Chapter 12

Bhaktiyoga

Union by Devotion

(Sanskrit terms and names can be clicked for explanation)

Arjuna said:

They who are always thus joined [to you] as the unchangeable and undecaying, which of these [two classes] are the better knowers of yoga? (1)

The Holy One said:

They who honor me, constantly joined to me, and having caused the mind to enter [into] me, and who have approached [me] through highest trust, these are considered to be the better joined to me. (2)

But they who worship the unchangeable, the indefinable, the undecaying, the all-pervading, and the unthinkable, the highest, the immutable, the unvarying, (3)

And who controlling the [whole] group of the faculties of sense are equal-minded everywhere, these verily attain into me, being intent on the welfare of all beings. (4)

The labor is greater for those whose minds are attached to the undecaying, for the path of the undecaying [lit. ‘the undecaying path], is reached with difficulty by embodied beings. (5)

But they who being intent on me, and resigning all actions to me, and who meditating on me honor me by no other yoga, (6)

Of those who have made their minds to enter [into] me, in no long time, O son of Pṛthā, I become their redeemer from the ocean of death and metempsychosis (7)

Place the mind in me, make the understanding to enter into me. You shall then hereafter live in me, without doubt. (8)

Yet if you are not able to fix [your] thought in me steadily, then strive to obtain me, O Dhanañjaya, by continuous yoga-exercise. (9)

If even in continuous exercise you are unable, excel in actions done for me [matkarmaparamo bhava]. Even doing actions for me, you shall attain perfection [siddhim]. (10)

Yet if even this you are incapable of doing, [then] resorting in yoga to me, with self-control abandon all fruits of action. (11)

For knowledge is better than application [towards an end]; profound contemplation [insight] is esteemed to be better than knowledge; better than profound contemplation is the abandonment of all fruits of action, and peace immediately from abandonment. (12)

He is dear to me who is a friend of all beings, kind, and also compassionate, without selfishness, without egoism, sympathetic in sorrow and joy, patient. (13)

Contented, ever a yogin, self-controlled, determined in purpose, with mind and understanding fixed in me, devoted to me. (14)

He by whom the world is not agitated and who is not agitated by the world, who is free from exultation, impatience, fear, and agitation, is also dear to me. (15)

He who is unconcerned, pure, dexterous, impartial, free form anxiety, who abandons all undertakings [for results], who is my devotee, is dear to me. (16)

He who exults not, nor hates, nor grieves, nor longs [for anything], who abandons both weal and woe, who is of devout mind, is dear to me. (17)

He who is alike to foe and friend, and in honor and dishonor, who is alike in cold and heat and happiness and sorrow, free from attachments, (18)

To whom praise and censure are equal, who is reserved [in speech], contended with anything whatever, without regular home, resolute in mind, and of devout mind, is man dear to me. (19)

But those righteous ones who partake of this immortality [the doctrine set forth] as declared [by me], who are full of trust, who resort to me as the highest, they are exceedingly dear to me. (20)

Thus in the Holy

Bhagavad-Gītā. Twelfth

chapter, by name —

Bhaktiyoga

Union by Devotion