The Yoga of Devotion

Arjuna uvācha: evaṁ satata-yuktā ye bhaktās tvāṁ paryupāsate, ye chāpy akṣharam avyaktaṁ teṣhāṁ ke yoga-vittamāḥ

Arjuna asked: Of those who are ever steadfast and worship You with devotion, and those who worship the imperishable unmanifest — which of them are better versed in yoga?

Śhrī bhagavān uvācha: mayy āveśhya mano ye māṁ nitya-yuktā upāsate, śhraddhayā parayopetās te me yuktatamā matāḥ

The Blessed Lord said: Those who fix their minds on Me and worship Me with constant devotion and supreme faith — these I consider the most perfect in yoga.

Ye tv akṣharam anirdeśhyam avyaktaṁ paryupāsate, sarvatra-gam achintyaṁ cha kūṭa-stham achalaṁ dhruvam

But those who worship the imperishable, the undefinable, the unmanifest, the omnipresent, the inconceivable, the unchanging, the immovable, the eternal—

Sanniyamyendriya-grāmaṁ sarvatra sama-buddhayaḥ, te prāpnuvanti mām eva sarva-bhūta-hite ratāḥ

Those who, with complete control of the senses and with equal-mindedness in all conditions, are engaged in the welfare of all beings — they also come to Me.

Kleśho 'dhikataras teṣhām avyaktāsakta-chetasām, avyaktā hi gatir duḥkhaṁ dehavadbhir avāpyate

The difficulty is far greater for those whose minds are attached to the unmanifest, for the unmanifest path is hard for embodied beings to attain.

Ye tu sarvani karmani mayi sannyasya mat-parah, ananyenaiva yogena mam dhyayanta upasate

But those who worship Me, surrendering all their activities to Me and devoted to Me without deviation, meditating on Me with exclusive yoga...

Tesham aham samuddharta mrityu-samsara-sagarat, bhavami na chirat partha mayy aveshita-chetasam

For those whose minds are set on Me, I am soon the deliverer from the ocean of death and transmigration, O Partha.

Mayy eva mana ādhatsva mayi buddhiṁ niveśhaya, nivasiṣhyasi mayy eva ata ūrdhvaṁ na sanśhayaḥ

Fix your mind on Me alone and let your intellect dwell upon Me. Thereafter, you shall certainly live in Me. Of this, there is no doubt.

Atha chittaṁ samādhātuṁ na śhaknoṣhi mayi sthiram, abhyāsa-yogena tato mām ichhāptuṁ dhanañjaya

If you cannot fix your mind steadily on Me, then seek to reach Me by the practice of repeated yoga, O Arjuna.

Abhyāse 'py asamartho 'si mat-karma-paramo bhava, mad-artham api karmāṇi kurvan siddhim avāpsyasi

If you are unable even to practice, be devoted to performing actions for My sake. By doing actions for My sake, you will attain perfection.

Athaitad apy aśhakto 'si kartuṁ mad-yogam āśhritaḥ, sarva-karma-phala-tyāgaṁ tataḥ kuru yatātmavān

If even this is beyond your capacity, then, taking refuge in My yoga, with self-control, renounce the fruits of all actions.

Shreyo hi jnanam abhyasaj jnanad dhyanam vishishyate, dhyanat karma-phala-tyagas tyagac chantir anantaram

If you cannot practice knowledge, then devote yourself to meditation. Better than meditation is renunciation of the fruits of action, for peace immediately follows such renunciation.

Adveshta sarva-bhutanam maitrah karuna eva cha, nirmamo nirahankarah sama-duhkha-sukhah kshami

One who is not envious but a kind friend to all living entities, free from proprietorship and false ego, equal in happiness and distress, forgiving.

Santushṭaḥ satataṁ yogī yatātmā dṛiḍha-niśhchayaḥ, mayy arpita-mano-buddhir yo mad-bhaktaḥ sa me priyaḥ

Ever content, steadfast in meditation, self-controlled, and of firm resolve, with mind and intellect offered to Me—such devotees are very dear to Me.

Yasmān nodvijate loko lokān nodvijate cha yaḥ, harṣhāmarṣha-bhayodvegair mukto yaḥ sa cha me priyaḥ

One by whom the world is not disturbed, and who is not disturbed by the world, who is free from joy, envy, fear, and anxiety — such a one is dear to Me.

Anapekṣhaḥ śhuchir dakṣha udāsīno gata-vyathaḥ, sarvārambha-parityāgī yo mad-bhaktaḥ sa me priyaḥ

Free from wants, pure, expert, without cares, untroubled, and renouncing all undertakings—such devotees are very dear to Me.

Yo na hṛiṣhyati na dveṣhṭi na śhochati na kāṅkṣhati, śhubhāśhubha-parityāgī bhaktimān yaḥ sa me priyaḥ

One who neither rejoices nor grieves, neither laments nor desires, and who is indifferent to both the auspicious and the inauspicious — such a devoted person is dear to Me.

Samaḥ śhatrou cha mitre cha tathā mānāpamānayoḥ, śhītoṣhṇa-sukha-duḥkheṣhu samaḥ saṅga-vivarjitaḥ

One who is equal toward friend and foe, the same in honor and dishonor, cold and heat, pleasure and pain, free from attachment—

Tulya-nindā-stutir maunī santuṣhṭo yena kenachit, aniketaḥ sthira-matir bhaktimān me priyo naraḥ

One who is equal in blame and praise, who is silent and content with anything, who has no fixed abode, who is steady in mind, and who is full of devotion — such a person is dear to Me.

Ye tu dharmyāmṛitam idaṁ yathoktaṁ paryupāsate, śhraddadhānā mat-paramā bhaktās te 'tīva me priyāḥ

Those who follow this immortal dharma as I have declared, endowed with faith and considering Me as their supreme goal—such devotees are most dear to Me.