Chapter 12
Shloka 1
arjuna uvaca
evam satata-yukta ye
bhaktas tvam paryupasate
ye capy aksaram avyaktam
tesam ke yoga-vittamah
Arjuna said : Thus constantly steadfast who devotees you worship, and who imperishable and unmanifest, of them which (who) has better knowledge of yoga?
Arjuna inquires: O Krishna, from your descriptions I notice that there are two kinds of practitioners of yoga : one who steadfastly worship you and those who devote themselves to the imperishable unmanifest. Who according to you among the two have better knowledge and understanding of yoga?
Shloka 2
sri-bhagavan uvaca
mayy avesya mano ye mam
nitya-yukta upasate
sraddhaya parayopetas
te me yuktatama matah
Shri Bhagavan said: On me fixing (their) mind those who ever-steadfast in worship; endowed with faith supreme, they are thought to be most-yoked to me.
Shloka 3
ye tv aksaram anirdesyam
avyaktam paryupasate
sarvatra-gam acintyam ca
kuta-stham acalam dhruvam
Who imperishable, undefinable, unmanifest, worship, all pervading, unthinkable also unchanging, un-moving steady
Shloka 4
sanniyamyendriya-gramam
sarvatra sama-buddhayah
te prapnuvanti mam eva
sarva-bhuta-hite ratah
Controlling multitude of senses, everywhere even-minded, they too achieve me, (those) rejoicing in welfare of all-beings
Shloka 5
kleso ‘dhikataras tesam
avyaktasakta-cetasam
avyakta hi gatir duhkham
dehavadbhir avapyate
Pain (exertion) is greater of them, those attached to the unmanifest, unmanifest goal is indeed difficult for the embodied to attain.
Shloka 6
ye tu sarvani karmani
mayi sannyasya mat-parah
ananyenaiva yogena
mam dhyayanta upasate
Who, but, all action in me renounce (hold) me supreme, with undistracted yoga me meditate upon and worship.
Shloka 7
tesam aham samuddharta
mrtyu-samsara-sagarat
bhavami na cirat partha
mayy avesita-cetasam
Of them, I am deliverer (from) death-rebirth-ocean, without delay, O Partha; (whose) consciousness in me has entered.
Shloka 8
mayy eva mana adhatsva
mayi buddhim nivesaya
nivasisyasi mayy eva
ata urdhvam na samsayah
In me alone fix (your) mind, into me let your intelligence enter, (then) you’ll dwell in me only, from now on (henceforth) do no doubt.
Shloka 9
atha cittam samadhatum
na saknosi mayi sthiram
abhyasa-yogena tato
mam icchaptum dhananjaya
Or if, (you are) not able to hold in place (your) mind steadily in me, (then) by yoga of practice, there on, seek to attain me, Dhananjaya (Arjuna).
Shloka 10
abhyase ‘py asamartho ‘si
mat-karma-paramo bhava
mad-artham api karmani
kurvan siddhim avapsyasi
(If) you are unable to practice also, (then) let (consider) my work (to) be supreme, performing work for my sake, perfection you’ll attain.
Shloka 11
athaitad apy asakto ‘si
kartum mad-yogam asritah
sarva-karma-phala-tyagam
tatah kuru yatatmavan
Or if, (this) also (you are) unable to do, then depending upon my power, abandoning fruits of all actions, there on do (actions) with self-restraint.
Shloka 12
sreyo hi jnanam abhyasaj
jnanad dhyanam visisyate
dhyanat karma-phala-tyagas
tyagac chantir anantaram
Superior, indeed, is knowledge than practice, than knowledge meditation (is) superior, than meditation abandoning fruits of actions, from abandonment (follows) peace immediately.
Shloka 13
advesta sarva-bhutanam
maitrah karuna eva ca
nirmamo nirahankarah
sama-duhkha-sukhah ksami
(A) non-hater of all beings, friendly (and) compassionate, freed from attachment, free from ego, same (indifferent) in pain and pleasure, patient.
Shloka 14
santustah satatam yogi
yatatma drdha-niscayah
mayy arpita-mano-buddhir
yo mad-bhaktah sa me priyah
Contented always, yogi, self-restrained and firm in resolve, in me entrusted mind and intelligence, who is devoted to me, he is dear to me.
Shloka 15
yasman nodvijate loko
lokan nodvijate ca yah
harsamarsa-bhayodvegair
mukto yah sa ca me priyah
From whom the world (does) not shrink, (and) who from (the) world (does) not-shrink, who is freed (from) pleasure-indignation-fear-distress, he too (is) dear (to) me.
Shloka 16
anapeksah sucir daksa
udasino gata-vyathah
sarvarambha-parityagi
yo mad-bhaktah sa me priyah
Who (is) disinterested, pure, capable, indifferent, freed-from-anxiety, abandoning all undertakings, (and is) devoted to me, he is dear to me.
Shloka 17
yo na hrsyati na dvesti
na socati na kanksati
subhasubha-parityagi
bhaktiman yah sa me priyah
Who (does) not rejoice, nor hate, neither mourns nor expects, (has) abandoned agreeable-disagreeable, (and) he is full of devotion, he is dear to me.
Shloka 18
samah satrau ca mitre ca
tatha manapamanayoh
sitosna-sukha-duhkhesu
samah sanga-vivarjitah
Alike (to) foe and friend, (and) in honor and dishonor, same (steady) in cold-heat-pleasure-pain, freed from attachment.
Shloka 19
tulya-ninda-stutir mauni
santusto yena kenacit
aniketah sthira-matir
bhaktiman me priyo narah
Similar in praise-censure, taciturn, contented with anything-whatever, homeless, steady-minded, full of devotion, (that) man is dear to me.
Shloka 20
ye tu dharmamrtam idam
yathoktam paryupasate
sraddadhana mat-parama
bhaktas te ‘tiva me priyah
Who, indeed, this nectar of dharma, as propounded (a fore) worship/honor full of faith; consider me as Supreme (and) are devoted, they (are) exceedingly dear to me.
Bhagavad Gita translated 