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Bhagavad Gita Bhashya · Section 13 of 19

atha bhakti-yogo nāma dvādaśo'dhyāyaḥ

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भक्ति-योग-निष्ठानाꣳ प्राप्य-भूतस्य परस्य ब्रह्मणो भगवतो नारायणस्य निरङ्कुशैश्वर्यꣳ साक्षात्-कर्तु-कामायार्जुनायानवधिकातिशय-कारुण्यौदार्य-शील्यादि-गुण-सागरेण सत्य-सङ्कल्पेन भगवता स्वैश्वर्यꣳ यथावद् अवस्थितꣳ दर्शितम्। उक्तꣳ च तत्त्वतो भगवज्-ज्ञान-दर्शन-प्राप्तीनाम् ऐकान्तिकात्यन्तिक-भगवद्-भक्त्य्-एक-लभ्यत्वम्। अनन्तरम् आत्म-प्राप्ति-साधन-भूताद् आत्मोपासनाद् भक्ति-रूपस्य भगवद्-उपासनस्य स्व-साध्य-निष्पादने शैघ्र्यात् सुखोपादानत्वाच् च श्रैष्ठ्यꣳ भगवद्-उपासनोपायश् च तद्-अशक्तस्याक्षर-निष्ठता तद्-अपेक्षिताश् चोच्यन्ते। भगवद्-उपासनस्य प्राप्य-भूतोपास्य-श्रैष्ठ्यात्। श्रैष्ठ्यꣳ तु---

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योगिनाम् अपि सर्वेषाꣳ मद्-गतेनान्तरात्मना।

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श्रद्धावान् भजते यो माꣳ स मे युक्ततमो मतः॥ [गीता ६।४७] इत्य् अत्रोक्तम्।

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एवꣳ सतत-युक्ता ये भक्तास् त्वाꣳ पर्युपासते

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ये चाप्य् अक्षरम् अव्यक्तꣳ तेषाꣳ के योग-वित्तमाः

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एवꣳ मत्-कर्म-कृत् [११।५५] इत्य्-आदिन्ट्क्तेन प्रकारेण सतत-युक्ता भगवन्तꣳ त्वाम् एव परꣳ प्राप्यꣳ मन्वाना ये भक्तास् त्वाꣳ सकल-विभूति-युक्तम् अनवधिकातिशय-सौन्दर्य-सौशील्य-सार्वज्ञ्य-सत्य-सङ्कल्पत्वाद्य्-अनन्त-गुण-सागरꣳ परिपूर्णम् उपासते, ये चाप्य् अक्षरꣳ प्रत्यग्-आत्म-स्वरूपꣳ तद् एव चाव्यक्तꣳ चक्षुर्-आदि-करणेनानभिव्यक्त-स्वरूपम् उपासते, तेषाम् उभयेषाꣳ के योग-वित्तमाः के स्व-साध्यꣳ प्रति शीघ्र-गामिनः इत्य् अर्थः। भवामि न चिरात् पार्थ मय्य् आवेशित-चेतसाम् [१२।७] इत्य् उत्तरत्र योगवित्तम-त्वꣳ शैघ्र्य-विषयम् इति हि व्यञ्जयिष्यते॥१२।१॥

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श्री-भगवान् उवाच

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मय्य् आवेश्य मनो ये माꣳ नित्य-युक्ता उपासते

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श्रद्धया परयोपेतास् ते मे युक्ततमा मताः

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अत्यर्थ-मत्-प्रियत्वेन मनो मय्य् आवेय श्रद्धया परयोपेता नित्य-युक्ता नित्य-योगꣳ काङ्क्षमाणा ये माम् उपासते, प्राप्य-विषयꣳ मनो मय्य् आवेय ये माम् उपासत इत्य् अर्थः। ते युक्ततमा मे मताः। माꣳ सुखेनाचिरात् प्राप्नुवन्तीत्य् अर्थः॥१२।२॥

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ये त्व् अक्षरम् अनिर्देश्यम् अव्यक्तꣳ पर्युपासते

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सर्वत्र-गम् अचिन्त्यꣳ च कूटस्थम् अचलꣳ ध्रुवम्

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सन्नियम्येन्द्रिय-ग्रामꣳ सर्वत्र सम-बुद्धयः

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ते प्राप्नुवन्ति माम् एव सर्व-भूत-हिते रताः

