SHRIMAD BHAGWAD GEETA CHAPTER TWELVE

Om Shri Parmatamne namah


Ath dvadsho adhayaye\


Arjun uvach:

Evam satatyukta ye bhaktahstuam paryuupaste I

Ye chapiaksharamavaykatm tesham ke yogvitamah II (1)


Arjun said: devotees who have their mind constantly fixed upon you as shown above, worship you as possessed of attributes and form and those who adore the Supreme reality, imperishable unmanifest Baraham- of these two types of devotees, who is the best knower of yoga?

In last verse of preceding chapter of universal depiction of Lord, Lord Krishna has accosted the devotees to devote all acts to him, depend upon him alone, be devoted to him alone, be detached, free from malice towards all beings, this is the easiest way to attain self realization.

Arjun is asking Lord:

Of the two types of devotees, one who worships the manifested lord with attributes and other who meditates upon the all pervading unmanifested, indestructible and who is truth, knowledge and all bliss, who is best knower of yoga.
The Lord in unmanifested form is seated in the hearts of all beings in form of consciousness. It is all pervading unmanifested Lord, who is the same in unanimated and animated forms of entire universe.
In last verse of preceding chapter of universal depiction of Lord, Lord Krishna has accosted the devotees to devote all acts to him, depend upon him alone, be devoted to him alone, be detached, free from malice towards all beings, this is the easiest way to attain self realization.
Lord Krishna in form and attributes and his unmanifested all pervading impersonal Brahma, are the same and one.
As Sun element, is present in all beings in the form of their eye sense, though Sun in form being millions of miles away from the earth.
Eternal, indestructible and unmanifested lord sitting in all beings can not be worshipped directly by embodied souls, because of ‘ego’. Our Lord with attributes, a manifestation of divine supreme self can be directly approached by devotees. They can play with him, sit with him and hear his voice.
This can be done by imagination. Here mind works magnificently.
Playing with forms by devotees as per scriptures also contributes to this.
Arjun wants to know as to who of two types of worshippers the best knower of devotional yoga is.
Naturally Arjun has to ask as to whom of the devotees, actually, has attained knowledge of yoga. One who devotes himself to Lord Manifest or one who devotes himself in Lord unanimated?
The whole discourse in Shrimad Bhagwad Geeta is full of devotion, wisdom and yoga of detached action. In every chapter, one can find verses depicting devotion to Lord as Supreme.

In this chapter the Lord is going to elaborate the path of devotion and the apparent evolutes of pure devotees.

Verses 13 to 19 are exclusively devoted to qualities of devotees.

Devotion to Lord is definitely Supreme path as it leads the ignorant self soul to self realization, liberation, detachment with material nature in all forms and back to ultimate home.
In this human form itself, devotion to Lord leads one to ‘Brahmi sthiti’ which means freedom from attachment and identification with material nature and its evolutes. (In chapter two this is the state of desirelessness)

When by practice of many births and constant devotion to Lord, one attains last of his birth, the devotee sees every thing in Lord and Lord in every thing. He finds presence of lord even in small particle of dust. This devotee lives the life as blessing of Lord himself. It sees the embodiment a chance to realize and attain Lord.

Mayyaveshya mano ye mam nityyukta upaste I

Shardhya paryoupaste mey yukttamah matah II (2)

Lord Shri Krishana says: Those who surrender themselves unto me and fix their total devotion on me and worship me with deep faith, with their minds completely absorbed in me, I consider them most to me.

Lord says that those who surrender unto me, with their mind fixed on me, constantly worship me with deep and utmost faith in me, they are best among devotees.

There is no short-cut except complete devotion and surrender.
One can not claim anything as belonging to body.
Every thing has come from Lord and has to go to Lord. The embodiment itself is formed of five basic elements emanating from material nature of Lord (verse 4 of chapter 7), one has unnecessary developed an ego of being embodiment.
Devotee first realizes his own self. When one knows his identity as illuminating self soul, very different from the embodiment, one detaches himself from the material nature and its evolutes.

