gatiḥ duḥkham dehavadbhiḥ avāpyate ||
klesa adhikatarah tesam avyaktasaktacetasam avyakta | hi gati dukham dehavadbhi avapyate ||
Greater is their trouble whose minds are set on the Unmanifest; for the goal, the Unmanifest, is very hard for the embodied to reach.
Verse #6
ये तु सर्वाणि कर्माणि मयि संन्यस्य |
मत्पराः अनन्येनैव योगेन मां ध्यायन्त उपासते ||
ye tu sarvāṇi karmāṇi mayi saṃnyasya | matparāḥ ananyenaiva yogena māṃ dhyāyanta upāsate ||
ye tu sarvani karmani mayi sanyasya | matpara ananyenaiva yogena ma dhyayanta upasate ||
But those who worship Me, renouncing all actions in Me, regarding Me as the Supreme Goal, meditating on Me with single-minded devotion (YOGA) . . .
Verse #7
तेषाम् अहम् समुद्धर्ता मृत्युसंसारसागरात् भवामि |
नचिरात् पार्थ मयि आवेशितचेतसाम् ||
teṣām aham samuddhartā mṛtyusaṃsārasāgarāt bhavāmi | nacirāt pārtha mayi āveśitacetasām ||
tesam aham samuddharta mtyusasarasagarat bhavami | nacirat partha mayi avesitacetasam ||
For them, whose minds are set on Me, verily I become, ere-long, O Partha, the Saviour, (to save them) out of the ocean of finite experiences; the SAMSARA.
Verse #8
मयि एव मन आधत्स्व मयि बुद्धिं निवेशय |
निवसिष्यसि मयि एव अत ऊर्ध्वं न संशयः ||
mayi eva mana ādhatsva mayi buddhiṃ niveśaya | nivasiṣyasi mayi eva ata ūrdhvaṃ na saṃśayaḥ ||
mayi eva mana adhatsva mayi buddhi nivesaya | nivasisyasi mayi eva ata urdhva na sasaya ||
Fix your mind on Me only, place your intellect in Me; then, (thereafter) you shall, no doubt, live in Me alone.
Verse #9
अथ चित्तं समाधातुं न शक्नोषि मयि स्थिरम् |
अभ्यासयोगेन ततः माम् इच्छ आप्तुं धनञ्जय ||
atha cittaṃ samādhātuṃ na śaknoṣi mayi sthiram | abhyāsayogena tataḥ mām iccha āptuṃ dhanañjaya ||
atha citta samadhatu na saknosi mayi sthiram | abhyasayogena tata mam iccha aptu dhananjaya ||
If you are unable to fix your mind steadily upon Me, then by the YOGA -of constant-practice, seek to reach Me, O Dhananjaya.
Verse #10
अभ्यासे अपि असमर्थः असि मत्कर्मपरमः भव |
मदर्थम् अपि कर्माणि कुर्वन् सिद्धिम् अवाप्स्यसि ||
abhyāse api asamarthaḥ asi matkarmaparamaḥ bhava | madartham api karmāṇi kurvan siddhim avāpsyasi ||
abhyase api asamartha asi matkarmaparama bhava | madartham api karmani kurvan siddhim avapsyasi ||
If you are unable even to practise ABHYASA-YOGA, be you intent on performing actions for My sake; even by doing actions for My sake, you shall attain perfection.
Verse #11
अथ एतत् अपि अशक्तः असि कर्तुम् मत् |
योगम् आश्रितः सर्वकर्मफलत्यागम् ततः कुरु यतात्मवान् ||
atha etat api aśaktaḥ asi kartum mat | yogam āśritaḥ sarvakarmaphalatyāgam tataḥ kuru yatātmavān ||
atha etat api asakta asi kartum mat | yogam asrita sarvakarmaphalatyagam tata kuru yatatmavan ||
If you are unable to do even this, then taking refuge in Me, self-controlled, renounce the fruits-of-all-actions.
Verse #12
श्रेयः हि ज्ञानम् अभ्यासात् ज्ञानात् ध्यानम् |
विशिष्यते ध्यानात् कर्मफलत्यागः त्यागात् शान्तिः अनन्तरम् ||
śreyaḥ hi jñānam abhyāsāt jñānāt dhyānam | viśiṣyate dhyānāt karmaphalatyāgaḥ tyāgāt śāntiḥ anantaram ||
sreya hi jnanam abhyasat jnanat dhyanam | visisyate dhyanat karmaphalatyaga tyagat santi anantaram ||
Knowledge is indeed better than practice; meditation is better than knowledge; renunciation of the fruits-of-actions is better than meditation; peace immediately follows renunciation.
Verse #13
अद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्रः करुण एव |
च निर्ममः निरहङ्कारः समदुःखसुखः क्षमी ||
adveṣṭā sarvabhūtānāṃ maitraḥ karuṇa eva | ca nirmamaḥ nirahaṅkāraḥ samaduḥkhasukhaḥ kṣamī ||
advesta sarvabhutana maitra karuna eva | ca nirmama nirahankara samadukhasukha ksami ||
He who hates no creature, who is friendly and compassionate to all, who is free from attachment and egoism, balanced in pleasure and pain, and forgiving . . .
