Bhakti Yoga

अर्जुन उवाच |

Arjuna said Those devotees who, being thus ever dedicated, meditate on You, and those again (who meditate) on the Immutable, the Unmanifested-of them, who are the best experiencers of yoga [(Here) yoga means samadhi, spiritual absorption.] ?

श्रीभगवानुवाच |

The Blessed Lord said Those who meditate on Me by fixing their minds on Me with steadfast devotion (and) being endowed with supreme faith-they are considered to be the most perfect yogis according to Me.

ये त्वक्षरमनिर्देश्यमव्यक्तं पर्युपासते |

Swami Gambirananda did not comment on this sloka

सन्नियम्येन्द्रियग्रामं सर्वत्र समबुद्धयः |

By fully controlling all the organs and always being even-minded, they, engaged in the welfare of all beings, attain Me alone.

क्लेशोऽधिकतरस्तेषामव्यक्तासक्तचेतसाम् |

For them who have their minds attached to the Unmanifested the struggle is greater; for, the Goal which is the Unmanifest is attained with difficulty by the embodied ones.

ये तु सर्वाणि कर्माणि मयि संन्यस्य मत्परः |

As for those who, having dedicated all actions to Me and accepted Me as the supreme, meditate by thinking of Me with single-minded concentration only-.

तेषामहं समुद्धर्ता मृत्युसंसारसागरात् |

O son of Prtha, for them who have their minds absorbed in Me, I become, without delay, the Deliverer from the sea of the world which is fraught with death.

मय्येव मन आधत्स्व मयि बुद्धिं निवेशय |

Fix the mind on Me alone; in Me alone rest the intellect. There is no doubt that hereafter you will dwell in Me alone. [For the sake of metre, eva and atah (in the second line of the verse) are not joined together (to form evatah).]

अथ चित्तं समाधातुं न शक्नोषि मयि स्थिरम् |

If, however, you are unable to establish the mind steadily on Me, then, O Dhananjaya, seek to attain Me through the Yoga of Practice.

अभ्यासेऽप्यसमर्थोऽसि मत्कर्मपरमो भव |

If you are unable even to practise, be intent on works for Me. By undertaking works for Me as well, you will attain perfection. [Identity with Brahman.]

अथैतदप्यशक्तोऽसि कर्तुं मद्योगमाश्रितः |

If you are unable to do even this, in that case, having resorted to the Yoga for Me, thereafter renounce the results of all works by becoming controlled in mind.

श्रेयो हि ज्ञानमभ्यासाज्ज्ञानाद्ध्यानं विशिष्यते |

Knowledge is surely superior to practice; meditation surpasses knowledge. The renunciation of the results of works (excels) meditation. From renunciation, Peace follows immediately.

अद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्रः करुण एव च। निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः समदुःखसुखः क्षमी॥

One who is free from hatred toward all beings, who is friendly and compassionate, free from possessiveness and ego, equal in pleasure and pain, and forgiving —

सन्तुष्टः सततं योगी यतात्मा दृढनिश्चयः |

He who is ever content, who is a yogi, who has self-control, who has firm conviction, who has dedicated his mind and intellect to Me-he who is such a devotee of Mine is dear to Me.

यस्मान्नोद्विजते लोको लोकान्नोद्विजते च यः |

He, too, owing to whom the world is not disturbed, and who is not disturbed by the world, who is free from joy, impatience, fear and anxiety, is dear to Me.

अनपेक्षः शुचिर्दक्ष उदासीनो गतव्यथः |

He who has no desires, who is pure, who is dextrous, who is impartial, who is free from fear, who has renounced every undertaking-he who is (such) a devotee of Mine is dear to Me.

यो न हृष्यति न द्वेष्टि न शोचति न काङ्क्षति |

He who does not rejoice, does not fret, does not lament, does not hanker; who gives up good and bad, who is filled with devotion-he is dear to Me.

समः शत्रौ च मित्रे च तथा मानापमानयोः |

Swami Gambirananda did not comment on this sloka

तुल्यनिन्दास्तुतिर्मौनी सन्तुष्टो येन केनचित् |

The person to whom denunciation and praise are the same, who is silent, content with anything, homeless, steady-minded, and full of devotion is dear to Me.

ये तु धर्म्यामृतमिदं यथोक्तं पर्युपासते |

But [Tu (but) is used to distinguish those who have attained the highest Goal from the aspirants.-Tr.] those devotees who accept Me as the supreme Goal, and with faith seek for this ambrosia [M.S.'s reading is dharmamrtam-nectar in the form of virtue. Virtue is called nectar because it leads to Immortality, or because it is sweet like nectar.] which is indistinguishable from the virtues as stated above, they are very dear to Me.