Synopsis
This Chapter is called “Devotion Discipline” (Bhakti Yog in Sanskrit).
It explains that thinking of God as Supreme and devotedly concentrating on him reaches one to the God himself.
Those with singular motive worship him they reach the destination Supreme.
The God further explains that it may be difficult to understand the complexities of Nature and the Almighty. However concentration, practice and doing action in name of God , without desire for fruit also will take one to the God.
Chapter 12.1
अर्जुन उवाच
एवं सततयुक्ता ये भक्तास्त्वां पर्युपासते।
येचाप्यक्षरमव्यक्तं तेषां के योगवित्तमाः।।12.1।।
ARJUN SAID
Those who are constantly engulfed in devotion to you,
And those who worship,
The unmanifested you,
Who is better as per you.
Chapter 12.2
श्री भगवानुवाच
मय्यावेश्य मनो ये मां नित्ययुक्ता उपासते।
श्रद्धया परयोपेतास्ते मे युक्ततमा मताः।।12.2।।
GOD SAID
The ones who worship me with faith supreme,
Meditate with mind centered on me,
I consider those best, as they are united with me.
Chapter 12.3 & 12.4
ये त्वक्षरमनिर्देश्यमव्यक्तं पर्युपासते।
सर्वत्रगमचिन्त्यं च कूटस्थमचलं ध्रुवम्।।12.3।।
संनियम्येन्द्रियग्रामं सर्वत्र समबुद्धयः।
ते प्राप्नुवन्ति मामेव सर्वभूतहिते रताः।।12.4।।
Those who worship the unmanifested me,
Which is indestructible, changeless and eternal me,
Beyond senses, the omnipresent and stable me,
With equanimity to all, well-wishers of all,
Controlling senses all,
They come ultimately and certainly to me.
Chapter 12.5
क्लेशोऽधिकतरस्तेषामव्यक्तासक्तचेतसाम्।
अव्यक्ता हि गतिर्दुःखं देहवद्भिरवाप्यते।।12.5।।
The progress is difficult for people with body,
As for them the strain is greater
To attune with my
Unmanifested formless entity.
Chapter 12.6 & 12.7
ये तु सर्वाणि कर्माणि मयि संन्यस्य मत्पराः।
अनन्येनैव योगेन मां ध्यायन्त उपासते।।12.6।।
तेषामहं समुद्धर्ता मृत्युसंसारसागरात्।
भवामि नचिरात्पार्थ मय्यावेशितचेतसाम्।।12.7।।
But those who exclusively, surrender all actions to me,
Whose mind is totally set on me,
Only worship me, with single minded devotion,
I speedily free those, from the birth and death ocean.
Chapter 12.8
मय्येव मन आधत्स्व मयि बुद्धिं निवेशय।
निवसिष्यसि मय्येव अत ऊर्ध्वं न संशयः।।12.8।।
Stabilize your mind in me, focus your thoughts in me,
Then you will no doubt, constantly reside in me.
Chapter 12.9
अथ चित्तं समाधातुं न शक्नोषि मयि स्थिरम्।
अभ्यासयोगेन ततो मामिच्छाप्तुं धनञ्जय।।12.9।।
Dhananjay, if you are unable,
To fix your mind steadily in me,
Then practice different devotional methods,
And in your mind create a desire, to be with me.
Chapter 12.10
अभ्यासेऽप्यसमर्थोऽसि मत्कर्मपरमो भव।
मदर्थमपि कर्माणि कुर्वन् सिद्धिमवाप्स्यसि।।12.10।।
Even if you cannot practice,
Different methods of devotion,
Perform actions for me,
And you will attain perfection.
Chapter 12.11
अथैतदप्यशक्तोऽसि कर्तुं मद्योगमाश्रितः।
सर्वकर्मफलत्यागं ततः कुरु यतात्मवान्।।12.11।।
If even that is not possible,
Then try and surrender
Fruits of action,
Keeping your mind stable.
Chapter 12.12
श्रेयो हि ज्ञानमभ्यासाज्ज्ञानाद्ध्यानं विशिष्यते।
ध्यानात्कर्मफलत्यागस्त्यागाच्छान्तिरनन्तरम्।।12.12।।
If practice is difficult,
Try for knowledge gain,
Better than gaining knowledge is meditation,
Even greater is fruit renunciation,
As peace will follow renunciation.
Chapter 12.13 and 12.14
अद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्रः करुण एव च।
निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः समदुःखसुखः क्षमी।।12.13।।
सन्तुष्टः सततं योगी यतात्मा दृढनिश्चयः।
मय्यर्पितमनोबुद्धिर्यो मद्भक्तः स मे प्रियः।।12.14।।
The one, who is without malice,
Is friendly to all beings,
Is merciful and free of arrogance,
Treats sorrow and joy with balance,
Forgiving in nature and contended,
With subdued mind and senses controlled,
Has with firm resolve surrendered to me
Such devotee is always dear to me.
Chapter 12.15
यस्मान्नोद्विजते लोको लोकान्नोद्विजते च यः।
हर्षामर्षभयोद्वेगैर्मुक्तो यः स च मे प्रियः।।12.15।।
The one who does not trouble others,
And is not also disturbed by others,
Who remains balanced in joy and sorrows,
Is free from fear and worry is dear to me always.
Chapter 12.16
अनपेक्षः शुचिर्दक्ष उदासीनो गतव्यथः।।
सर्वारम्भपरित्यागी यो मद्भक्तः स मे प्रियः।।12.16।।
He who expects nothing,
Has renounced ego in all undertakings,
Is impartial, wise and inside out pure,
And is above all distraction, to me, he is dear.
Chapter 12.17
यो न हृष्यति न द्वेष्टि न शोचति न काङ्क्षति।
शुभाशुभपरित्यागी भक्ितमान्यः स मे प्रियः।।12.17।।
He who neither rejoices nor hates,
Nor grieves or desires.
Renounces both evil and good action,
He is dear to me as he is full of devotion.
Chapter 12.18
समः शत्रौ च मित्रे च तथा मानापमानयोः।
शीतोष्णसुखदुःखेषु समः सङ्गविवर्जितः।।12.18।।।
For him, friend and foe are same,
Insult and honour are same,
Hot and cold,
Pleasure and pain all are same.
Chapter 12.19
तुल्यनिन्दास्तुतिर्मौनी सन्तुष्टो येनकेनचित्।
अनिकेतः स्थिरमतिर्भक्ितमान्मे प्रियो नरः।।12.19।।
For him alike are praise and censures,
He remains mute, is contended in whatever he gets,
Without any sense of possession for dwelling place,
And who is full of devotion, dear to me he remains.
Chapter 12.20
ये तु धर्म्यामृतमिदं यथोक्तं पर्युपासते।
श्रद्दधाना मत्परमा भक्तास्तेऽतीव मे प्रियाः।।12.20।।
Those who follow this path,
Which is like nectar of wisdom set forth,
With devotion for me and full of faith,
Such devotees are the ones I am pleased with.