Bhagavad Gita
    Chapter 12

    Bhakti Yoga

    भक्तियोग

    The twelfth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita is "Bhakti Yoga". In this chapter, Krishna emphasizes the superiority of Bhakti Yoga (the path of devotion) over all other types of spiritual disciplines and reveals various aspects of devotion. He further explains that the devotees who perform pure devotional service to Him, with their consciousness, merged in Him and all their actions dedicated to Him, are quickly liberated from the cycle of life and death. He also describes the various qualities of the devotees who are very dear to Him.

    About this chapter

    Chapter 12, Bhakti Yoga — "The Yoga of Devotion" — is one of the shortest chapters of the Bhagavad Gita and one of the most beloved. Arjuna asks a practical question: between those who worship the personal Krishna with devotion and those who worship the unmanifest imperishable Brahman, who are the better yogis?

    Krishna's answer is direct. Those who fix their mind on him with steady faith are, in his view, the best-versed in yoga. The path of the unmanifest is not wrong, but it is harder for embodied beings, because the goal is difficult for the mind that has a body to reach. The devotional path is available, immediate, and sure. For those who cannot fix the mind on him steadily, he prescribes practice (abhyasa yoga); for those who cannot practise, work for his sake; for those who cannot work for his sake, renounce the fruits of action.

    The second half of the chapter is a portrait of the devotee who is dear to him — remarkable for how much it sounds like a description of the wise person in Chapter 2. Free from hatred, friendly and compassionate to all, without ego, patient in pleasure and pain, contented, self-controlled, of firm resolve, with mind and intellect offered to him. Chapter 12 quietly demonstrates that the highest devotee and the highest sage look, from the outside, indistinguishable.

    20 Verses

    12.1

    Arjuna said: Which of these has greater knowledge of yoga—those devotees who meditate on You, ever integrated, or those who meditate on the Imperishable and the Unmanifest?

    12.2

    The Lord said, "Those who, ever integrated with Me and possessing supreme faith, worship Me, focusing their minds on Me—these are considered by Me to be the highest among the yogis."

    12.3

    But those who meditate on the Imperishable, the indefinable, the unmanifest, omnipresent, unthinkable, common to all beings, immovable, and constant—

    12.4

    Having subdued all the senses, being even-minded, and engaged in the welfare of all beings, they too come to Me only.

    12.5

    Greater is the difficulty for those whose minds are thus attached to the unmanifest, for the way of the unmanifest is hard to reach for embodied beings.

    12.6

    For those who dedicate all their actions to Me, hold Me as their supreme goal, are intent on Me, and worship Me, meditating on Me with exclusive devotion;

    12.7

    Those whose minds are thus focused on Me, I soon become their savior from the ocean of mortal life.

    12.8

    Focus your mind on Me alone; and let your intellect enter into Me. Then, you will live in Me alone; there is no doubt.

    12.9

    If now you are unable to focus your mind on Me, then seek to reach Me, O Arjuna, through the practice of repetition.

    12.10

    If you are incapable of even this practice of repetition, then devote yourself to My deeds. For even by working for My sake, you will attain perfection.

    12.11

    If you are unable to do even this—that is, take refuge in My Yoga—then, with your self-control, renounce the fruits of every action.

    12.12

    Far better is knowledge of the Self than the repeated practice (of remembrance of the Lord). Better is meditation than this knowledge; better is renunciation of the fruits of action than meditation. From such renunciation, peace ensues.

    12.13

    He who never hates any being, who is friendly and compassionate, who is free from the feelings of "I" and "mine," who looks upon all pain and pleasure equally, and who is enduring;

    12.14

    He who is content, who meditates ever, is self-restrained, and is firm in his convictions, and has his mind and reason dedicated to Me—he is dear to Me.

    12.15

    He from whom the world has no cause to be frightened, who is not frightened by the world, who is free from joy and impatience, fear, and aversion - he is dear to me.

    12.16

    He who is free from desires, who is pure, expert, indifferent, and free from agony, who has renounced every undertaking—he is dear to me.

    12.17

    He who does not rejoice, nor hate, nor grieve, nor desire, who renounces both good and evil, and who is full of devotion to Me—such a devotee is dear to Me.

    12.18

    He who is the same to foe and friend, honor and dishonor, who is alike to both cold and heat, pleasure and pain, and who is free from all attachments;

    12.19

    He who regards both blame and praise alike, who is silent and content with any lot, who has no home, who is firm of mind, and who is devoted to Me - such a man is dear to Me.

    12.20

    But those devotees who follow this nectar of virtuous duty, as taught above, who are full of faith and regard Me as the Supreme, are exceedingly dear to Me.

    Popular verses across the Gita