BHAGAVAD-GÉTÄ: CHAPTER 12.

DEVOTIONAL SERVICE
TEXT 1
AeÉÑïlÉ EuÉÉcÉ
LuÉÇ xÉiÉiÉrÉÑ£üÉ rÉå pÉ£üÉxiuÉÉÇ mÉrÉÑïmÉÉxÉiÉå |
rÉåcÉÉmrɤÉUqÉurÉ£üÇ iÉåwÉÉÇ Måü rÉÉåaÉÌuɨÉqÉÉÈ || 1 ||
arjuna uväca
evaà satata-yuktä ye
bhaktäs tväà paryupäsate
ye cäpy akñaram avyaktaà
teñäà ke yoga-vittamäù
arjunaù uväca—Arjuna said; evam—thus; satata—always; yuktäù—engaged; ye—those who; bhaktäù—
devotees; tväm—You; paryupäsate—properly worship; ye—those who; ca—also; api—again; akñaram—beyond
the senses; avyaktam—the unmanifested; teñäm—of them; ke—who; yoga-vit-tamäù—the most perfect in
knowledge of yoga.

Arjuna inquired: Which are considered to be more perfect, those who are always properly engaged
in Your devotional service or those who worship the impersonal Brahman, the unmanifested?

TEXT 2
´ÉÏ pÉaÉuÉÉlÉÑuÉÉcÉ |
qÉrrÉuÉårÉ qÉlÉÉå rÉå qÉÉÇ ÌlÉirÉrÉÑ£üÉ EmÉÉxÉiÉå |
´É®rÉÉ mÉUrÉÉåmÉåiÉÉxiÉå qÉå rÉÑ£üiÉqÉÉ qÉiÉÉÈ || 2 ||
çré-bhagavän uväca
mayy äveçya mano ye mäà
nitya-yuktä upäsate
çraddhayä parayopetäs
te me yuktatamä matäù
çré-bhagavän uväca—the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; mayi—upon Me; äveçya—fixing; manaù—the
mind; ye—those who; mäm—Me; nitya—always; yuktäù—engaged; upäsate—worship; çraddhayä—with faith;
parayä—transcendental; upetäù—endowed; te—they; me—by Me; yukta—tamäù—most perfect in yoga; matäù
—are considered.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Those who fix their minds on My personal form and are
always engaged in worshiping Me with great and transcendental faith are considered by Me to be
most perfect.
 BHAGAVAD-GÉTÄ: CHAPTER 12. DEVOTIONAL SERVICE
TEXT 3-4
rÉå iuɤÉUqÉÌlÉSåïvrÉqÉurÉ£üÇ mÉrÉÑïmÉÉxÉiÉå |
xÉuÉï§ÉaÉqÉÍcÉlirÉÇ cÉ MÔüiÉxjÉqÉcÉsÉÇ kÉëÑuÉqÉç || 3 ||
xÉ̳ÉrÉqÉåÎlSìrÉaÉëÉqÉÇ xÉuÉï§É xÉqÉoÉÑ®rÉÈ |
iÉå mÉëÉmlÉÑuÉÎliÉ qÉÉqÉåuÉ xÉuÉïpÉÔiÉÌWûiÉå UiÉÉÈ || 4 ||
ye tv akñaram anirdeçyam
avyaktaà paryupäsate
sarvatra-gam acintyaà ca
küöa-stham acalaà dhruvam
sanniyamyendriya-grämaà
sarvatra sama-buddhayaù
te präpnuvanti mäm eva
sarva-bhüta-hite ratäù
ye—those who; tu—but; akñaram—that which is beyond the perception of the senses; anirdeçyam—indefinite;
avyaktam—unmanifested; paryupäsate—completely engage in worshiping; sarvatra-gam—all—pervading;
acintyam—inconceivable; ca—also; küöa-stham—unchanging; acalam—immovable; dhruvam—fixed;
sanniyamya—controlling; indriya—grämam—all the senses; sarvatra—everywhere; sama-buddhayaù—equally
disposed; te—they; präpnuvanti—achieve; mäm—Me; eva—certainly; sarva-bhüta-hite—for the welfare of all
living entities; ratäù—engaged.

