Śrīmad Bhagavad Gītā · Chapter 12 of 18
Bhakti Yoga — The Yoga of Devotion
भक्तियोगः
Arjuna asks Krishna which is the better path: devotion to him as a personal God, or meditation on the formless, unmanifest Absolute. Krishna answers that both paths lead to him, but the path of personal devotion is easier for embodied beings, since fixing the mind on the formless is especially difficult. He offers Arjuna a practical, graded set of options -- steady meditation, then regular practice, then simply acting for Krishna's sake, then renouncing the fruits of action -- so that whichever level Arjuna can manage, he can still progress. The chapter closes with one of the Gita's best-loved passages: a portrait of the ideal devotee, free from hatred and ego, equal-minded in joy and sorrow, praise and blame, whom Krishna declares to be especially dear to him.
- Verses
- 20
- Speakers
- Arjuna, Krishna
Verse by verse
Arjuna
12.1
एवं सततयुक्ता ये भक्तास्त्वां पर्युपासते। येचाप्यक्षरमव्यक्तं तेषां के योगवित्तमाः॥
evaṃ satatayuktā ye bhaktāstvāṃ paryupāsate, yecāpyakṣaramavyaktaṃ teṣāṃ ke yogavittamāḥ.
हिन्दी अर्थ
जो भक्त इस प्रकार निरन्तर आपमें लगे रहकर आप-(सगुण भगवान्-) की उपासना करते हैं और जो अविनाशी निराकारकी ही उपासना करते हैं, उनमेंसे उत्तम योगवेत्ता कौन हैं?
English
Arjuna asked: My Lord! Which are the better devotees who worship Thee, those who try to know Thee as a Personal God, or those who worship Thee as Impersonal and Indestructible?
Arjuna asks Krishna which devotees are better: those who worship him as a personal God, or those who worship the formless, imperishable Absolute.
Krishna
12.2
मय्यावेश्य मनो ये मां नित्ययुक्ता उपासते। श्रद्धया परयोपेतास्ते मे युक्ततमा मताः॥
mayyāveśya mano ye māṃ nityayuktā upāsate, śraddhayā parayopetāste me yuktatamā matāḥ.
हिन्दी अर्थ
मेरेमें मनको लगाकर नित्य-निरन्तर मेरेमें लगे हुए जो भक्त परम श्रद्धासे युक्त होकर मेरी उपासना करते हैं, वे मेरे मतमें सर्वश्रेष्ठ योगी हैं।
English
Lord Shri Krishna replied: Those who keep their minds fixed on Me, who worship Me always with unwavering faith and concentration; these are the very best.
Krishna says those who fix their minds on him and worship him with steady faith are the best devotees.
Krishna
12.3
ये त्वक्षरमनिर्देश्यमव्यक्तं पर्युपासते। सर्वत्रगमचिन्त्यं च कूटस्थमचलं ध्रुवम्॥
ye tvakṣaramanirdeśyamavyaktaṃ paryupāsate, sarvatragamacintyaṃ ca kūṭasthamacalaṃ dhruvam.
हिन्दी अर्थ
जो अपनी इन्द्रियोंको वशमें करके अचिन्त्य, सब जगह परिपूर्ण, अनिर्देश्य, कूटस्थ, अचल, ध्रुव, अक्षर और अव्यक्तकी उपासना करते हैं, वे प्राणिमात्रके हितमें रत और सब जगह समबुद्धिवाले मनुष्य मुझे ही प्राप्त होते हैं।
English
Those who worship Me as the Indestructible, the Undefinable, the Omnipresent, the Unthinkable, the Primeval, the Immutable and the Eternal;
Those who instead worship the indefinable, unmanifest, all-pervading, unthinkable, unchanging Absolute also reach Krishna.
Krishna
12.4
संनियम्येन्द्रियग्रामं सर्वत्र समबुद्धयः। ते प्राप्नुवन्ति मामेव सर्वभूतहिते रताः॥
saṃniyamyendriyagrāmaṃ sarvatra samabuddhayaḥ, te prāpnuvanti māmeva sarvabhūtahite ratāḥ.
