॥ ॐ श्री परमात्मने नमः ॥
अथ द्वादशोऽध्यायः । भक्तियोगः
अर्जुन उवाच ।
एवं सततयुक्ता ये भक्तास्त्वां पर्युपासते ।
ये चाप्यक्षरमव्यक्तं तेषां के योगवित्तमाः ॥ १२-१॥
श्रीभगवानुवाच ।
मय्यावेश्य मनो ये मां नित्ययुक्ता उपासते ।
श्रद्धया परयोपेताः ते मे युक्ततमा मताः ॥ १२-२॥
ये त्वक्षरमनिर्देश्यमव्यक्तं पर्युपासते ।
सर्वत्रगमचिन्त्यञ्च कूटस्थमचलन्ध्रुवम् ॥ १२-३॥
सन्नियम्येन्द्रियग्रामं सर्वत्र समबुद्धयः ।
ते प्राप्नुवन्ति मामेव सर्वभूतहिते रताः ॥ १२-४॥
क्लेशोऽधिकतरस्तेषामव्यक्तासक्तचेतसाम् ।
अव्यक्ता हि गतिर्दुःखं देहवद्भिरवाप्यते ॥ १२-५॥
ये तु सर्वाणि कर्माणि मयि संन्यस्य मत्पराः ।
अनन्येनैव योगेन मां ध्यायन्त उपासते ॥ १२-६॥
तेषामहं समुद्धर्ता मृत्युसंसारसागरात् ।
भवामि नचिरात्पार्थ मय्यावेशितचेतसाम् ॥ १२-७॥
मय्येव मन आधत्स्व मयि बुद्धिं निवेशय ।
निवसिष्यसि मय्येव अत ऊर्ध्वं न संशयः ॥ १२-८॥
अथ चित्तं समाधातुं न शक्नोषि मयि स्थिरम् ।
अभ्यासयोगेन ततो मामिच्छाप्तुं धनञ्जय ॥ १२-९॥
अभ्यासेऽप्यसमर्थोऽसि मत्कर्मपरमो भव ।
मदर्थमपि कर्माणि कुर्वन्सिद्धिमवाप्स्यसि ॥ १२-१०॥
अथैतदप्यशक्तोऽसि कर्तुं मद्योगमाश्रितः ।
सर्वकर्मफलत्यागं ततः कुरु यतात्मवान् ॥ १२-११॥
श्रेयो हि ज्ञानमभ्यासाज्ज्ञानाद्ध्यानं विशिष्यते ।
ध्यानात्कर्मफलत्यागस्त्यागाच्छान्तिरनन्तरम् ॥ १२-१२॥
अद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्रः करुण एव च ।
निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः समदुःखसुखः क्षमी ॥ १२-१३॥
सन्तुष्टः सततं योगी यतात्मा दृढनिश्चयः ।
मय्यर्पितमनोबुद्धिर्यो मद्भक्तः स मे प्रियः ॥ १२-१४॥
यस्मान्नोद्विजते लोको लोकान्नोद्विजते च यः ।
हर्षामर्षभयोद्वेगैर्मुक्तो यः स च मे प्रियः ॥ १२-१५॥
अनपेक्षः शुचिर्दक्ष उदासीनो गतव्यथः ।
सर्वारम्भपरित्यागी यो मद्भक्तः स मे प्रियः ॥ १२-१६॥
यो न हृष्यति न द्वेष्टि न शोचति न काङ्क्षति ।
शुभाशुभपरित्यागी भक्तिमान्यः स मे प्रियः ॥ १२-१७॥
समः शत्रौ च मित्रे च तथा मानापमानयोः ।
शीतोष्णसुखदुःखेषु समः सङ्गविवर्जितः ॥ १२-१८॥
तुल्यनिन्दास्तुतिर्मौनी सन्तुष्टो येन केनचित् ।
अनिकेतः स्थिरमतिर्भक्तिमान्मे प्रियो नरः ॥ १२-१९॥
ये तु धर्म्यामृतमिदं यथोक्तं पर्युपासते ।
श्रद्दधाना मत्परमा भक्तास्तेऽतीव मे प्रियाः ॥ १२-२०॥
ॐ तत्सदिति श्रीमद्भगवद्गीतासूपनिषत्सु
ब्रह्मविद्यायां योगशास्त्रे श्रीकृष्णार्जुनसंवादे
भक्तियोगो नाम द्वादशोऽध्यायः ॥ १२॥
Introduction to Chapter 12
Overview of Bhakti Yoga
Chapter 12 of the Bhagavad Gita is known as 'Bhakti Yoga,' or 'The Yoga of Devotion.' In this chapter, Lord Krishna emphasizes the importance of devotion to the personal form of God as the most effective path to spiritual liberation.
Arjuna's Inquiry
Arjuna asks Lord Krishna which path is superior: worshiping the formless Brahman or devotion to the personal form of God. Krishna responds by highlighting the challenges of meditating on the formless and the accessibility of personal devotion.
Significance of the Chapter
This chapter underscores that devotion (Bhakti) is the most accessible and effective path for spiritual aspirants, emphasizing qualities like love, surrender, and unwavering faith in the personal form of God.
Path of Bhakti
Krishna describes the path of Bhakti as one where devotees fix their minds on Him, engage in His devotion with steadfast faith, and dedicate all their actions to Him, leading to liberation.
Relevance to Devotees
For modern spiritual seekers, this chapter offers guidance on cultivating a personal relationship with the Divine, emphasizing that devotion transcends rituals and is rooted in sincere love and surrender.
Qualities of a True Devotee
Humility
A true devotee embodies humility, recognizing the greatness of the Divine and approaching life with a sense of modesty and reverence.