This moment of break is moment of liberation

Asaktiranbhishanga putrdargrihaadishu I
Nityam cha samchitatvam ishta anishtauppattishu II

mayi cha ananyen yogain bhaktiavayabhicharini I
vivakatdeshsevitwam artijansansidi II (13.9-10)

Non attachment with wife, sons, house etc.

Seeing same ness in favorable and unfavorable circumstances.

Unflinching constant devotion to me, residing in secluded place far away from public gathering.

What ever he has to perform by dint of his past association with modes of material nature in his previous many births, he consider them to be act of lord without attachment with them. complete surrender unto to the lord.
The bondage is caused by identification with material nature and its modes of goodness, passion and ignorance.
Devotion in any form slowly and steadily frees the bonded soul from attachment with material nature. it is as easy. as the released prisoner coming out of prison presuming himself to be free man, this is what this bonded soul has to do since he is definitely already free.

Soul is eternal and free but it’s identification with either goodness or passion or ignorance has caused this bondage.

Due to identification with material body self soul has bounded itself in prison of materialism.

The consciousness in material body never does any thing but it has identified itself with the material body and presumed himself to be the doer of resultant action of our past attachment, as one’s own.

This is the problem.

Self soul though free, does not want to be free.
Devotion to Lord leads this soul to see the reality

Ye tavakshamanirdeshyamavayaktam pariupaste I

Sarvatraagamachintyam ch kutsathamachalam dhruvam II

Saniyamindreygramam sarvatra sambudhyah I

Te prapnuvanti mamrv sarvbhuthite ratah II (3-4)


Those who by controlling their all senses, equally deposed to all, and engaged in the welfare of all beings, devote themselves to the un manifested, which is beyond the perception of senses, all pervading, inconceivable, changeless, immovable, fixed, they too reach me in the last.

Those devoting themselves to unmanifested which is beyond the perception of senses, all pervading, inconceivable, changeless, immovable, fixed, controlling their senses, being equal to all and engaged in the welfare of beings, they too reach him in the last.

The qualities of these devotees have been described in this verse itself. While devoting oneself to unmanifested, one has to control all senses, be even minded to all beings as that unmanifested is pervading all the beings and non-beings. Thus he engages himself in the selfless service of all beings. a sense satisfying person can not achieve this control and eye of sameness because of unsteady mind. super soul can be felt within self soul but for that one has to cease the senses. Once senses are restrained from senses objects and mind at rest, one can see the unmanifested pervading all around in different forms and every where.
Realizing this one never envies any one.
He sees no difference between man and animal or pariah as he sees ‘Supreme Self’ prevailing all over.

vidyavinay sampane brahamarhe gavi hastini I
shuni chev shavpake ch panditah samdarshanah II ( 5.18 )

The wise looks upon wise man endowed with learning and culture, a cow, an elephant, dog and pariah with same eye.

Since all subtle bodies comprising the five sensory and five motor organs, the five pranas, manas and budhi are made of same stuff and are same in all beings so realized man does not see different form of self on the basis of mere covering. The embodiment is nothing but a covering, whereas the basic elements, life air. Intellect is same in all, except the difference of quantum.
As he sees self in all, there is no difference, not withstanding cover of modification, a learned and cultured Brahmin, cow, dog and pariah

Actually one can see that self soul has become so conditioned in its relation with material nature that it does not want to go home.
The task of separating itself from the material is not only difficult but for its longstanding identification with body, it becomes impossible.

Causeless mercy of Lord can bestow us with such a chance.

Kaleshoadhiktarasteshamavayktaasaktchetsam I

Avaykta hi gatirdukham dehvadbhiravayte II (5)

But those who are absorbed in the meditation of unmanifest, they face excessive trouble as for embodied beings, that path is difficult to follow.


Here lies a great secret.

Embodied soul has been conditioned to identify with embodiment.
Soul embodied, is eternal fragment of eternal supreme self and there is no difference in him and supreme soul as to their eternity.

What has separated him from supreme is the ego of body.