But those who fully worship the unmanifested, that which lies beyond the perception of the senses,
the all-pervading, inconceivable, unchanging, fixed and immovable—the impersonal conception of
the Absolute Truth—by controlling the various senses and being equally disposed to everyone, such
persons, engaged in the welfare of all, at last achieve Me.

TEXT 5
YsÉåvÉÉåÅÍkÉMüiÉUxiÉåwÉÉqÉç AurÉ£üÉxÉ£ü cÉåiÉxÉÉqÉç |
AurÉ£üÉ ÌWû aÉÌiÉSÒïÈZÉÇ SåWûuÉÌ°UuÉmrÉiÉå || 5 ||
kleço 'dhikataras teñäm
avyaktäsakta-cetasäm
avyaktä hi gatir duùkhaà
dehavadbhir aväpyate
kleçaù—trouble; adhika-taraù—very much; teñäm—of them; avyakta—to the unmanifested; äsakta—attached;
cetasäm—of those whose minds; avyaktä—toward the unmanifested; hi—certainly; gatiù—progress; duùkham—
with trouble; deha-vadbhiù—by the embodied; aväpyate—is achieved.

For those whose minds are attached to the unmanifested, impersonal feature of the Supreme,
advancement is very troublesome. To make progress in that discipline is always difficult for those
who are embodied.

TEXT 6-7
rÉå iÉÑ xÉuÉÉïÍhÉ MüqÉÉïÍhÉ qÉÌrÉ xɳrÉxrÉ qÉimÉUÉÈ |
 BHAGAVAD-GÉTÄ: CHAPTER 12. DEVOTIONAL SERVICE
AlÉlrÉålÉæuÉ rÉÉåaÉålÉ qÉÉÇ krÉÉrÉliÉ EmÉÉxÉiÉå || 6 ||
iÉåwÉÉqÉWûÇ xÉqÉÑ®iÉÉï qÉ×irÉÑxÉÇxÉÉUxÉÉaÉUÉiÉç |
pÉuÉÉÍqÉ lÉ ÍcÉUÉimÉÉjÉï qÉrrÉÉuÉåÍvÉiÉcÉåiÉxÉÉqÉç || 7 ||
ye tu sarväëi karmäëi
mayi sannyasya mat-paräù
ananyenaiva yogena
mäà dhyäyanta upäsate
teñäm ahaà samuddhartä
måtyu-saàsära-sägarät
bhavämi na cirät pärtha
mayy äveçita-cetasäm
ye—those who; tu—but; sarväëi—all; karmäëi—activities; mayi—unto Me; sannyasya—giving up; mat—paräù
—being attached to Me; ananyena—without division; eva—certainly; yogena—by practice of such bhakti-yoga;
mäm—upon Me; dhyäyantaù—meditating; upäsate—worship; teñäm—of them; aham—I; samuddhartä—the
deliverer; måtyu—of death; saàsära—in material existence; sägarät—from the ocean; bhavämi—I become; na—
not; cirät—after a long time; pärtha—O son of Påthä; mayi—upon Me; äveçita—fixed; cetasäm—of those whose
minds.

But those who worship Me, giving up all their activities unto Me and being devoted to Me without
deviation, engaged in devotional service and always meditating upon Me, having fixed their minds
upon Me, O son of Påthä—for them I am the swift deliverer from the ocean of birth and death.

TEXT 8
qÉrrÉåuÉ qÉlÉ AÉkÉixuÉ qÉÌrÉ oÉÑÌ®Ç ÌlÉuÉåvÉrÉ |
ÌlÉuÉÍxÉxwrÉÍxÉ qÉrrÉåuÉ AiÉ FkuÉïÇ lÉ xÉÇvÉrÉÈ || 8 ||
mayy eva mana ädhatsva
mayi buddhià niveçaya
nivasiñyasi mayy eva
ata ürdhvaà na saàçayaù
mayi—upon Me; eva—certainly; manaù—mind; ädhatsva—fix; mayi—upon Me; buddhim—intelligence;
niveçaya—apply; nivasiñyasi—you will live; mayi—in Me; eva—certainly; ataù ürdhvam—thereafter; na—never;
saàçayaù—doubt.

Just fix your mind upon Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and engage all your intelligence
in Me. Thus you will live in Me always, without a doubt.