Compassion
Compassion towards all living beings is a hallmark of a devotee, reflecting the loving nature of the Divine.
Equanimity
Equanimity in the face of pleasure and pain, success and failure, demonstrates a devotee's inner peace and steadfastness.
Selflessness
A devotee acts without attachment to the fruits of actions, dedicating all outcomes to the Divine.
Non-enmity
Harboring no ill-will towards others, a devotee fosters an environment of peace and harmony.
Path to Devotion
Fixing the Mind on God
Krishna advises that focusing the mind on the Divine is essential. If direct meditation is challenging, one should engage in regular remembrance of God.
Selfless Service
Performing actions selflessly, without attachment to results, purifies the heart and strengthens devotion.
Surrendering Actions
Surrendering the fruits of all actions to the Divine cultivates detachment and aligns one's will with the higher purpose.
Regular Practice
Consistent practice of devotion, even in small measures, leads to spiritual growth and closeness to the Divine.
Overcoming Obstacles
Krishna acknowledges that obstacles will arise but assures that with perseverance and faith, a devotee can overcome them and progress on the path.
Comparison with Other Paths
Devotion vs Knowledge
While knowledge (Jnana) and meditation (Dhyana) are valuable, Krishna emphasizes that devotion is more accessible and leads to liberation.
Devotion vs Renunciation
Renunciation (Sannyasa) without devotion can be challenging, but when combined with love for the Divine, it becomes a powerful path.
Devotion vs Rituals
Rituals are external expressions, but true devotion is internal and rooted in love and surrender.
Devotion vs Action
Performing one's duties with devotion transforms actions into offerings to the Divine.
Devotion vs Detachment
Detachment without devotion can lead to indifference, but when coupled with love for the Divine, it leads to liberation.
Conclusion
Summary of Teachings
Chapter 12 emphasizes that devotion to the personal form of God is the most effective path to spiritual liberation, highlighting qualities like love, surrender, and unwavering faith.
Relevance to Modern Life
In today's world, where distractions abound, this chapter offers a timeless guide to cultivating a personal relationship with the Divine through sincere devotion.
Application in Daily Life
By integrating the qualities of a true devotee into daily life and engaging in regular devotional practices, one can experience spiritual growth and inner peace.
Invitation to Explore
Readers are encouraged to delve deeper into the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, applying its wisdom to enhance their spiritual journey.
Final Thoughts
The path of Bhakti, as outlined in Chapter 12, offers a direct and heartfelt approach to connecting with the Divine, leading to liberation and eternal bliss.
Chapter 12 of the Bhagavad Gita is known as 'Bhakti Yoga,' or 'The Yoga of Devotion.' In this chapter, Lord Krishna emphasizes the importance of devotion to the personal form of God as the most effective path to spiritual liberation.
Arjuna asks Lord Krishna which path is superior: worshiping the formless Brahman or devotion to the personal form of God. Krishna responds by highlighting the challenges of meditating on the formless and the accessibility of personal devotion.
This chapter underscores that devotion (Bhakti) is the most accessible and effective path for spiritual aspirants, emphasizing qualities like love, surrender, and unwavering faith in the personal form of God.
Krishna describes the path of Bhakti as one where devotees fix their minds on Him, engage in His devotion with steadfast faith, and dedicate all their actions to Him, leading to liberation.
For modern spiritual seekers, this chapter offers guidance on cultivating a personal relationship with the Divine, emphasizing that devotion transcends rituals and is rooted in sincere love and surrender.
A true devotee embodies humility, recognizing the greatness of the Divine and approaching life with a sense of modesty and reverence.
Compassion towards all living beings is a hallmark of a devotee, reflecting the loving nature of the Divine.
Equanimity in the face of pleasure and pain, success and failure, demonstrates a devotee's inner peace and steadfastness.
A devotee acts without attachment to the fruits of actions, dedicating all outcomes to the Divine.
Harboring no ill-will towards others, a devotee fosters an environment of peace and harmony.
Krishna advises that focusing the mind on the Divine is essential. If direct meditation is challenging, one should engage in regular remembrance of God.
Performing actions selflessly, without attachment to results, purifies the heart and strengthens devotion.
Surrendering the fruits of all actions to the Divine cultivates detachment and aligns one's will with the higher purpose.
Consistent practice of devotion, even in small measures, leads to spiritual growth and closeness to the Divine.
Krishna acknowledges that obstacles will arise but assures that with perseverance and faith, a devotee can overcome them and progress on the path.
While knowledge (Jnana) and meditation (Dhyana) are valuable, Krishna emphasizes that devotion is more accessible and leads to liberation.
Renunciation (Sannyasa) without devotion can be challenging, but when combined with love for the Divine, it becomes a powerful path.
Rituals are external expressions, but true devotion is internal and rooted in love and surrender.
Performing one's duties with devotion transforms actions into offerings to the Divine.
Detachment without devotion can lead to indifference, but when coupled with love for the Divine, it leads to liberation.
Chapter 12 emphasizes that devotion to the personal form of God is the most effective path to spiritual liberation, highlighting qualities like love, surrender, and unwavering faith.
In today's world, where distractions abound, this chapter offers a timeless guide to cultivating a personal relationship with the Divine through sincere devotion.
By integrating the qualities of a true devotee into daily life and engaging in regular devotional practices, one can experience spiritual growth and inner peace.
Readers are encouraged to delve deeper into the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, applying its wisdom to enhance their spiritual journey.
The path of Bhakti, as outlined in Chapter 12, offers a direct and heartfelt approach to connecting with the Divine, leading to liberation and eternal bliss.
