Bhagavad Gita Chapter 12, Verse 7

English Translation

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.

Detailed Commentary

Explanation— The phrase 'मय्यावेशितचेतसाम्' (whose minds are absorbed in Me) from 'तेषामहं समुद्धर्ता... मय्यावेशितचेतसाम्' (I am the deliverer of those whose minds are absorbed in Me) refers to those seekers whose goal and purpose is solely Bhagavan, who have fixed their consciousness in Bhagavan with unswerving love, and who have themselves become absorbed in Bhagavan. Just as there is only water in the ocean, so too there is only death in the world. Every object born in the world does not escape the assaults of death even for a moment; that is, every created object is moving towards death moment by moment. Therefore, the world is called 'Mrityu-Samsara-Sagar' (the ocean of mortal existence). Human beings possess both agreeable and disagreeable inclinations (Vrittis). In the events, circumstances, and beings-objects of the world, these agreeable-disagreeable inclinations generate Raga-Dvesha (attachment and aversion), thereby binding humans to Samsara (Gita 7.27). It is even observed that seekers themselves become victims of Raga-Dvesha by developing favorable or unfavorable sentiments towards specific sects and saints, which prevents them from quickly traversing the ocean of Samsara. For a seeker of Truth (Tattva), sectarian partiality is an impediment. A deluded insistence on a particular sect binds an individual. Therefore, in the Gita, Bhagavan has repeatedly laid special emphasis on liberation from these dualities (Raga and Dvesha) (footnote p. 635.1). If a devotee-seeker directs all his favorable inclinations towards Bhagavan – that is, establishes an exclusive bond of love solely with Bhagavan – and directs all his unfavorable inclinations towards the world, then he can be swiftly liberated from this bondage of Samsara. The very presence of agreeable and disagreeable inclinations in the world constitutes bondage. It is Bhagavan's general principle that in whatever sentiment one takes refuge in Him, with that same sentiment Bhagavan grants refuge – 'ये यथा मां प्रपद्यन्ते तांस्तथैव भजाम्यहम्' (Gita 4.11). Therefore, He states that although "I am alike to all beings" ('समोऽहम् सर्वभूतेषु', Gita 9.29), I Myself swiftly and unerringly deliver those devotees – for whom I alone am dear, who perform all actions solely for Me, and who, being solely devoted to Me, remain constantly absorbed in My Dhyana (meditation), Japa (chanting), and Chintana (contemplation) – from the ocean of death and Samsara (footnote p. 635.2). Connection— In the second verse, Bhagavan described Saguna (worshipers of the Lord with attributes) as superior Yogis, and in the sixth and seventh verses, He declared that He swiftly delivers such devotees. Therefore, to enable Arjuna to become such a superior Yogi, Bhagavan now, in the eighth verse, describes the means of Samarpana Yoga (Yoga of Surrender), and then, in the ninth, tenth, and eleventh verses respectively, the means of Abhyasa Yoga (Yoga of Practice), actions performed for Bhagavan's sake (Bhagavadartha Karma), and the renunciation of the fruits of all actions (Sarvakarmaphala Tyaga).