While identifying itself with body and devoting to unmanifested, all pervading supreme self, embodied soul faces severe difficulties in devoting to unmanifested because of this ego and attachment with body and its relations. Body is material super imposition over real bliss full consciousness manifest. Difficulty in realizing unmanifested is apparent.

Lord Krishna is the hero of world play. His eternal self ‘jeeva’ is the actor in various forms. As a potter creates many figures out of mud, so the hero of this universe has created independent actors to play specific roles. But as an actor on stage may choose to adopt dress allotted to his role, the independent self soul has identified itself with the role allotted to him from the time immemorial.

Due to this malfunction of his mental faculty

Embodied soul, has forgotten the stage allotted to him. He is so conditioned to remain in ‘Mental Asylum’/ that he may refuse to recognize his owner and hero.
Self soul, though living in body, when completely surrenders to supreme transcendental form, by his unalloyed devotion, detaching from the world and relations of body, leaves every thing to Lord.

Lord assures fulfillment of requirement and protection for him.
But the devotion to unmanifested by the embodied soul is comparatively difficult because of their ego and attachment. Devotion to unmanifested lord involves lot of Vedic learning and is tedious for the embodied souls. It is easy to approach Lord with attribute. One can establish close rapport with him. Supreme self is without material body and his reflection has assumed to be body. The difference of embodiment is the distant which is to be covered to realize you.

Detach from body; you are consciousness; you are Braham; the absolute bliss.

Ye tu sarvarhi karmarhi mayi sanyasy matparh I

Ananyenev yogen mam dhyayanat upaste II


Teshamaham samudhartah mrityusansarsagrat I

Bhavami na chirarth mayyaveshitchetsam II (6-7)



Those who surrender all their actions to me and who faithfully devote themselves by meditating on me and worshiping me.

I deliver them from the cycle of birth and death swiftly.



Lord Krishna has at many places in this eternal message to humanity has assured his devotees deliverance from the circle of birth and death.
The devotion to Lord is very easy and available at hand.
As a child depending upon his mother is secure as his dependence/ surrender is complete.

Such is the dependence of devotee on the Lord Krishna.

There is no other shelter.

Devotee has no wish of his own.

Every desire merged in desire of Lord.

Surrendering every activity unto Lord, remembering him every moment, mind and intellect completely submerged in Lord by transcendental devotional service, the Lord assures such devotee emancipation from the cycle of birth and death.


Mayiev mann adhatsav mayi budhim niveshay I

Nivashyasi mayiev at urdham na sanshyayh II (8)


You fix mind upon me, you thrust your intelligence in me, by so doing you will dwell in me.


Lord emphasis main aspect of devotion.

Mind and intellect are part of inanimate material nature of lord (verse 4 of 7th chapter) they are changeable and destructible.

Another superior nature of lord is soul. (Verse 5 of chapter 7 )

Inactive mind and intellect coming into contact with superior nature soul come alive due to activation by the impact of eternal.

These two are most dangerous looters as well as friend.

If one tends to follow material enrgy, they lead to darkness, but if the two are tamed by devotion to lord, the two lead to realization.

As the man of lust follows a beautiful looking woman without knowing that she is an enunch, the self soul follows the mind and intellect like that illusioned man. the eternal soul chooses to identify itself with them.

For this Lord has instructed Arjun to dwell his mind and intellect in him. By this method he will reside in him.
Lord is eternal, even a part of material nature cannot enter lord. But when one thrust one’s mind and intellect towards Lord, the self soul conditioned to follow them abides by it and follows the lord, leaving the company of material nature in form of mind and intellect.
The self soul with his senses, subdued, intellect and mind fixed in Lord Krishna, craves for nothing, becomes even minded to all, remains satisfied in Lord.
Lord’s instruction for all those who want emancipation from the cycle of birth and death, are clear and specific.
with the mind and intelligence attaching free self soul with material nature of senses and sense objects, through themselves, keep the transmigrating from one body to another, alive but when these two fixed in Lord by chanting his names, hymns related to him, singing his glories, seeing evenness in all beings, bring one back to original home.