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ये त्व् अक्षरꣳ प्रत्यग्-आत्म-स्वरूपम् अनिर्देश्य-देहाद् अन्यतया देवादि-शब्दानिर्देश्यम्। अतएव चक्षुर्-आदि-करणानभिव्यक्तꣳ सर्वत्र-गम् अचिन्त्यꣳ च सर्वत्र देवादि-देहेषु वर्तमानम् अपि तद्-विसजातीयतया तेन तेन रूपेण चिन्तयितुम् अनर्हम्, तत एव कूट-स्थꣳ सर्व-साधारणꣳ तत्-तद्-देवाद्य्-असाधारणाकारासम्बन्धम् इत्य् अर्थः। अपरिणामित्वेन स्वासाधारणाकारान् न चलति, न च्यवते इत्य् अचलꣳ तत एव ध्रुवꣳ नित्यम् सन्नियम्य इन्द्रिय-ग्रामꣳ चक्षुर्-आदिकम् इन्द्रिय-ग्रामꣳ सर्व-स्व-व्यापारेभ्यः सम्यक् नियम्य सर्वत्र सम-बुद्धयः सर्वत्र देवादि-विषमाकारेषु देहेष्व् अवस्थितेष्व् आत्मसु ज्ञानैकाकारतया सम-बुद्धयः। तत एव सर्व-भूत-हिते रताः सर्व-भूताहित-रतित्वात् निवृत्ताः, सर्व-भूताहित-रतित्वꣳ ह्य् आत्मनो देवादि-विषमाकाराभिमान-निमित्तम्, य एवम् अक्षरम् उपासते तेऽपि माꣳ प्राप्नुवन्त्य् एव। मत्-समानाकारम् असꣳसारिणम् आत्मानꣳ प्राप्नुवन्त्य् एव इत्य् अर्थः। मम साधर्म्यम् आगताः [१४।२] इति वक्ष्यते। श्रूयते च--- निरजनः परमꣳ साम्यमुपैति [मु।उ। ३।१।३] इति।

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तथाक्षर-शब्द-निर्दिष्टत् कूटस्थाद् अन्यत्वꣳ परस्य ब्रह्मणो वक्ष्यते। कूटस्थोऽक्षर उच्यते [१५।१६] उत्तमः पुरुषस् त्व् अन्यः [१५।१७] इति। अथ परा यथा तद्-अक्षरम् अधिगम्यते [मु।उ। १।१।५] इत्य् अक्षर-विद्यायाꣳ त्व् अक्षर-शब्द-निर्दिष्टꣳ परम् एव ब्रह्म, भूत-योनित्वाद् एव॥१२।३-४॥

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क्लेशोऽधिकतरस् तेषाम् अव्यक्तासक्त-चेतसाम्

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अव्यक्ता हि गतिर् दुःखꣳ देहवद्भिर् अवाप्यते

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तेषाम् अव्यक्तासक्त-चेतसाꣳ क्लेशस् त्व् अधिकतरः। अव्यक्ता हि गतिर् अव्यक्त-विषया मनो-वृत्तिर् देहवद्भिर् देहात्माभिमान-युक्तैर् दुःखेनावाप्यते। देहवन्तो हि देहम् एव आत्मानꣳ मन्यन्ते॥१२।५॥

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भगवन्तम् उपसीनानाꣳ युक्ततमत्वꣳ सुव्यक्तम् आह---

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ये तु सर्वाणि कर्माणि मयि सन्न्यस्य मत्-पराः

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अनन्येनैव योगेन माꣳ ध्यायन्त उपासते

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तेषाम् अहꣳ समुद्धर्ता मृत्यु-सꣳसार-सागरात्

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भवामि नचिरात् पार्थ मय्य् आवेशित-चेतसाम्

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ये तु लौकिकानि देह-यात्रा-शेष-भूतानि देह-धारणार्थानि चाशनादीनि कर्माणि, वैदिकानि च याग-दान-होम-तपः-प्रभृतीनि सर्वाणि स-कारणानि सोद्देश्यान्य् अध्यात्म-चेतसा मयि सन्न्यस्य, मत्-पराः मद्-एक-प्राप्या अनन्येनैव योगेन माꣳ ध्यायन्त उपासते, ध्यानार्चन-प्रणाम-स्तुति-कीर्तनादीनि स्वयम् एवात्यर्थ-प्रियाणि प्राप्य-समानि कुर्वन्तो माम् उपासते इत्य् अर्थः। तेषाꣳ मत्-प्राप्ति-विरोधितया मृत्यु-भूतान् सꣳसाराख्यात् सागराद् अहम् अचिरेण एव कालेन समुद्धर्ता भवामि॥१२।६-७॥