हिन्दी अर्थ
जो अपनी इन्द्रियोंको वशमें करके अचिन्त्य, सब जगह परिपूर्ण, अनिर्देश्य, कूटस्थ, अचल, ध्रुव, अक्षर और अव्यक्तकी उपासना करते हैं, वे प्राणिमात्रके हितमें रत और सब जगह समबुद्धिवाले मनुष्य मुझे ही प्राप्त होते हैं।
English
Subduing their senses, viewing all conditions of life with the same eye, and working for the welfare of all beings, assuredly they come to Me.
By restraining the senses, remaining equal-minded everywhere, and working for the welfare of all beings, such seekers attain Krishna too.
Krishna
12.5
क्लेशोऽधिकतरस्तेषामव्यक्तासक्तचेतसाम्। अव्यक्ता हि गतिर्दुःखं देहवद्भिरवाप्यते॥
kleśo'dhikatarasteṣāmavyaktāsaktacetasām, avyaktā hi gatirduḥkhaṃ dehavadbhiravāpyate.
हिन्दी अर्थ
अव्यक्तमें आसक्त चित्तवाले उन साधकोंको (अपने साधनमें) कष्ट अधिक होता है; क्योंकि देहाभिमानियोंके द्वारा अव्यक्त-विषयक गति कठिनतासे प्राप्त की जाती है।
English
But they who thus fix their attention on the Absolute and Impersonal encounter greater hardships, for it is difficult for those who possess a body to realise Me as without one.
But the path of fixing the mind on the unmanifest Absolute is harder for embodied beings, since that goal is difficult to grasp without form.
Krishna
12.6
ये तु सर्वाणि कर्माणि मयि संन्यस्य मत्पराः। अनन्येनैव योगेन मां ध्यायन्त उपासते॥
ye tu sarvāṇi karmāṇi mayi saṃnyasya matparāḥ, ananyenaiva yogena māṃ dhyāyanta upāsate.
हिन्दी अर्थ
परन्तु जो कर्मोंको मेरे अर्पण करके और मेरे परायण होकर अनन्ययोगसे मेरा ही ध्यान करते हुए मेरी उपासना करते हैं।
English
Verily, those who surrender their actions to Me, who muse on Me, worship Me and meditate on Me alone, with no thought save of Me,
Those who surrender all actions to Krishna, worship him with single-minded devotion, and meditate on him alone.
Krishna
12.7
तेषामहं समुद्धर्ता मृत्युसंसारसागरात्। भवामि नचिरात्पार्थ मय्यावेशितचेतसाम्॥
teṣāmahaṃ samuddhartā mṛtyusaṃsārasāgarāt, bhavāmi nacirātpārtha mayyāveśitacetasām.
हिन्दी अर्थ
हे पार्थ ! मेरेमें आविष्ट चित्तवाले उन भक्तोंका मैं मृत्युरूप संसार-समुद्रसे शीघ्र ही उद्धार करनेवाला बन जाता हूँ।
English
O Arjuna! I rescue them from the ocean of life and death, for their minds are fixed on Me.
For those whose minds are absorbed in him, Krishna says he becomes their swift deliverer from the ocean of death and rebirth.
Krishna
12.8
मय्येव मन आधत्स्व मयि बुद्धिं निवेशय। निवसिष्यसि मय्येव अत ऊर्ध्वं न संशयः॥
mayyeva mana ādhatsva mayi buddhiṃ niveśaya, nivasiṣyasi mayyeva ata ūrdhvaṃ na saṃśayaḥ.
हिन्दी अर्थ
तू मेरेमें मनको लगा और मेरेमें ही बुद्धिको लगा; इसके बाद तू मेरेमें ही निवास करेगा -- इसमें संशय नहीं है।
English
Then let thy mind cling only to Me, let thy intellect abide in Me; and without doubt thou shalt live hereafter in Me alone.
Krishna urges Arjuna to fix his mind and intellect on him alone, and he will surely come to dwell in Krishna thereafter.