Lord Krishna at several references, in this eternal message of Shrimad Bhagwad Geeta, has instructed embodied souls to fix their mind in him and has assured that devotee shall reach Him by this way.

Mayyarpitmanobudhirmameveshyasiashanyah (8.7)

Mind and intellect fixed in me, you will attain me.

manmana bhav madbhakto madyaji mam namaskuru I
Mameveshayasi yuktveavamatamanam matparyanah II (9.34)

Fix you mind on me, be devoted to me, worship me, salute me, thus attaching yourself to me and entirely depending upon me, you shall attain me.

From all angles only Lord, the self of all and supreme consciousness is to be thought of, worshipped, meditated, and all obeisance made to him and thus linking one with Lord one attains him in whatever form it wishes and prays.
Lord has assured all beings that can attain him by attaching themselves to him by devotion.
When the devotee gets disgusted with material undertakings and averse to their results , the devotee, with senses under his control holds his mind in Lord steadily by practice of meditation on self.

Yoginamapi sarvesham madgateantraatmana I

Shradhavan yo mam bhajate sa me yukttamo matah II (6.47)

But of all yogis, again, who devoutly worships me with his mind focused on Me, is the best of all.

Yogi with attainment of self realization seeing even ness in all universe coming to existence by and from one omnipresent self is superior to soul having practiced ascetics; because he has been doing all those acts with a particular motive of obtaining nearness to god or attaining liberation or attaining heaven with a desire to enjoy the celestial objects but all these desires are bondage, where as the devotee with no desire, only attached to Lord attains Lord.

All qualities of nature are binding and ascetics with a particular set of thinking may not lead to liberation. it may result in further bondage and never ending transmigration.
Yogi is superior to wise man having obtained knowledge of scriptures and coming to know the one superior form is the ultimate source of all beings.
Yogi is also superior to those who perform action with some motive. so lord is directing Arjun the superior most warrior of that time to become yogi.

Lord clarifies here emphatically that yogi who has his mind focused on me is the best of the Yogis.

There is no doubt that by fixing one’s mind and intellect in lord one will attain him. lord in first verse of chapter 7 assures his complete revelation on fixing one’s mind upon him and meditating.

mayyasakatmanah parth yogamyunjan madaashrya I
ashanshayam samagram mam yatha gyasaysi tatchhrirhu II(7.1)

Lord Shri Krishna says:

Parth! While devoting your mind to me, meditating me and taking my shelter, how you will
Know me completely, that you listen from me.

It is not possible to know god/self without a complete surrender unto him.

It is not a surrender of body as usually understood in worldly parlance. it is surrender of one’s association with the material nature, its qualities. Detachment with material nature in form one’s embodiment and so called relations unto this.

Mind devoted to self, complete surrender of desires and meditating him,

How one can know ‘self’ alone, this secret being unfolded. Lord says that devotee should have addicting mind in me. Addiction is such a phenomenon which controls mind so much that it always desires to have possession of a particular thing, situation or company.

If one becomes addict to Lord Krishna, he has a promise to reveal himself unto that devotee.
This is not worldly knowledge rather it illuminates the truth about it and how every thing is being done and being dominated by self.

It is a revelation of a stark and bitter truth.

The attachment factor is so deep rooted in mind that embodied soul is unable to a realize itself. It is because the ‘ego’ about the self being embodiment.
Its complete identification with modification as body makes it unidentifiable.
sages who have attained this , have been trying to make the human beings to know their true ‘selves’ but none is going that way making a way for darkness to stay.


What is mind?

It is a faculty, a revelation of Lord himself. Lord says in chapter 10:

Indriyarham manashchasmi bhutamasmi chetna (10.22)

The embodiment is nothing but a heap of garbage. But with the help this mortal substance one can find one’s true self. One has to invest nothing from pocket. Mind is expression of lord himself. This mind is to be concentrated on Lord. Whatever is Lord’s property how individual soul can claim?
Lord has asked to divert mind and intellect towards Him.



Ath chittam samadhatum na shaknoshi mayyi sithram I

Abhyasyogen tatto mamichhaptum dhananjaya II (9)

O Arjun! If you are not able to fix your mind in me, then follow the practice of Bhakti yoga and wish to attain me by that yoga.