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मय्य् एव मन आधत्स्व मयि बुद्धिꣳ निवेशय

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निवसिष्यसि मय्य् एव अत ऊर्ध्वꣳ न सꣳशयः

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अतोऽतिशयित-पुरुषार्थत्वात् सुलभत्वाद् अचिर-लभ्यत्वाच् च मय्य् एव मन आधत्स्व--- मयि मनः समाधानꣳ कुरु, मयि बुद्धिꣳ निवेशय--- अहम् एव परम-प्राप्य इत्य् अध्यवसायꣳ कुरु। अत ऊर्ध्वꣳ मय्य् एव निवसिष्यसि। अहम् एव परम-प्राप्य इत्य् अध्यवसाय-पूर्वक-मनो-निवेशनानन्तरम् एव मयि निवसिष्यसीत्य् अर्थः॥१२।८॥

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अथ चित्तꣳ समाधातुꣳ न शक्नोषि मयि स्थिरम्

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अभ्यास-योगेन ततो माम् इच्छाप्तुꣳ धनञ्जय

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अथ सहसा एव मयि स्थिरꣳ समाधातुꣳ न शक्नोषि, ततोऽभ्यास-योगेन माम् आप्तुम् इच्छ। स्वाभाविकानवधिकातिशय-सौन्दर्य-सौशील्य-सौहार्द-वात्सल्य-कारुण्य-माधुर्य-गाम्भीर्यौदार्य-शौर्य-वीर्य-पराक्रम-सर्वज्ञत्व-सत्यकामत्व-सत्य-सङ्कल्पत्व-सर्वेश्वरत्व-सकल-कारणत्वाद्य्-असङ्ख्येय-कल्याण-गुण-सागरे निखिल-हेय-प्रत्यनीके मयि निरतिशय-प्रेम-गर्भ-स्मृत्य्-अभ्यास-योगेन स्थिरꣳ चित्त-समाधानꣳ लब्ध्वा माꣳ प्राप्तुम् इच्छ॥१२।९॥

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अभ्यासेऽप्य् असमर्थोऽसि मत्-कर्म-परमो भव

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मद्-अर्थम् अपि कर्माणि कुर्वन् सिद्धिम् अवाप्स्यसि१०

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अथैवꣳ-विध-स्मृत्य्-अभ्यासेऽप्य् असमर्थोऽसि मत्-कर्म-परमो भव। मदीयानि कर्माण्य् आलय-निर्माणोद्यान-करण-प्रदीपारोपण-मार्जनाभ्युक्षणोपलेपन-पुष्पापहरण-पूजनोद्वर्तन-नाम-सङ्कीर्तन-प्रदक्षिण-नमस्कार-स्तुत्य्-आदीनि, तान्य् अत्यर्थ-प्रियत्वेन आचर। अत्यर्थ-प्रियत्वेन मद्-अर्थꣳ कर्माणि कुर्वन्न् अप्य् अचिराद् अभ्यास-योग-पूर्विकाꣳ मयि स्थिराꣳ चित्त-स्थितिꣳ लब्ध्वा मत्-प्राप्ति-रूपाꣳ सिद्धिम् अवाप्स्यसि॥१२।१०॥

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अथैतद् अप्य् अशक्तोऽसि कर्तुꣳ मद्-योगम् आश्रितः

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सर्व-कर्म-फल-त्यागꣳ ततः कुरु यतात्मवान्११

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अथ मद्-योगम् आश्रित्यैतद् अपि कर्तुꣳ न शक्नोषि, मद्-गुणानुसन्धान-कृतꣳ मद्-एक-प्रियत्वाकारꣳ भक्ति-योगम् आश्रित्य भक्ति-योगाङ्ग-रूपम् एतद् मत्-कर्मापि कर्तुꣳ न शकनोषि। ततोऽक्षर-योगम् आत्म-स्वभावानुसन्धान-रूपꣳ पर-भक्ति-जननꣳ पूर्व-षट्कोदितम् आश्रित्य तद्-उपायतया सर्व-कर्म-फल-त्यागꣳ कुरु। मत्-प्रियत्वेन मद्-एक-प्राप्यता-बुद्धिर् हि प्रक्षीणाशेष-पापस्यैव जायते। यतात्मवान् यत-मनस्कः। ततोऽनभिसꣳहित-फलेन मद्-आराधन-रूपेणानुष्ठितेन कर्मणा सिद्धेनात्म-ज्ञानेन निवृत्ताविद्यादि-सर्व-तिरोधाने मच्-छेषतैक-स्वरूपे प्रत्यग्-आत्मनि साक्षात्-कृते सति मयि परा भक्तिः स्वयम् एवोत्पद्यते।