Krishna
12.9
अथ चित्तं समाधातुं न शक्नोषि मयि स्थिरम्। अभ्यासयोगेन ततो मामिच्छाप्तुं धनञ्जय॥
atha cittaṃ samādhātuṃ na śaknoṣi mayi sthiram, abhyāsayogena tato māmicchāptuṃ dhanañjaya.
हिन्दी अर्थ
अगर तू मनको मेरेमें अचलभावसे स्थिर (अर्पण) करनेमें समर्थ नहीं है, तो हे धनञ्जय ! अभ्यासयोगके द्वारा तू मेरी प्राप्तिकी इच्छा कर।
English
But if thou canst not fix thy mind firmly on Me, then, My beloved friend, try to do so by constant practice.
If Arjuna cannot hold his mind steady on Krishna, he should seek to reach him through regular practice.
Krishna
12.10
अभ्यासेऽप्यसमर्थोऽसि मत्कर्मपरमो भव। मदर्थमपि कर्माणि कुर्वन् सिद्धिमवाप्स्यसि॥
abhyāse'pyasamartho'si matkarmaparamo bhava, madarthamapi karmāṇi kurvan siddhimavāpsyasi.
हिन्दी अर्थ
अगर तू अभ्यास-(योग-) में भी असमर्थ है, तो मेरे लिये कर्म करनेके परायण हो जा। मेरे लिये कर्मोंको करता हुआ भी तू सिद्धिको प्राप्त हो जायगा।
English
And if thou are not strong enough to practise concentration, then devote thyself to My service, do all thine acts for My sake, and thou shalt still attain the goal.
If even practice is too difficult, Arjuna should dedicate his actions to Krishna's service, and he will still attain perfection.
Krishna
12.11
अथैतदप्यशक्तोऽसि कर्तुं मद्योगमाश्रितः। सर्वकर्मफलत्यागं ततः कुरु यतात्मवान्॥
athaitadapyaśakto'si kartuṃ madyogamāśritaḥ, sarvakarmaphalatyāgaṃ tataḥ kuru yatātmavān.
हिन्दी अर्थ
अगर मेरे योग-(समता-) के आश्रित हुआ तू इस(पूर्वश्लोकमें कहे गये साधन-) को भी करनेमें असमर्थ है, तो मन-इन्द्रियोंको वशमें करके सम्पूर्ण कर्मोंके फलका त्याग कर।
English
And if thou art too weak even for this, then seek refuge in union with Me, and with perfect self-control renounce the fruit of thy action.
If even this is beyond him, Arjuna should take refuge in Krishna's discipline and renounce the fruit of all his actions with self-control.
Krishna
12.12
श्रेयो हि ज्ञानमभ्यासाज्ज्ञानाद्ध्यानं विशिष्यते। ध्यानात्कर्मफलत्यागस्त्यागाच्छान्तिरनन्तरम्॥
śreyo hi jñānamabhyāsājjñānāddhyānaṃ viśiṣyate, dhyānātkarmaphalatyāgastyāgācchāntiranantaram.
हिन्दी अर्थ
अभ्याससे शास्त्रज्ञान श्रेष्ठ है, शास्त्रज्ञानसे ध्यान श्रेष्ठ है और ध्यानसे भी सब कर्मोंके फलका त्याग श्रेष्ठ है। कर्मफलत्यागसे तत्काल ही परमशान्ति प्राप्त हो जाती है।
English
Knowledge is superior to blind action, meditation to mere knowledge, renunciation of the fruit of action to meditation, and where there is renunciation peace will follow.
Knowledge is better than mechanical practice, meditation better than knowledge, and renunciation of the fruits of action better still, since peace follows renunciation.
Krishna
12.13
अद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्रः करुण एव च। निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः समदुःखसुखः क्षमी॥
adveṣṭā sarvabhūtānāṃ maitraḥ karuṇa eva ca, nirmamo nirahaṅkāraḥ samaduḥkhasukhaḥ kṣamī.
