CHAPTER 12 — BHAKTI YOGA

12.1

Arjun inquired: Between those who are steadfastly devoted,to Your personal divine form, their hearts completely surrendered,and those who worship the imperishable and unmanifested,whom do You consider in Yoga to be more perfected?

12.2

The Lord said: Those who fix their minds on Me in perfect contemplation,and constantly engage in My service with unwavering devotion,endowed with supreme faith and absorbed in Me completely,I consider them to be the highest yogis, devoted steadfastly.

12.3–4

But those who worship the imperishable, indefinable and unmanifest,the all-pervading, inconceivable, unchanging, eternal and steadfast,restraining their senses and remaining even-minded everywhere,engaged in the welfare of all beings — they too attain Me through their prayer.

12.5

For those whose minds are attached to the unmanifest,the path toward realization is exceedingly difficult and unpleasant.

Worship of the unmanifest demands arduous contemplation,for embodied beings it is a difficult path to realization.

12.6–7

But those who dedicate all their actions to Me,regarding Me as their Supreme Goal eternally,worshipping Me and meditating on Me with exclusive devotion,with their consciousness absorbed in Me in loving contemplation—

O Parth, I swiftly deliver them from the ocean of birth and death,for their consciousness remains united with Me in every breath.

12.8

Fix your mind on Me alone and surrender your intellect to Me,thereafter you shall always dwell in Me eternally.

Of this truth, O Arjun, there can be no doubt,with mind and intellect surrendered, the divine path opens out.

12.9

If you are unable to fix your mind steadily upon Me,then through repeated practice strive to reach Me constantly.

Whenever the restless mind toward worldly objects may stray,bring it back through remembrance and devotion to the divine way.

12.10

If you cannot practice fixing your mind on Me in meditation,then work for Me with devotion and dedication.

By performing your actions for My sake, O devotee of Mine,you shall attain the stage of perfection and spiritually shine.

12.11

If you are unable even to work for Me in devotion,then renounce the fruits of all your actions with self-control and dedication.

Perform your duties without attachment to what their fruits may be,and through such renunciation gradually become inwardly free.

12.12

Better than mere practice is knowledge and understanding,better than knowledge is meditation, steady and expanding.

Better than meditation is renunciation of the fruits of action,for peace immediately follows such sublime renunciation.

12.13–14

Those devotees are very dear to Me who bear malice toward no living being,who are friendly and compassionate, free from possessiveness and egotism.

Equipoised in happiness and distress, forgiving and ever-content,self-controlled and firm in resolve, on devotion intent.

With mind and intellect completely dedicated to Me,such loving devotees are exceedingly dear to Me.

12.15

Those who are not a source of disturbance to anyone,and who themselves are not disturbed by anyone,who are free from excessive joy, anger, anxiety and fear,O Arjun, such devotees of Mine are very dear.

12.16

Those who are free from expectations, inwardly and outwardly pure,skillful, impartial and free from distress for sure,who have renounced all selfish undertakings and remain devoted to Me,such devotees, O Arjun, are exceedingly dear to Me.

12.17

Those who neither rejoice excessively nor hate,who neither lament nor desire what may come through fate,who renounce attachment to both auspicious and inauspicious results,and remain full of devotion — to Me they are very dear devotees.

12.18–19

Those who remain alike toward friend and foe,in honor and dishonor, wherever they may go,equipoised in heat and cold, pleasure and pain,and free from attachment whether in loss or gain;those who take praise and reproach alike and remain in silent contemplation,content with whatever comes, unattached to their place of habitation;whose intellect remains firmly fixed on Me in devotion sincere,such steadfast devotees are to Me exceedingly dear.

12.20

Those who faithfully follow this immortal nectar of wisdom declared here,who have faith in Me and hold Me as their Supreme Goal ever dear,

who remain completely devoted to Me with loving dedication,such devotees are exceedingly dear to Me — declares the Lord of creation.