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तथा च वक्ष्यते--- स्व-कर्मणा तम् अभ्यर्चय सिद्धिꣳ विन्दति मानवः [१८।४६] इत्य् आरभ्य,

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विमुच्य निर्ममः शान्तो ब्रह्म-भूयाय कल्पते।

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ब्रह्म-भूतः प्रसन्नात्मा न शोचति न काङ्क्षति।

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समः सर्वेषु भूतेषु मद्-भक्तिꣳ लभते पराम्॥ [१८।५३-५४] इति॥१२।११॥

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श्रेयो हि ज्ञानम् अभ्यासाज् ज्ञानाद् ध्यानꣳ विशिष्यते

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ध्यानात् कर्म-फल-त्यागस् त्यागाच् छान्तिर् अनन्तरम्१२

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अत्यर्थ-प्रीति-विरहितात् कर्कश-रूपात् स्मृत्य्-अभ्यासाद् अक्षर-याथात्म्यानुसन्धान-पूर्वकꣳ तद्-आपरोक्ष्य-ज्ञानम् एवात्म-हितत्वे विशिष्यते। आत्मापरोक्ष्य-ज्ञानाद् अप्य् अनिष्पन्न-रूपात् तद्-उपाय-भूतात्म-ध्यानम् एवात्म-हितत्वे विशिष्यते। तद्-ध्यानाद् अप्य् अनिष्पन्न-रूपात् तद्-उपाय-भूतꣳ फल-त्यागेनानुष्ठितꣳ कर्मैव विशिष्यते।

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अनभिसꣳहित-फलाद् अनुष्ठितात् कर्मणोऽनन्तरम् एव निरस्त-पापतया मनसः शान्तिर् भविष्यति। शान्ते मनस्य् आत्म-ध्यानꣳ सम्पत्स्यते। ध्यानाज् ज्ञानꣳ ज्ञानाच् च तद्-आपरोक्ष्यꣳ तद्-आपरोक्ष्यात् परा भक्तिः। इति भक्ति-योगाभ्यासाशक्तस्य आत्म-निष्ठा एव श्रेयसी। आत्म-निष्ठस्याप्य् अशान्त-मनसो निष्ठा-प्राप्तयेऽन्तर्-गतात्म-ज्ञानानभिसꣳहित-फल-कर्म-निष्ठा एव श्रेयसी इत्य् अर्थः॥१२।१२॥

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अनभिसꣳहित-फल-कर्म-निष्ठस्योपादेयान् गुणान् आह---

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अद्वेष्टा सर्व-भूतानाꣳ मैत्रः करुण एव च

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निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः सम-दुःख-सुखः क्षमी१३

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सन्तुष्टः सततꣳ योगी यतात्मा दृढ-निश्चयः

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मय्य् अर्पित-मनो-बुद्धिर् यो मद्-भक्तः स मे प्रियः१४

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अद्वेष्टा सर्व-भूतानाꣳ विद्विषताम् अपकुर्वताम् अपि सर्वेषाꣳ भूतानाम् अद्वेष्टा मद्-अपराधानुगुणम् ईश्वर-प्रेरितान्य् एतानि भूतानि द्विषन्त्य् अपकुर्वन्ति चेत्य् अनुसन्दधानः। तेषु द्विषत्स्व् अपकुर्वत्सु च सर्व-भूतेषु मैत्रीꣳ मतिꣳ कुर्वन् मैत्रः। तेष्व् एव दुःखितेषु करुणाꣳ कुर्वन् करुणःनिर्ममो देहेन्द्रियेषु तत्-सम्बन्धिषु च निर्ममः। निरहङ्कारो देहात्माभिमान-रहितः। तत एव सम-दुःख-सुखः सुख-दुःखागमयोः साङ्कल्पिकयोर् हर्षोद्वेग-रहितः। क्षमी स्पर्श-प्रभवयोर् अवर्जनीययोर् अपि तयोर् विकार-रहितः। सन्तुष्टः यदृच्छोपनतेन येन केनापि देह-धारण-द्रव्येन सन्तुष्टः। सततꣳ योगी सततꣳ प्रकृति-वियुक्तात्मानुसन्धान-परः। यतात्मा नियमित-मनो-वृत्तिः। दृढ-निश्चयः अध्यात्म-शास्त्रोदितेष्व् अर्थेषु दृढ-निश्चयः। मय्य् अर्पित-मनो-बुद्धिर् भगवान् वासुदेव एवानभिसꣳहित-फलेनानुष्ठितेन कर्मणाराध्यते। आराधितश् च ममात्मापरोक्ष्यꣳ साधयिष्यतीति मय्य् अर्पित-मनो-बुद्धिः। एवꣳ-भूतो मद्-भक्तः एवꣳ-भूतेन कर्म-योगेन माꣳ भजमानो यः स मे प्रियः॥१२।१३-१४॥