If one is not able to fix one’s mind in Lord Krishna, then one can follow the practice of bhakti yoga by surrendering to a spiritual master.
Under his able guidance one learns to attain lord krishana

To rise early in the morning, have a bath, regular chant of Krishna’s names, taking food after presenting it to Lord, hearing his eternal pass times.

By this process one slowly develops devotional love for lord Krishna.
Every body has eternal love in one’ heart but instead of expressing it for Lord, our love has changed its course. Our love has found favour with money, palatial bounding, wife, son, daughter and all other relation of this embodiment which is filled with all filth. it is attached to senses and sense objects. practically one can see with what we are attached to.
The direction of this love is to be changed by way of devotion.
the quantum of attachment determines our love for a particular object.
If we are attached to Lord, naturally we will develop love for Lord.
Senses and their objects are transient and they are dying every moment. Even the embodiment is dying every moment. But it is not perceptible with eyes. Child grows to boy, boy grows to youth, and now body decays and becomes old and most hateful. Even your dear most does not like your company at this stage.
Invincible time faculty of Lord is following every particle of material nature and destroying it.
The body which came into being grows, decays and dies without even our realization
By following Bhakti yoga one can realize lord in one’s own heart. For realization of lord in your heart you have to clean heart of all materialism. Feeling of attachment and identification is to be banished. The great robbers in form of lust, anger and greed are let out from that tiny limb. Following verses of Shrimad Bhagwad Geeta tell that Lord is seated in this body:

Jyotishamapi tajjyotitamsah paramuchyate I

Gyanaam gayam gyangamayam hridi sarva vishthitam II(13.17)

That Supreme Brahman /Self /Omnipresent is source of illuminating objects and entirely beyond Maya. That Godhead is the knowledge itself, only one to know, and worth knowing and attaining through real wisdom, He is particularly seated in the heart of all.

Sarvasya chaham hridi sannivitho
Matah samiritirgyanapohanam ch I
Vedeshch sarverahamev vedyo
Vedantkritvedvidev chaham II (15.15)

Lord Krishana says: I am seated in the hearts of all beings, from Me only comes memory, knowledge and forgetfulness. By all Vedas I am to be known, I am the complier and knower of Vedas.

Ishwarah sarvbhutanam hrideshe arjun tishathati I

Bhramayansarvbhutani yantrarhurhani mayayya II (18.61)

Lord Krishana is sitting in the core of hearts of all beings and directing all wandering living entities like machines set on by inscrutable power called Maya.

Many have realized and many more are following. Every one is expected to make use of this opportunity. Don’t waste time in collecting material, wealth, property, body and mental relations which are transient, temporary, perishable, and full of filth of ego, false pride, conceit, falsehood, fraud and forgery.
Go home by traveling on the train of self realization with Guru and Lord Krishna being guard.

Abhayaseapiasamarthoasi matkaramparmo bhav I

Madarthamapi karmarhi kurvan sidhimavapsayasi II (10)

If you are unable to practice devotion, you just work for me; by working for me you will attain me.

If one is not destined to follow devotional path of complete surrender, the lord lays down another easy way. whatever you do, let it be done for the lord.
What one does?
From morning till evening one acts, even in sleep one acts, actions are coming due to nature:

Prikriteh kriymarhani gurheh karmarhi savashah I
Ahankarvimudhatma kartaahamiti manyate II (3.27)

It is the three modeled material nature which causes action, but the ego deluded embodied soul considers himself as the doer.

This self imposed ‘EGO’ has caused devastation.

The acts done by material nature are actually are not the result of one’s conscious efforts. but they are the direct result of our past deeds and our attachment with them. these are stored in our unconscious mind. These acts are not ours.
If such acts are surrendered to Lord Krishna, what is the harm?
We have not caused the actions. Nature has caused them. Nature too is the eternal part of supreme self. Actions coming from nature are surrendered to the source emanating them, there is no loss. These actions become eternal by surrender. A piece of iron coming in contact with powerful magnet becomes magnet itself. This is the quality of ordinary magnet. What one can talk about the all pervading Lord?