हिन्दी अर्थ
सब प्राणियोंमें द्वेषभावसे रहित, सबका मित्र (प्रेमी) और दयालु, ममतारहित, अहंकाररहित, सुखदुःखकी प्राप्तिमें सम, क्षमाशील, निरन्तर सन्तुष्ट, योगी, शरीरको वशमें किये हुए, दृढ़ निश्चयवाला? मेरेमें अर्पित मनबुद्धिवाला जो मेरा भक्त है, वह मेरेको प्रिय है।
English
He who is incapable of hatred towards any being, who is kind and compassionate, free from selfishness, without pride, equable in pleasure and in pain, and forgiving,
Krishna describes his beloved devotee: free from hatred toward any being, friendly and compassionate, free from possessiveness and ego.
Krishna
12.14
सन्तुष्टः सततं योगी यतात्मा दृढनिश्चयः। मय्यर्पितमनोबुद्धिर्यो मद्भक्तः स मे प्रियः॥
santuṣṭaḥ satataṃ yogī yatātmā dṛḍhaniścayaḥ, mayyarpitamanobuddhiryo madbhaktaḥ sa me priyaḥ.
हिन्दी अर्थ
सब प्राणियोंमें द्वेषभावसे रहित, सबका मित्र (प्रेमी) और दयालु, ममतारहित, अहंकाररहित, सुखदुःखकी प्राप्तिमें सम, क्षमाशील, निरन्तर सन्तुष्ट,योगी, शरीरको वशमें किये हुए, दृढ़ निश्चयवाला, मेरेमें अर्पित मन-बुद्धिवाला जो मेरा भक्त है, वह मेरेको प्रिय है।
English
Always contented, self-centred, self-controlled, resolute, with mind and reason dedicated to Me, such a devotee of Mine is My beloved.
Such a devotee remains even-minded in pleasure and pain, forgiving, ever content, self-disciplined, resolute, with mind and intellect devoted to Krishna.
Krishna
12.15
यस्मान्नोद्विजते लोको लोकान्नोद्विजते च यः। हर्षामर्षभयोद्वेगैर्मुक्तो यः स च मे प्रियः॥
yasmānnodvijate loko lokānnodvijate ca yaḥ, harṣāmarṣabhayodvegairmukto yaḥ sa ca me priyaḥ.
हिन्दी अर्थ
जिससे किसी प्राणीको उद्वेग नहीं होता और जिसको खुद भी किसी प्राणीसे उद्वेग नहीं होता तथा जो हर्ष, अमर्ष (ईर्ष्या), भय और उद्वेगसे रहित है, वह मुझे प्रिय है।
English
He who does not harm the world, and whom the world cannot harm, who is not carried away by any impulse of joy, anger or fear, such a one is My beloved.
Krishna's beloved devotee causes no distress to the world, and is undisturbed by the world's joy, anger, or fear.
Krishna
12.16
अनपेक्षः शुचिर्दक्ष उदासीनो गतव्यथः। सर्वारम्भपरित्यागी यो मद्भक्तः स मे प्रियः॥
anapekṣaḥ śucirdakṣa udāsīno gatavyathaḥ, sarvārambhaparityāgī yo madbhaktaḥ sa me priyaḥ.
हिन्दी अर्थ
जो आकाङ्क्षासे रहित, बाहर-भीतरसे पवित्र, दक्ष, उदासीन, व्यथासे रहित और सभी आरम्भोंका अर्थात् नये-नये कर्मोंके आरम्भका सर्वथा त्यागी है, वह मेरा भक्त मुझे प्रिय है।
English
He who expects nothing, who is pure, watchful, indifferent, unruffled, and who renounces all initiative, such a one is My beloved.
Such a devotee is free of expectation, pure, skillful, unattached, untroubled, and has given up self-centered undertakings.
Krishna
12.17
यो न हृष्यति न द्वेष्टि न शोचति न काङ्क्षति। शुभाशुभपरित्यागी भक्तिमान्यः स मे प्रियः॥
yo na hṛṣyati na dveṣṭi na śocati na kāṅkṣati, śubhāśubhaparityāgī bhaktimānyaḥ sa me priyaḥ.