TEXT 9
AjÉ ÍcɨÉÇ xÉqÉÉkÉÉiÉÑÇ lÉ vÉYlÉÉåÌwÉ qÉÌrÉ ÎxjÉUqÉç |
AprÉÉxÉrÉÉåaÉålÉ iÉiÉÉå qÉÉÍqÉcNûÉmiÉÑÇ kÉlÉgeÉrÉ || 9 ||
atha cittaà samädhätuà
na çaknoñi mayi sthiram
 BHAGAVAD-GÉTÄ: CHAPTER 12. DEVOTIONAL SERVICE
abhyäsa-yogena tato
mäm icchäptuà dhanaïjaya
atha—if, therefore; cittam—mind; samädhätum—to fix; na—not; çaknoñi—you are able; mayi—upon Me;
sthiram—steadily; abhyäsa-yogena—by the practice of devotional service; tataù—then; mäm—Me; icchä—
desire; äptum—to get; dhanam-jaya—O winner of wealth, Arjuna.

My dear Arjuna, O winner of wealth, if you cannot fix your mind upon Me without deviation, then
follow the regulative principles of bhakti-yoga. In this way develop a desire to attain Me.

TEXT 10
AprÉÉxÉåÅmrÉxÉqÉjÉÉåïÅÍxÉ qÉiMüqÉïmÉUqÉÉå pÉuÉ |
qÉSjÉïqÉÌmÉ MüqÉÉïÍhÉ MÑüuÉïÎlxÉÌ®qÉuÉÉmxrÉÍxÉ || 10 ||
abhyäse 'py asamartho 'si
mat-karma-paramo bhava
mad-artham api karmäëi
kurvan siddhim aväpsyasi
abhyäse—in practice; api—even if; asamarthaù—unable; asi—you are; mat-karma—My work; paramaù—
dedicated to; bhava—become; mat-artham—for My sake; api—even; karmäëi—work; kurvan—performing;
siddhim—perfection; aväpsyasi—you will achieve.

If you cannot practice the regulations of bhakti-yoga, then just try to work for Me, because by
working for Me you will come to the perfect stage.

TEXT 11
AjÉæiÉSmrÉvÉ£üÉåÅÍxÉ MüiÉÑïÇ qɱÉåaÉqÉÉÍ´ÉiÉÈ |
xÉuÉïMüqÉïTüsÉirÉÉaÉÇ iÉiÉÈ MÑü rÉiÉÉiqÉuÉÉlÉç || 11 ||
athaitad apy açakto 'si
kartuà mad-yogam äçritaù
sarva-karma-phala-tyägaà
tataù kuru yatätmavän
atha—even though; etat—this; api—also; açaktaù—unable; asi—you are; kartum—to perform; mat—unto Me;
yogam—in devotional service; äçritaù—taking refuge; sarva-karma—of all activities; phala—of the results;
tyägam—renunciation; tataù—then; kuru—do; yata-ätma-vän—self—situated.

If, however, you are unable to work in this consciousness of Me, then try to act giving up all results
of your work and try to be self-situated.

TEXT 12
´ÉårÉÉå ÌWû ¥ÉÉlÉqÉprÉÉxÉÉe¥ÉÉlÉÉSèkrÉÉlÉÇ ÌuÉÍvÉwrÉiÉå |
krÉÉlÉÉiMüqÉïTüsÉirÉÉaÉxirÉÉaÉÉcNûÉÎliÉUlÉliÉUqÉç || 12 ||
çreyo hi jïänam abhyäsäj
jïänäd dhyänaà viçiñyate
 BHAGAVAD-GÉTÄ: CHAPTER 12. DEVOTIONAL SERVICE
dhyänät karma-phala-tyägas
tyägäc chäntir anantaram
çreyaù—better; hi—certainly; jïänam—knowledge; abhyäsät—than practice; jïänät—than knowledge; dhyänam
—meditation; viçiñyate—is considered better; dhyänät—than meditation; karma-phala-tyägaù—renunciation of
the results of fruitive action; tyägät—by such renunciation; çäntiù—peace; anantaram—thereafter.

If you cannot take to this practice, then engage yourself in the cultivation of knowledge. Better than
knowledge, however, is meditation, and better than meditation is renunciation of the fruits of action,
for by such renunciation one can attain peace of mind.