None can measure!

It will be benefit in two ways, one, we shall not be attached with them, second, we will able to cleanse our consciousness from the dirt of attachment. When consciousness is completely cleansed, the supreme self unveils it self to this self soul.


Apart from vivid explanation in chapter five, lord thus emphasizes this in chapter 18:

Yatah parvaritibhutanam yen sarvamidam tatam I
Savkarmarha tamabhaychary sidhim vindati manvah II (18.46)

One can certainly attain Lord all pervading and from whom all beings and non beings have come up, by serving HIM with his actions.

While doing one’s duty one should not think of ego of doing it. This for done by nature and not by one ‘self’. All actions surrendered and devoted to Lord, distancing individual self from material nature, one can realize lord, attain lord and play lord.
Lord is seated in this embodiment. He has not to travel from some where else.
It is you who has to realize within you. But for attachment with material nature in form of body, mind, intellect, senses, it is within you.


Etatapiashaktoasiasi kartum madyogamashritah I

Sarvkaramfalamtyagam tatah kuru yatatamvan II (11)

If you are not able to perform all actions for me, self situated, renounce the fruits of all actions.


One earns happiness or distress on account of his past deeds.
Lord has prescribed the renunciation of fruits of all actions.
If one is not able to work for the sake of Lord Krishna, Lord advises self souls not to long for fruit of actions.

Shreyo hi gyanamabhayasajgyanaddhyanam vishishyate I

Dhyanatkaramfalamtyagastyagachhantianantaram II (12)

If you are not able to practice of self situated, try to acquire knowledge which is better than practice, meditation is better than knowledge and renunciation of all fruits of action supercedes knowledge, this renunciation leads to peace of mind.

Lord prescribes that the knowledge of reality is better than practice, meditation of lord is superior to knowledge, but the renunciation of fruits of action is superior most, as it leads to long lasting peace of mind.
Everything that one knows of ‘himself’ is just an accumulation. Since the self soul came in womb, the body has developed from food, first from one eaten by mother and then after birth by the help of others and then self. So this body is made of food. If food is kept for few hours, it deteriorates; body made of food shall also go that way.
What one calls one’s mind is nothing but accumulation of impressions one gets through the senses. Mind is controlled by intellect and senses work under mind set. The controller of intellect is separate from body, mind set, intellect. When one had developed unconscious identification with these accumulations, it tends to identify itself with actions coming from the interactions of these accumulations.
One has to go step by step, practice of doing actions in service of lord, acquiring knowledge, meditation, renunciation of result of action.

Advueshta sarvbhutanam maitrah karurhev ch I

Nirmamo nirahankarah samdukhsukhah kshami II


Santushtah satatam yogi yatatma drirhnishchayah I

Mayyarpitmanobudhryo madbhaktah sa me priyah II (13-14)


Non-envious to all living entities, friendly and more certainly kind to all beings, unattached, pride less, equal in happiness and distress, tolerant,
Always satisfied, self controlled, his mind and intellect devoted to me, devotee like this is very dear to me.

Lord is enumerating the qualities of devotees; devotee who is un envious to all living entities, friendly and kind to all, detached one, free from false ego and pride, equipoise in happiness and distress, tolerant, satisfied, self controlled, determined devotional service of lord, intellect and mind fixed on Lord, is very dear to lord Krishna.
Lord has assured his this promise to his devotees in verse 8 of this chapter.

Yasmannoduvijate loko lokannoduvajate ch ya I

Harshaamarshbhayoudvegermukto yah sa ch me priyah II (15)


Devotee who does not cause any trouble to anyone, and does himself not feel perturbed by the misdeeds of others, such devotee equipoise in joy and sorrow, free from fear and anxiety, is very dear to me.