हिन्दी अर्थ
जो न कभी हर्षित होता है, न द्वेष करता है, न शोक करता है, न कामना करता है और जो शुभ-अशुभ कर्मोंमें राग-द्वेषका त्यागी है, वह भक्तिमान् मनुष्य मुझे प्रिय है।
English
He who is beyond joy and hate, who neither laments nor desires, to whom good and evil fortunes are the same, such a one is My beloved.
Krishna's beloved neither rejoices nor hates, neither grieves nor desires, and has renounced both good and bad outcomes alike.
Krishna
12.18
समः शत्रौ च मित्रे च तथा मानापमानयोः। शीतोष्णसुखदुःखेषु समः सङ्गविवर्जितः॥
samaḥ śatrau ca mitre ca tathā mānāpamānayoḥ, śītoṣṇasukhaduḥkheṣu samaḥ saṅgavivarjitaḥ.
हिन्दी अर्थ
जो शत्रु और मित्रमें तथा मान-अपमानमें सम है और शीत-उष्ण (अनुकूलता-प्रतिकूलता) तथा सुख-दुःखमें सम है एवं आसक्तिसे रहित है, और जो निन्दास्तुतिको समान समझनेवाला, मननशील, जिस-किसी प्रकारसे भी (शरीरका निर्वाह होनेमें) संतुष्ट, रहनेके स्थान तथा शरीरमें ममता-आसक्तिसे रहित और स्थिर बुद्धिवाला है, वह भक्तिमान् मनुष्य मुझे प्रिय है।
English
He to whom friend and foe are alike, who welcomes equally honour and dishonour, heat and cold, pleasure and pain, who is enamoured of nothing,
Such a person treats friend and foe alike, remains equal in honor and dishonor, cold and heat, pleasure and pain, and is free of attachment.
Krishna
12.19
तुल्यनिन्दास्तुतिर्मौनी सन्तुष्टो येनकेनचित्। अनिकेतः स्थिरमतिर्भक्तिमान्मे प्रियो नरः॥
tulyanindāstutirmaunī santuṣṭo yenakenacit, aniketaḥ sthiramatirbhaktimānme priyo naraḥ.
हिन्दी अर्थ
जो शत्रु और मित्रमें तथा मान-अपमानमें सम है और शीतउष्ण (अनुकूलता-प्रतिकूलता) तथा सुख-दुःखमें सम है एवं आसक्तिसे रहित है, और जो निन्दा-स्तुतिको समान समझनेवाला, मननशील, जिस-किसी प्रकारसे भी (शरीरका निर्वाह होनेमें) संतुष्ट, रहनेके स्थान तथा शरीरमें ममता-आसक्तिसे रहित और स्थिर बुद्धिवाला है, वह भक्तिमान् मनुष्य मुझे प्रिय है।
English
Who is indifferent to praise and censure, who enjoys silence, who is contented with every fate, who has no fixed abode, who is steadfast in mind, and filled with devotion, such a one is My beloved.
Equal in praise and blame, silent and content with whatever comes, without a fixed home, steady-minded and devoted -- such a person is dear to Krishna.
Krishna
12.20
ये तु धर्म्यामृतमिदं यथोक्तं पर्युपासते। श्रद्दधाना मत्परमा भक्तास्तेऽतीव मे प्रियाः॥
ye tu dharmyāmṛtamidaṃ yathoktaṃ paryupāsate, śraddadhānā matparamā bhaktāste'tīva me priyāḥ.
हिन्दी अर्थ
जो मेरेमें श्रद्धा रखनेवाले और मेरे परायण हुए भक्त पहले कहे हुए इस धर्ममय अमृतका अच्छी तरहसे सेवन करते हैं, वे मुझे अत्यन्त प्रिय हैं।
English
Verily those who love the spiritual wisdom as I have taught, whose faith never fails, and who concentrate their whole nature on Me, they indeed are My most beloved.
Those who follow this immortal teaching of devotion with faith, holding Krishna as their highest goal, are exceedingly dear to him.