TEXT 13-14
A²å¹É xÉuÉïpÉÔiÉÉlÉÉÇ qÉæ§ÉÈ MüÂhÉ LuÉ cÉ |
ÌlÉqÉïqÉÉå ÌlÉUWûXçMüÉUÈ xÉqÉSÒÈZÉxÉÑZÉÈ ¤ÉqÉÏ || 13 ||
xÉliÉѹ xÉiÉiÉÇ rÉÉåaÉÏ rÉiÉÉiqÉÉ SØRûÌlɶÉrÉÈ |
qÉrrÉÌmÉïiÉqÉlÉÉåoÉÑÌ®rÉÉåï qÉ°£üÈ xÉ qÉå ÌmÉërÉÈ || 14 ||

adveñöä sarva-bhütänäà
maitraù karuëa eva ca
nirmamo nirahaìkäraù
sama-duùkha-sukhaù kñamé
santuñöaù satataà yogé
yatätmä dåòha-niçcayaù
mayy arpita-mano-buddhir
yo mad-bhaktaù sa me priyaù
adveñöä—nonenvious; sarva-bhütänäm—toward all living entities; maitraù—friendly; karuëaù—kindly; eva—
certainly; ca—also; nirmamaù—with no sense of proprietorship; nirahaìkäraù—without false ego; sama—equal;
duùkha—in distress; sukhaù—and happiness; kñamé—forgiving; santuñöaù—satisfied; satatam—always; yogé
—one engaged in devotion; yata-ätmä—self-controlled; dåòha-niçcayaù—with determination; mayi—upon Me;
arpita—engaged; manaù—mind; buddhiù—and intelligence; yaù—one who; mat—bhaktaù—My devotee; saù—
he; me—to Me; priyaù—dear.

One who is not envious but is a kind friend to all living entities, who does not think himself a
proprietor and is free from false ego, who is equal in both happiness and distress, who is tolerant,
always satisfied, self-controlled, and engaged in devotional service with determination, his mind and
intelligence fixed on Me—such a devotee of Mine is very dear to Me.

TEXT 15
rÉxqÉɳÉÉå̲eÉiÉå sÉÉåMüÉå sÉÉåMüɳÉÉå̲eÉiÉå cÉ rÉÈ |
WûwÉÉïqÉwÉïpÉrÉÉå²åaÉæqÉÑï£üÉå rÉÈ xÉ cÉ qÉå ÌmÉërÉÈ || 15 ||
yasmän nodvijate loko
lokän nodvijate ca yaù
harñämarña-bhayodvegair
 BHAGAVAD-GÉTÄ: CHAPTER 12. DEVOTIONAL SERVICE
mukto yaù sa ca me priyaù
yasmät—from whom; na—never; udvijate—are agitated; lokaù—people; lokät—from people; na—never; udvijate
—is disturbed; ca—also; yaù—anyone who; harña—from happiness; amarña—distress; bhaya—fear; udvegaiù—
and anxiety; muktaù—freed; yaù—who; saù—anyone; ca—also; me—to Me; priyaù—very dear.

He by whom no one is put into difficulty and who is not disturbed by anyone, who is equipoised in
happiness and distress, fear and anxiety, is very dear to Me.

TEXT 16
AlÉmÉå¤ÉÈ vÉÑÍcÉSï¤É ESÉxÉÏlÉÉå aÉiÉurÉjÉÈ |
xÉuÉÉïUqpÉmÉËUirÉÉaÉÏ rÉÉå qÉ°£üÈ xÉ qÉå ÌmÉërÉÈ || 16 ||
anapekñaù çucir dakña
udäséno gata-vyathaù
sarvärambha-parityägé
yo mad-bhaktaù sa me priyaù
anapekñaù—neutral; çuciù—pure; dakñaù—expert; udäsénaù—free from care; gata-vyathaù—freed from all
distress; sarva-ärambha—of all endeavors; parityägé—renouncer; yaù—anyone who; mat-bhaktaù—My devotee;
saù—he; me—to Me; priyaù—very dear.

