CHAPTER NO 12

In this chapter many ways in which devotees worship the Lord has been described. What are the works and duties of the devotees have been given. A Comparison has been made among various kinds of devotees and their many ways. Which way is better, has been discussed. Since devotion is the main theme of the chapter it is entitled "The yoga of Devotion".

Arjuna uvacha

1. evam satafyuktah ye
   bhaktaih tvam paryupasate
   ye cha api aksharam avyaktam
   tesam ke yogavittamah

Arjuna said : the devotees who worship you contantly and the devotees who worship the Imperishable and unmanifested form, who have understanding of yoga?

Shri bhagavan uvacha

2. mayi avesha manaj ye
   mam hiyuktah upasate
   shradhya paraya upetah
   shrashaya paraya upetah
   te me yuktatamah matah

The blessed Lord Said : Those who concentrate their minds in me, worship me constantly with devotion and faith, I regard them as best among yogis who are established themselves in me.

3. ye tu aksharam anivdeshyam
   avyaktam pavyupasate
   sanvatragam achinntayam cha
   kutastham achalam dhruvam

Those who worship the imperishable that which is beyond the pale of mind and intelligence, the unmanifested, the Ommipresent the Unthinkable, the Unchanging, the Immovable the Constant.

4. saniyamma indriyagramam
   senvatra sambudhayah
   te pra pnuvanti mam
   eva sarvabhuhite ratah

By having controlled their senses, being even-minded in all circumstances, always engaged in the welfare of others they finally come to me too.

5. kieshah adhiktarah tesam
   avyakta sakta chetasam
   avyakta hi gatih
   duhkham dehvaddhih avapyate

Those who set their minds upon the contemplation of the unmanifested have to work much harder. Since bound in their bodies, it becomes very difficult for them to come out of the shackless of their embodied self, they continue to retain some attachments to their bodies.

6. yetu sarvani karmanu mayi
   samyastha mataparah
   anyena eva yogana mam
   dhyayantah upasate

And then, there are those who having established their minds only on me, resigning their all actions to me, intently and constantly worship me, with ceaseless devotion meditating upon me.

7. tesham aham samuddharta
   mrutya samsaratsagarat
   bhavami nachirat partha
   mayi aveshita chetasam

O Arjuna, I neadily deliver my devotees from the death bound ocean of this world, who have their mind and consciousness keenly set on myself

8. mayi eva manah adhatsva
   mayi buddhim nivesaya
   nivasisyasi mayi eva atah
   urdham na sanshayam.

Therefore (O Arjuna), establish your mind firmly and steadfastly on me alone, set your intelligence in my contemplation; After having attained to that state, you shall dwell in me alone. Have no doubts whatsoever in your mind in this regard.

9. athachittam samadhatum na
   shankoshi mayi sthiram
   abhyasyogena tatah mam
   ichha aptum dhananjaya

But if you are not able to establish your mind steadily in my contemolation, then you should seek to reach my state through constant practice and consentration of your thoughts, O winner of wealth (Arjuna).

10. abhyase api asamarthah
    asi matparamah bhava
    madartham api karmani
    kurram siddhim avapyasyasi

Even if you cannot undertake this route of constant practice, then devote yourself completely into my service. Even by performing actions for myself, you shall attain to me.

11. atha etat api ashaktah
    asi kurtum madyogam ashritah
    sarva karma phalam tyagam
    tatah kuru yatatmavan

If you cannot perform even this tane, then by taking refuse in my wondrous powers of yoga, through your mind firmly under controll and totally subdued, you should renounce all the fruits of your actions. (This is also a way of reaching my state.)

12. shreyah hi gyanam abhyasat
    gyanat dhyanam vishisyate
    dhyanat karmaphalatyagah
    tyagat shantih anantaram

Knowledge is sertainlly better than practice (of concentration of mind), meditation is superior to knowledge, even better than meditation is the renunication of the fruits of ones actions, the renunication brings one to the peace immediately.

13. advesta sarvabhutanam
    maitrah karunah eva cha
    nirmamah nirahamkarah
    samdukhsukhah kshami

One who has no antipathy towards any one, who is full of compassion and of friendly nature free of the sense of self, remains even minded in pleasure or pain and is ready to forgive others.

14. santustah satatam yogi
    satatma dhridhanischayah
    mayiaprtrita manobudhih
    yah madbhaktah sah me priyah

The yogi who is always context, who has his mind steadily under control, who is of firm resolve and determination, who has established himself in me with his mind and intelligence such a devotee of mine is indeed, very dear to me.

15. yasmat na udvijate lokah
    lokat na udvijate chayah
    harsamarsabhayodvegaih muktah
    yah sah cha me priyah

One who does not cause disturbance to any creature (of the world) and who does not feel disturbed by any living being, who is completely free of happiness, is without any sense of jealous free of fear and agitation, such a devotee is very dear to me too.

16. unpekshah shuchih dakshah
    udasihan gatavyathah
    sarvarambhaparityasi yah
    madbhaktah sah me priyah

The person who has no expectations,who is pure in mind and body, who is skillful in his work, who is free from biases, unconcerned and untrobled who has foresaken all initiatives in a action, such a devotee is also dear to me.

17. yah na hrishyati na duesti
    na shochati na kanchhati
    shubhasubha parityasi
    bhaktimanyah sa me priyah.

The person who does not become happy neither who grieves nor who desires and who has renounced all the fruits of his actions, be they good or evil, he is a devotee of mine, acting in such a manner is indeed, dear to my heart.

18. samah shatrau cha mitre
    cha tatha manapamanayah
    shitosnasukhadukhesu
    samah sangavivarjitah

The person who does not behave differently to a friend or a foe, who is even minded to honour or to dishonour, who treats hea and cold, pleasure and pain alike and who has no attachments in this world.

19. tulyaninala stutih mauri
    santutah yena kenachit
    aniketah sthiranatih
    bhaktinam me priyah narah

One to whom praise and blame are equal, observes silence, content in whatever comes to his way, who has no fixed residence has steady mind, the man devoted to me is dear to me.

20. ye tu dhavmayamritam idam
    yatha uktam paryupasate
    shradhanah matparmah bhaktah
    te ative me priyah

And the one who is ever keen to reach me, abandoning everthing else, with single minded devotion, having faith in me, follows this immortal wisdom of devotion worship me without any desire for fruits is specially dear to me.

...bhaktiyoga....twelve.