All surrendering devotee of lord krishana does not try to cause any harm to any one.
If some one causes harm to him, he taking it as the will of his lord. He is not perturbed by even intolerable act of others. he is free from happiness and distress, fear and anxiety.
All this is not possible when one identifies one self with material nature in terms of mind, intellect, body. When devotee sees self of all as self of his own, there is no cause to wail or to be happy either.
Knowing that span of life is limited and is being cut short by the rotation of days and nights, devotee does not waste his time in seeking praise from others. He does not cause trouble to them. He is unperturbed in happiness and suffering, fear and anxiety.
Such a devotee is dear to Lord Krishna.

Anapekshyah shuchirdaksh udaseeno gatvyathah I

Sarvaarambhparityagi yo madbhaktah sa me priyah II (16)

A devotee of mine, not expecting result of his action, who is pure, expert in knowledge, impartial, who has detached himself from desire and anxiety, is dear to me.

The devotee who is dependent on Lord like child cat on its mother, Lord Krishna takes his care like mother cat.
Who is not depending upon result oriented from actions, who is pure, who is neutral, free from distress, who does not strive for result, is dear to Lord Krishna.
Problem of striving for sense gratification arises when senses are not under control. This occurs because mind is not controlled. It is like an unruly horse but a broker of a horse, while holding reins tight in his hands, has to run with the animal for some distance to control the animal, a yogi also controls mind by reflecting discrimination of origin and dissolution of all things. Ultimately devotee concludes that every thing in material nature is transitory.

Only eternal self is his own self.

Devotees realize that this universe is like a dream. One can not expect satisfaction from food eaten in dream. World is like an imagination of a day dreaming person. Such a realized wants nothing but only the service of Lord.

Yo na hrishayati na dveshti na shochati na kankshayati I

Shubhashubh parityagi bhaktimanyah sa me priyah II (17)


He who neither happy nor envy, nor worries, nor desires that the renascent of good or bad feelings, filled with devotion unto me is very dear to me.

He, who, neither rejoices nor grieves, on attaining particular circumstances, never laments on being put to any dormant condition like neither alive nor dead, nor desires any thing, and devotee without bothering about auspicious or inauspicious, who has resigned to lotus feet of Lord shedding all fears and desires, is dear to Lord Krishna.

Samo shatro ch mitre ch tatha manapmanyo I

Sheetosharhsukhdukheshu samah sangvarjitah II



Tulyanindastutirmoni santushto yen kenchit I

Aniketah sitharmatirbhaktimanmey priyo narah II (18-19)

One who is same to friend and foe, which is equipoise to honour or dishonour, same to heat and cold, happiness and distress and devoid of companionship

Same in praise or disrepute, silent, satisfied whatever comes naturally, having no residence and devotee with determined wisdom is dear to me.

Lord ads more categories of self soul in the devotional folder.
a devotee who is equipoise in case of friend and enemies seeing same self in all, seeing sameness reputation and disrepute has no effect on this devotee, the heat and cold are same to him being expression of the material energy of lord not affecting the self soul. he is unaffected by happiness and distress, praise or infamy, free from the company of people, always silent and satisfied in every thing, not caring for abode, who is fixed in knowledge and devotional service of Lord, such a person is dear to Lord Krishna.

Ye tu dharmaamritamidam yathokatam paryupaste I

Shradhana matparma bhaktasteastiv II (20)

The devotee who having faith in the above mentioned eternal nectar completely engages in my devotion, making me the supreme goal, are very, very dear to me.

Lord says that the persons having deep faith in the above mentioned eternal path of devotion fixing me as their goal, engage themselves in my devotion are very, very dear to him.

Lord is like light.
Ignorance is darkness.
Darkness of identification with embodiment has been existing since long.
Where there is light, darkness vanishes.

Though light of sun perceptible in day time, but an owl always blames the nature for depriving him of power to see Sun. The blame lies with the faculty of owl to see during night and not in day time. The self soul is as effulgent as Lord Krishna himself but this foolish self has married the nonexistent and decaying material energy. Under the influence of lust, anger and greed, the self soul is not ready to open eyes of wisdom to see the Lord seated in him as consciousness.


(Thus chapter 12 consisting of devotion to Lord Krishna, in Shrimad Bhagwad Geeta, ends)