My devotee who is not dependent on the ordinary course of activities, who is pure, expert, without
cares, free from all pains, and not striving for some result, is very dear to Me.
 BHAGAVAD-GÉTÄ: CHAPTER 12. DEVOTIONAL SERVICE
TEXT 17
rÉÉå lÉ WØûwrÉÌiÉ lÉ ²å̹ lÉ vÉÉåcÉÌiÉ lÉ MüÉXç¤ÉÌiÉ |
vÉÑpÉÉvÉÑpÉmÉËUirÉÉaÉÏ pÉÌ£üqÉÉlrÉÈ xÉ qÉå ÌmÉërÉÈ || 17 ||
yo na håñyati na dveñöi
na çocati na käìkñati
çubhäçubha-parityägé
bhaktimän yaù sa me priyaù
yaù—one who; na—never; håñyati—takes pleasure; na—never; dveñöi—grieves; na—never; çocati—laments; na
—never; käìkñati—desires; çubha—of the auspicious; açubha—and the inauspicious; parityägé—renouncer;
bhakti—män—devotee; yaù—one who; saù—he is; me—to Me; priyaù—dear.

One who neither rejoices nor grieves, who neither laments nor desires, and who renounces both
auspicious and inauspicious things—such a devotee is very dear to Me.

TEXT 18-19
xÉqÉÈ vɧÉÉæ cÉ ÍqɧÉå cÉ iÉjÉÉ qÉÉlÉÉmÉqÉÉlÉrÉÉåÈ |
vÉÏiÉÉåwhÉxÉÑZÉSÒÈZÉåwÉÑ xÉqÉÈ xÉXçaÉÌuÉuÉÎeÉïiÉÈ || 18 ||
iÉÑsrÉÌlÉlSÉxiÉÑÌiÉqÉÉæïlÉÏ xÉliÉѹÉå rÉålÉ MåülÉÍcÉiÉç |
AÌlÉMåüiÉÈ ÎxjÉUqÉÌiÉpÉïÌ£üqÉÉlqÉå ÌmÉërÉÉå lÉUÈ || 19 ||

samaù çatrau ca mitre ca

tathä mänäpamänayoù
çétoñëa-sukha-duùkheñu
samaù saìga-vivarjitaù
tulya-nindä-stutir mauné
santuñöo yena kenacit
aniketaù sthira-matir
bhaktimän me priyo naraù
samaù—equal; çatrau—to an enemy; ca—also; mitre—to a friend; ca—also; tathä—so; mäna—in honor;
apamänayoù—and dishonor; çéta—in cold; uñëa—heat; sukha—happiness; duùkheñu—and distress; samaù—
equipoised; saìga-vivarjitaù—free from all association; tulya—equal; nindä—in defamation; stutiù—and repute;
mauné—silent; santuñöaù—satisfied; yena kenacit—with anything; aniketaù—having no residence; sthira—
fixed; matiù—determination; bhakti-män—engaged in devotion; me—to Me; priyaù—dear; naraù—a man.

One who is equal to friends and enemies, who is equipoised in honor and dishonor, heat and cold,
happiness and distress, fame and infamy, who is always free from contaminating association, always
silent and satisfied with anything, who doesn't care for any residence, who is fixed in knowledge and
who is engaged in devotional service—such a person is very dear to Me.

TEXT 20
rÉå iÉÑ kÉqrÉÉïqÉ×iÉÍqÉSÇ rÉjÉÉå£üÇ mÉrÉÑïmÉÉxÉiÉå |
 BHAGAVAD-GÉTÄ: CHAPTER 12. DEVOTIONAL SERVICE
´É®kÉÉlÉÉ qÉimÉUqÉÉ pÉ£üÉxiÉåÅiÉÏuÉ qÉå ÌmÉërÉÉÈ || 20 ||
ye tu dharmyämåtam idaà
yathoktaà paryupäsate
çraddadhänä mat-paramä
bhaktäs te 'téva me priyäù
ye—those who; tu—but; dharma—of religion; amåtam—nectar; idam—this; yathä—as; uktam—said;
paryupäsate—completely engage; çraddadhänäù—with faith; mat-paramäù—taking Me, the Supreme Lord, as
everything; bhaktäù—devotees; te—they; atéva—very, very; me—to Me; priyäù—dear.

Those who follow this imperishable path of devotional service and who completely engage themselves
with faith, making Me the supreme goal, are very, very dear to Me.