BHAGAVAD GITA

Conversation 12. The Yoga of Devotion (Bhakti Yoga)

Table of Contents

Chapter 11 - Chapter 13


  • Krishna said:
    Those ever steadfast devotees who worship
    With supreme faith by fixing
    Their mind on Me as personal God,
    I consider them to be the best yogis.


  • But those who worship the imperishable,
    The undefinable, the unmanifest, the omnipresent,
    The unthinkable, the unchanging, the immovable,
    And the eternal Brahman;


  • Restraining all the senses,
    Even minded under all circumstances,
    Engaged in the welfare
    Of all creatures, they also attain Me.


  • Self-realization is more difficult
    For those who fix their mind on the formless Brahman,
    Because the comprehension of the unmanifest Brahman
    By the average embodied human being is very difficult.


  • But, to those who worship Me as the personal God,
    Renouncing allactions to Me;
    Setting Me as their supreme goal,
    and meditating onMe with single minded devotion;


  • I swiftly become their savior,
    From the world that is the ocean
    Of death and transmigration,
    Whose thoughts are set on Me, O Arjuna.


  • Therefore, focus your mind on Me alone
    And let your intellect dwell upon Me
    Through meditation and contemplation.
    Thereafter you shall certainly come to Me.


  • If you are unable to meditate steadily on Me,
    Then seek to reach Me, O Arjuna,
    By practice of spiritual discipline.


  • If you are unable even to do any Sadhana,
    Then be intent on performing your duty for Me.
    You shall attain perfection just by working for Me


  • If you are unable to work for Me
    Then just surrender unto My will with subdued mind,
    And renounce the fruits of all work.


  • Knowledge is better than mere ritualistic practice,
    Meditation is better than mere knowledge,
    Renunciation of the fruit of work
    Is better than meditation,
    Peace immediately follows the renunciation
    Of the fruit of work.


  • One who does not hate any creature,
    Who is friendly and compassionate,
    Free from (the notion of) "I" and "my',
    Even-minded in pain and pleasure, forgiving.


  • The yogi who is ever content,
    Who has subdued the mind,
    Whose resolve is firm, whose mind and intellect
    Are engaged in dwelling upon Me;
    Such a devotee is dear to Me.


  • The one by whom others are not agitated,
    And who is not agitated by others;
    Who is free from joy, envy, fear, and anxiety;
    Is also dearto Me.


  • One who is free from desires;
    Who is pure, wise, impartial, and free from anxiety;
    Who has renounced all undertakings;
    And who is devoted to Me, is dear to Me.


  • One who neither rejoices nor grieves,
    Neither likes nor dislikes,
    Who has renounced both the good and the evil,
    And who is full of devotion, such a person is dear to Me.


  • The one who remains the same
    Towards friend or foe, in honor or disgrace,
    In heat or cold, in pleasure or pain;
    Who is free from attachment; and


  • The one who is indifferent or silent
    In censure or praise, content with anything,
    Unattached to a place, equanimous,
    And full of devotion; that person is dear to Me.


  • But those devotees who have faith
    And sincerely try to develop
    The above mentioned immortal virtues,
    And set Me as their supreme goal; are very dear to Me.

    This is the end of Chapter XII of the Bhagavad Gita
    Entitled "Bhakti-Yoga,"
    Or "The Yoga of Devotion"