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यस्मान् नोद्विजते लोको लोकान् नोद्विजते च यः

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हर्षामर्ष-भयोद्वेगैर् मुक्तो यः स च मे प्रियः१५

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यस्मात् कर्म-निष्ठात् पुरुषान् निमित्त-भूताल् लोको नोद्विजते, यो लोकोद्वेग-करꣳ कर्म किञ्चिद् अपि न करोतीत्य् अर्थः। लोकाच् च निमित्त-भूताद् यो नोद्विजते, यम् उद्दिश्य सर्व-लोको नोद्वेग-करꣳ कर्म करोति, सर्वाविरोधित्व-निश्चयात्। अतएव कञ्चन प्रति हर्षेण, कञ्चन प्रत्य् अमर्षेण, कञ्चन प्रति भयेन, कञ्चन प्रत्य् उद्वेगेन मुक्तः। एवꣳ-भूतः यः सोऽपि मे प्रियः॥१२।१५॥

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अनपेक्षः शुचिर् दक्ष उदासीनो गत-व्यथः

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सर्वारम्भ-परित्यागी यो मद्-भक्तः स मे प्रियः१६

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अनपेक्ष आत्म-व्यतिरिक्ते कृत्स्ने वस्तुन्य् अनपेक्षः। शुचिः शास्त्र-विहित-द्रव्य-वर्धित-कायः। दक्षः शास्त्रीय-क्रियोपादान-समर्थोऽन्यत्र उदासीनःगत-व्यथः शास्त्रीय-क्रिया-निर्वृत्ताव् अवर्जनीय-शीतोष्ण-परुष-स्पर्शादि-दुःखेषु व्यथा-रहितः। सर्वारम्भ-परित्यागी शास्त्रीय-व्यतिरिक्त-सर्व-कर्मारम्भ-परित्यागी। य एवꣳ-भूतो मद्-भक्तः स मे प्रियः॥१२।१६॥

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यो न हृष्यति न द्वेष्टि न शोचति न काङ्क्षति

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शुभाशुभ-परित्यागी भक्तिमान् यः स मे प्रियः१७

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यो न हृष्यति यन् मनुष्याणाꣳ हर्ष-निमित्तꣳ प्रिय-जातꣳ तत् प्राप्य यः कर्म-योगी न हृष्यति, यच् चाप्रियꣳ तत् प्राप्य यो न द्वेष्टि, यच् च मनुष्याणाꣳ शोक-निमित्तꣳ भार्या-पुत्र-वित्त-क्षयादिकꣳ, तत् प्राप्य न शोचति। तथा-विधम् अप्राप्तꣳ च न काङ्क्षति यच् च मनुष्याणाꣳ हर्ष-निमित्त-भार्या-वित्तादि, तद् अप्राप्तꣳ च न काङ्क्षतीत्य् अर्थः। शुभाशुभ-परित्यागी पापवत् पुण्यस्यापि बन्ध-हेतुत्वाविशेषाद् उभय-परित्यागी। यः एवꣳ-भूतो भक्तिमान् स मे प्रियः॥१२।१७॥

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समः शत्रौ च मित्रे च तथा मानापमानयोः

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शीतोष्ण-सुख-दुःखेषु समः सङ्ग-विवर्जितः१८

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तुल्य-निन्दा-स्तुतिर् मौनी सन्तुष्टो येन केनचित्

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अनिकेतः स्थिर-मतिर् भक्तिमान् मे प्रियो नरः१९

