Chapter 12 — The Yoga of Devotion

Om

Homage to the Supreme Self

Arjuna said

Those devotees who, ever steadfast in this way, worship you,and those who worship the imperishable, the unmanifest—which of them know yoga best? ॥१२- १॥

The Blessed Lord said

Those who fix their minds on me and worship me, ever steadfast,endowed with supreme faith—I hold them to be the most perfectly joined in yoga. ॥१२- २॥

But those who worship the imperishable, indefinable, unmanifest,the all-pervading, inconceivable, unchanging, unmoving, everlasting— ॥१२- ३॥

restraining the whole array of the senses, even-minded everywhere,delighting in the welfare of all beings—they too reach me alone. ॥१२- ४॥

Greater is the hardship of those whose minds cling to the unmanifest,for the unmanifest goal is attained with difficulty by embodied beings. ॥१२- ५॥

But those who surrender all actions to me, holding me as supreme,and worship me, meditating on me with undivided yoga— ॥१२- ६॥

for them, whose minds have entered into me, I soon become the rescuerfrom the ocean of death and rebirth, Partha. ॥१२- ७॥

Set your mind on me alone; let your understanding enter into me.Thereafter you will dwell in me alone—of this there is no doubt. ॥१२- ८॥

But if you cannot steadily fix your mind on me,then seek to reach me through the yoga of practice, Dhananjaya. ॥१२- ९॥

If you are incapable even of practice, make action for me your highest aim.By performing actions for my sake, you will attain perfection. ॥१२- १०॥

If you are unable even to do this, taking refuge in my yoga,then, self-controlled, relinquish the fruits of every action. ॥१२- ११॥

Knowledge is better than practice; meditation surpasses knowledge.Better than meditation is relinquishment of action’s fruits; from relinquishment, peace follows at once. ॥१२- १२॥

One who hates no being, who is friendly and compassionate,free from possessiveness and ego, equal in pain and pleasure, forbearing; ॥१२- १३॥

ever content, steadfast in yoga, self-controlled, firm in resolve,with mind and understanding offered to me—such a devotee is dear to me. ॥१२- १४॥

One by whom the world is not disturbed, and who is not disturbed by the world,who is free from exhilaration, indignation, fear, and agitation, is dear to me. ॥१२- १५॥

One who is without expectation, pure, capable, impartial, free from distress,who has relinquished every undertaking—such a devotee is dear to me. ॥१२- १६॥

One who neither rejoices nor hates, neither grieves nor desires,who has relinquished both good and evil and is full of devotion, is dear to me. ॥१२- १७॥

Equal toward enemy and friend, and likewise in honor and dishonor,equal in cold and heat, pleasure and pain, and free from attachment; ॥१२- १८॥

the same in blame and praise, silent, content with whatever comes,with no fixed abode, steady in mind, full of devotion—such a person is dear to me. ॥१२- १९॥

But those devotees who faithfully follow this immortal nectar of dharmaas it has been declared, holding me as supreme, are exceedingly dear to me. ॥१२- २०॥

Om Tat Sat. Thus, in the Upanishads of the glorious Bhagavad Gita, in the knowledge of Brahman, in the scripture of yoga,in the dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna, ends the twelfth chapter, entitled “The Yoga of Devotion.” ॥ १२ ॥

Om Salutations to the Supreme Self

Arjuna said:

Those devotees who, always steadfast in this way, worship you, and those who worship the imperishable and unmanifest—which of them know yoga best? ॥१२- १॥

The Blessed Lord said:

Those who fix their minds on me and worship me, always steadfast, endowed with supreme faith—I consider them the most accomplished in yoga. ॥१२- २॥

But those who worship the imperishable, indefinable, and unmanifest, the all-pervading, inconceivable, unchanging, unmoving, and constant— ॥१२- ३॥

controlling the whole group of senses, even-minded everywhere, and devoted to the welfare of all beings—they too reach me alone. ॥१२- ४॥

The difficulty is greater for those whose minds are attached to the unmanifest, for the unmanifest goal is reached with difficulty by embodied beings. ॥१२- ५॥

But those who surrender all actions to me, regard me as supreme, and worship me by meditating on me with undivided yoga— ॥१२- ६॥

for those whose minds have entered into me, O Partha, I soon become the rescuer from the ocean of death and rebirth. ॥१२- ७॥

Fix your mind on me alone; place your understanding in me. Then you will dwell in me alone from that time onward. There is no doubt. ॥१२- ८॥

But if you are unable to fix your mind steadily on me, then seek to reach me through the yoga of repeated practice, O Dhananjaya. ॥१२- ९॥

If you are also incapable of repeated practice, make action for me your highest aim. Even by performing actions for my sake, you will attain perfection. ॥१२- १०॥

But if you are unable to do even this while taking refuge in my yoga, then, with yourself controlled, renounce the fruits of all actions. ॥१२- ११॥

Knowledge is indeed better than repeated practice; meditation is superior to knowledge. Renunciation of the fruits of action is better than meditation; from renunciation, peace follows immediately. ॥१२- १२॥

One who hates no being, who is friendly and compassionate, free from possessiveness and ego, equal in pain and pleasure, and forgiving— ॥१२- १३॥

always content, disciplined in yoga, self-controlled, and firm in resolve, with mind and understanding offered to me—that devotee of mine is dear to me. ॥१२- १४॥

One by whom the world is not disturbed and who is not disturbed by the world, who is free from elation, resentment, fear, and agitation—that person too is dear to me. ॥१२- १५॥

One who is free from expectations, pure, capable, impartial, and free from distress, who has renounced every undertaking—that devotee of mine is dear to me. ॥१२- १६॥

One who neither rejoices nor hates, neither grieves nor desires, who renounces both good and bad, and is full of devotion—that person is dear to me. ॥१२- १७॥

One who is the same toward enemy and friend, and likewise in honor and dishonor, the same in cold and heat, pleasure and pain, and free from attachment— ॥१२- १८॥

equal in blame and praise, silent, content with whatever comes, without a fixed home, steady in mind, and full of devotion—that person is dear to me. ॥१२- १९॥

But those devotees who faithfully follow this nectar of dharma just as it has been taught, full of faith and holding me as supreme—they are exceedingly dear to me. ॥१२- २०॥

Om Tat Sat. Thus, in the Upanishads of the glorious Bhagavad Gita, in the knowledge of Brahman, in the teaching of yoga, in the dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna, the twelfth chapter, named “The Yoga of Devotion.” ॥ १२ ॥