Verse #14
सन्तुष्टः सततं योगी यतात्मा दृढनिश्चयः मय्यर्पितमनोबुद्धिः |
यः मद्भक्तः स मे प्रियः ||
santuṣṭaḥ satataṃ yogī yatātmā dṛḍhaniścayaḥ mayyarpitamanobuddhiḥ | yaḥ madbhaktaḥ sa me priyaḥ ||
santusta satata yogi yatatma dhaniscaya mayyarpitamanobuddhi | ya madbhakta sa me priya ||
Ever content, steady in meditation, self-controlled, possessed of firm conviction, with mind and intellect dedicated to Me, he, My devotee, is dear to me.
Verse #15
यस्मात् न उद्विजते लोकः लोकात् न उद्विजते च |
यः हर्षामर्षभयोद्वेगैः मुक्तः यः सः च मे प्रियः ||
yasmāt na udvijate lokaḥ lokāt na udvijate ca | yaḥ harṣāmarṣabhayodvegaiḥ muktaḥ yaḥ saḥ ca me priyaḥ ||
yasmat na udvijate loka lokat na udvijate ca | ya harsamarsabhayodvegai mukta ya sa ca me priya ||
He by whom the world is not agitated (affected) , and who cannot be agitated by the world, who is freed from joy, envy, fear, and anxiety --- he is dear to me.
Verse #16
अनपेक्षः शुचिः दक्षः उदासीनः गतव्यथः सर्वारम्भपरित्यागी |
यः मद्भक्तः सः मे प्रियः ||
anapekṣaḥ śuciḥ dakṣaḥ udāsīnaḥ gatavyathaḥ sarvārambhaparityāgī | yaḥ madbhaktaḥ saḥ me priyaḥ ||
anapeksa suci daksa udasina gatavyatha sarvarambhaparityagi | ya madbhakta sa me priya ||
He who is free from wants, pure, alert, unconcerned, untroubled, renouncing all undertakings (or commencements) --- he who is (thus) devoted to Me, is dear to Me.
Verse #17
यः न हृष्यति न द्वेष्टि न शोचति न |
काङ्क्षति शुभाशुभपरित्यागी भक्तिमान् यः स मे प्रियः ||
yaḥ na hṛṣyati na dveṣṭi na śocati na | kāṅkṣati śubhāśubhaparityāgī bhaktimān yaḥ sa me priyaḥ ||
ya na hsyati na dvesti na socati na | kanksati subhasubhaparityagi bhaktiman ya sa me priya ||
He who neither rejoices, nor hates, nor grieves, nor desires, renouncing good and evil, full of devotion, is dear to Me.
Verse #18
समः शत्रौ च मित्रे च |
तथा मानापमानयोः शीतोष्णसुखदुःखेषु समः सङ्गविवर्जितः ||
samaḥ śatrau ca mitre ca | tathā mānāpamānayoḥ śītoṣṇasukhaduḥkheṣu samaḥ saṅgavivarjitaḥ ||
sama satrau ca mitre ca | tatha manapamanayo sitosnasukhadukhesu sama sangavivarjita ||
He who is the same to foe and friend, and also in honour and dishonour, who is the same in cold and heat and in pleasure and pain, who is free from attachment . . .
Verse #19
तुल्यनिन्दास्तुतिः मौनी सन्तुष्टः येन केनचित् अनिकेतः |
स्थिरमतिः भक्तिमान् मे प्रियः नरः ||
tulyanindāstutiḥ maunī santuṣṭaḥ yena kenacit aniketaḥ | sthiramatiḥ bhaktimān me priyaḥ naraḥ ||
tulyanindastuti mauni santusta yena kenacit aniketa | sthiramati bhaktiman me priya nara ||
To whom censure and praise are equal, who is silent, content with anything, homeless, steady-minded, full of devotion --- that man is dear to Me.
Verse #20
ये |
तु |
धर्म्यामृतम् |
इदं |
यथोक्तं पर्युपासते श्रद्दधाना मत्परमा भक्ताः ते अतीव मे प्रियाः ||
ye | tu | dharmyāmṛtam | idaṃ | yathoktam paryupāsate śraddadhānā matparamā bhaktāḥ te atīva me priyāḥ ||
ye | tu | dharmyamtam | ida | yathoktam paryupasate sraddadhana matparama bhakta te ativa me priya ||
They indeed, who follow this Immortal DHARMA (Law of Life) as described above, endowed with faith, regarding Me as their Supreme Goal --- such devotees are exceedingly dear to Me.<br><br>Thus in the Upanishads of the glorious Bhagavad Gita, the science of the Eternal, the scripture of Yoga, the dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna, ends the twelfth discourse entitled "The Yoga of Devotion."