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अद्वेष्टा सर्व-भूतानाम् [१२।१३] इत्य् आदिना शत्रु-मित्रादिषु द्वेषादि-रहितत्वम् उक्तम्। अत्र तेषु सन्निहितेष्व् अपि सम-चित्तत्वम्, ततोऽप्य् अतिरिक्तो विशेष उच्यते। आत्मनि स्थिर-मतित्वेन निकेतनादिष्व् असक्त इत्य् अनिकेतः। तत एव मानापमानादिष्व् अपि समः। य एवꣳ-भूतो भक्तिमान् स मे प्रियः॥१२।१८-१९॥

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अस्माद् आत्म-निष्ठात् मद्-भक्ति-योग-निष्ठस्य श्रैष्ठ्यꣳ प्रतिपादयन् यथोपक्रमम् उपसꣳहरति---

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ये तु धर्म्यामृतम् इदꣳ यथोक्तꣳ पर्युपासते

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श्रद्दधाना मत्-परमा भक्तास् तेऽतीव मे प्रियाः२०

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धर्म्यꣳ चामृतꣳ चेति धर्म्यामृतꣳ। ये तु प्राप्य-समꣳ प्रापकꣳ भक्ति-योगꣳ यथोक्तꣳ मय्य् आवेश्य मनो ये माम् [१२।२] इत्य् आदिनोक्तेन प्रकारेण उपासते, ते भक्ता अतितराꣳ मे प्रियाः॥१२।२०॥

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इति श्रीमद्-रामानुजाचार्य-विरचिते गीता-भाष्ये द्वादशोऽध्यायः॥१२॥

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**

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English · simplified from Thibaut (1904)

Lecture 12 — The Path of God-Love (in Sanskrit: Bhakti-Yoga)

Arjuna had desired to see the unrestricted Sovereign Power of Parabrahma, the Blessed Lord Nārāyaṇa — the Object of worship to all treaders of the Path of Bhakti. That Power was manifested to him by the Lord of Resolute Will, Ocean of mercy, bounty, and affability. It was also shown that one-pointed and profound bhakti alone is the Means to know, see, and gain the Lord as He truly is. This chapter — among the most foundational in all Śrī Vaiṣṇava doctrine — now declares the superiority of loving God-meditation over mere soul-meditation, prescribes the method of its practice, provides a path for those not yet ready for exclusive bhakti, and paints the portrait of the bhakta who is dear to the Lord.

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Verses 1–5 (Which yogi is better: the God-seeker or the Akṣara-seeker?)

Verse 12.1. — "Of those who, ever devout, worship You, Your bhaktas, and of those who betake themselves to the Imperishable-Unmanifest — which are better informed of yoga?"

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The satata-yuktāḥ — ever devout — are those described in the last verse of Lecture XI: doing work for Him, having Him as Aim. They worship Him as the Lord, the Perfect, the Sovereign of cosmic glories, the possessor of Beauty, Affability, Omniscience, Infallible Will. The other class are the worshippers of akṣaram-avyaktam, who contemplate the nature of the individual soul (pratyag-ātman). The soul is akṣara (imperishable) and avyakta (not an object of any sense). Arjuna asks which class will reach its goal sooner.

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Verse 12.2. — "Those who worship Me with minds fixed on Me, imbued with intense faith and ever longing for communion — these I count as My best-devoted."

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Their minds enter the Lord, for He is to them the dearest object of love. With śraddhā they long for eternal divine communion; and worshipping in that spirit — with the whole world of manas occupied only with Him — they are yukta-tamāḥ, those who expeditiously and happily make their way to Him as their Goal.

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Verse 12.3. — "But those who devote themselves to the Imperishable, the Indefinable, the Indiscernible, the all-entering, the inconceivable, the stable, the immovable, the eternal —"

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Verse 12.4. — "— controlling well the senses, equal-minded everywhere, well-disposed to all beings — also attain Me."

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Verse 12.5. — "But the difficulties are great for those whose hearts are inclined to the Indiscernible. Indeed, this avyakta-path is attained with struggle by the embodied."

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These devote themselves to meditation on the imperishable soul-nature. Anirdeśya — indefinable, because the soul is distinct from any body (deva, human, etc.) that terms usually designate. Avyakta — indiscernible, imperceptible to any sense. Sarvatra-ga and acintya — all-pervading and inconceivable, since its presence in bodies cannot be captured by the forms of those bodies. Kūṭastha — stable and uniform, not changing with the body it inhabits. Acala — immovable. Dhruva — everlasting. They control the senses well; see the soul as everywhere the same by its attribute of consciousness, regardless of the body it happens to wear; are well-disposed to every being, since ill-will is a product of egoity born of body-differences.

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Those who devote themselves thus to soul-contemplation attain to the Lord — meaning they realize the soul in its unconditioned essence, like unto His own, as it is said in a later chapter: "They attain equality with Me." The Upaniṣad too says, "Washed of stains, he reaches sublime equality."

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Yet that Parabrahma is distinct from this kūṭastha soul — also called akṣara — is established in the verses (XV.16–17): "The kūṭastha is called akṣara; another, the supreme puruṣa, is the paramātman."

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For those whose mind is given to the avyakta, difficulties are great. The avyakta-path is attained with great struggle by the embodied — those who love the body as if it were the soul.

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Verses 6–8 (The swift path of the God-lover)

Verse 12.6. — "But those who consign all their acts to Me, having Me as their Aim, and ever meditate on Me with exclusive devotion and worship —"

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Verse 12.7. — "— for those whose thoughts are centered in Me, soon do I become their Saviour from the ocean of deadly saṁsāra."

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Acts are of two kinds: worldly acts for sustaining bodily existence, and spiritual acts (yāga, gifts, homa, penances). Whoever — spiritually minded, having the Lord alone as End — delivers up every act to Him and in single-minded devotion ever meditates on Him and worships Him by meditation, flowers, prostration, praise, hymning — as though the very act were the much-loved End itself — to him the Lord most speedily becomes the mighty Deliverer from the ocean of death-like saṁsāra which bars souls from Him.

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Verse 12.8. — "Let your manas rest in Me alone; let your buddhi enter into Me. Thereafter, without doubt, you shall dwell in Me."

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Since He is the highest hope, most easily reached and swiftly attainable, let the heart find its peace in Him; let the intellect constantly hold that He is the Supreme End. Once heart and intellect are so disciplined, the devotee dwells in Him forever.

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Verses 9–12 (The gradual path: the ladder from works to devotion)

Verse 12.9. — "If you are unable to fix your mind firmly in Me, then by repeated practice (abhyāsa) seek to reach Me, O Dhanañjaya."

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If steady mind-fixture is not at once possible, then ceaselessly endeavor, by discipline, to fix the mind in Him — the boundless Ocean of Beauty, Compassion, Condescension, Love, Clemency, Sweetness, Dignity, Bounty; of Courage, Valor, and Daring; of Wisdom, Lordship of the spiritual kingdom (satya-kāma), Lordship of the secular kingdom (satya-saṅkalpa), Godship and Cause of all; the Antithesis of all vice. Practice is the constant loving remembrance of Him.

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Verse 12.10. — "If you are unable even for this effort, then devote yourself to works for My sake. Doing works for Me, you shall gain the Goal."

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If ceaseless contemplation is too hard, take up His works: building temples, laying out gardens, lighting lamps in and sweeping the temples, sprinkling water and adorning His places of worship, gathering flowers and offering them, singing His names, circumambulating temples and images, hymning, bowing, and prostrating. Perform these in ardent affection. So doing, you will first get your mind prepared for the practice of remembrance (smṛty-abhyāsa), and thereafter its firm fixation in Him.

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Verse 12.11. — "If, even for the sake of union with Me, you are unable to do this, then, mind-controlled, resign all fruits of action."

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Whoever, unable to perform all works for His sake, can yet launch on akṣara-yoga — the contemplation of soul-nature taught in the first six chapters — will gradually engender parā-bhakti (supreme God-love). The renouncing of the fruits of action is the preparatory stage to ensure soul-vision. It is only to one entirely cleansed of all sin that the Lord becomes the Object of Love. Only such a one converges the strength of his intellect upon the Lord as his sole Aim.

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Thus by performing actions — which in truth are forms of His worship — and not craving their reward: (1) Soul-contemplation ensues. (2) Soul-contemplation obliterates the beclouding impediments, such as avidyā. (3) Soul-vision (pratyag-ātma-sākṣātkāra) follows — the experiencing of soul-nature as essentially related to the Lord. (4) When that experience is had, parā-bhakti — God-love and God-vision together — becomes the natural flowering.

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It will be declared later: "By worshipping Him with one's own acts, man wins the Goal" (XVIII.46). "Relinquishing, and freed from 'mine-ness,' and in repose, he is made fit to become like Brahma" (XVIII.53). "Become Brahma-like and clear-souled, he laments not and longs not; same to all beings, he attains supreme love of Me" (XVIII.54).

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Verse 12.12. — "Next to devotion, knowledge is preferable; next to knowledge, meditation; next to meditation, the surrender of work's fruit; from surrender follows peace."

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If constant God-practice is hard, the next alternative is soul-exercise — the akṣara-path — through which to attain soul-vision (jñāna). Next to the direct soul-cognition, when that cannot arise, mere contemplation on soul-nature (dhyāna) as taught by the Spiritual Books is adopted. If even soul-contemplation proves hard, then perform works while resigning their fruits; this gradually leads to soul-contemplation. Performing action without craving reward divorces the soul from sin, and from that follows peace. From peace comes soul-contemplation; from soul-contemplation, soul-cognition; from soul-cognition, parā-bhakti — God-love.

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So for him who is inept for Bhakti-Yoga, soul-devotion is recommended as next best; but for him who cannot bring a mind peaceful enough even to try it, let him do fruit-forsaken works based on soul-faith. This will gradually lead him through soul-contemplation and soul-vision to God-love.

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Verses 13–20 (The qualities of the Bhakta who is dear to the Lord)

Verse 12.13. — "He who hates no being; who is benign and clement; free from selfishness and self-love; unaffected by pain and pleasure; patient —"

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Verse 12.14. — "— content, ever a yogī, self-mastered, firm in faith, with heart and mind given to Me — such a Bhakta is dear to Me."

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Adveṣṭā — hating neither friend nor foe. Maitraḥ — benign, showing good-will to both well-wishers and ill-wishers, in the conviction that their love and hate are the fruit of past deeds prompted by the Lord. Karuṇaḥ — clement, tender in sympathy toward both in their sufferings. Nir-mama — free from the notion of "mine" attached to body, senses, or belongings. Nir-ahaṅkāra — free from "I-ness," from body-identified soul-ness. And therefore unaffected by pain and pleasure, free from grief and joy arising from mental affections. Kṣamī — patient, unaffected by physical accidents. Santuṣṭa — content with whatever chance-procured thing sustains the body. Ever a yogī — ever engaged in meditating the spirit as distinct from matter. Yatātmā — able to govern the workings of the mind. Dṛḍha-niścaya — firmly rooted in scriptural faith. Head and heart given to the Lord — concurring that by fruit-indifferent works Vāsudeva alone is worshipped, and that so worshipped He guides efforts toward soul-vision.

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Verse 12.15. — "He from whom the world fears not, who fears not the world, who is free from joy and anger, fear and distress — he too is dear to Me."

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He whose actions cause no fear or trouble to anyone; who has no cause to fear anything from the world since no element of antagonism exists for him; and who is therefore free from being the author of joy to some or wrath to others.

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Verse 12.16. — "Desireless, pure, proficient, unconcerned, unafflicted, renouncing every undertaking — such a Bhakta is dear to Me."

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An-apekṣa — having no desire for any thing other than the soul. Śuci — pure, sustaining the body with Śāstra-sanctioned food. Dakṣa — expert in Śāstra-enjoined works. Udāsīna — unconcerned in other matters. Gata-vyatha — unafflicted by necessary experiences of heat, cold, and hardness in carrying out duty. And giving up every undertaking not demanded by Śāstra.

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Verse 12.17. — "He who neither exults nor hates, neither grieves nor craves; the renouncer of good and evil — such a devotee is dear to Me."

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The karma-yogī who does not exult at worldly gains, does not hate their reverse, does not grieve over the losses (of wife, son, wealth) that pain mankind, does not crave such prosperity for himself, and who renounces both good and evil — for both merit and sin alike produce bondage.

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Verse 12.18. — "Equal to friend and foe, to honor and shame; equal to heat and cold, pleasure and pain; free from attachment —"

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Verse 12.19. — "— treating blame and praise the same; silent; content with anything; not home-tied; steady of mind — that man of Bhakti is dear to Me."

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The absence of hate toward friend or foe was already noted; here the equanimity is of a more pronounced kind — equanimity even face to face. Aniketa — not home-tied, having no attachment to a dwelling, because the mind is firmly devoted to the soul.

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Verse 12.20. — "Those who, with fervid faith, having Me as Hope, devote themselves to this Holy, Blissful Way, as set forth — those Bhaktas are exceedingly dear to Me."

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The Way — dharmyam (holy) and amṛtam (deathless, blissful) — is bhakti-yoga itself, which as Means is equal to its End. Those who devote themselves to this Path, in the manner declared, are the bhaktas most exceedingly dear to the Lord.

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Thus closes the twelfth discourse, named Bhakti-Yoga — the Path of God-Love.

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