Srimad Bhagwad Gita - Chapter 12 - Bhakti Yoga

In all the preceding chapters, Sri Krishna’s advice to the mankind is to focus on self-improvement, to rid themselves of the attachments / bondages, performing nishkama karma and develop a one-minded devotion (Bhakti) towards him. This chapter is named after the last aspect of Sri Krishna’s advice i.e. Bhakti. During the course of the chapter, we will observe that the Bhakti transforms into a commentary on one of the core principles introduced in Sankhya Yoga i.e. equanimity.

Arjuna just has recovered from the colossal, unfathomable form of the cosmic supreme consciousness. Sri Krishna advises him (and the human race in general) to indulge in one minded devotion towards him.

श्रीभगवानुवाच ।

मय्यावेश्य मनो ये मां नित्ययुक्ता उपासते ।

श्रद्धया परयोपेतास्ते मे युक्ततमा मता: ॥ 12.2॥

The Lord said: Those who fix their minds on Me and always engage in My devotion with steadfast faith, I consider them to be the best yogis.

In previous chapters, we have observed the debate about the form and formless forms of Bhagwan i.e. Nirguna Swaroop. Sri Krishna gives an advice, nay a warning, that such a devotion to the formless / unmanifest forms is laden with trouble.

क्लेशोऽधिकतरस्तेषामव्यक्तासक्तचेतसाम् ॥

अव्यक्ता हि गतिर्दु:खं देहवद्भिरवाप्यते ॥ 12.5॥

For those whose minds are attached to the unmanifest, the path of realization is full of tribulations. Worship of the unmanifest is exceedingly difficult for embodied beings.

In the modern world, accentuated by social media and other distractions, everyone is aspiring for some exotic forms or modes of worship. Whereas ages ago, Sri Krishna has always stressed that such paths are not meant to everyone. In reality, the most effective methods (be it Bhakti or engineering) is more often than not the simplest one. Meditation is one such form where Sri Krishna clearly mentions that one minded meditation will liberate the souls from the cycle of births and deaths.

ये तु सर्वाणि कर्माणि मयि संन्न्यस्य मत्परा: ।
अनन्येनैव योगेन मां ध्यायन्त उपासते ॥ 12.6॥
तेषामहं समुद्धर्ता मृत्युसंसारसागरात् ।
भवामि नचिरात्पार्थ मय्यावेशितचेतसाम् ॥ 12.7॥

But those who dedicate all their actions to Me, regarding Me as the Supreme goal, worshiping Me and meditating on Me with exclusive devotion, O Parth, I swiftly deliver them from the ocean of birth and death, for their consciousness is united with Me.

Sri Krishna goes onto share some methods or paths to achieving the divine. In one verse each, he explains the benefits of each of these methods (12.9 - 12.11). However, in a final single verse, he explains the priority or hierarchy of the paths which is my preferred verse for this chapter.

श्रेयो हि ज्ञानमभ्यासाज्ज्ञानाद्ध्यानं विशिष्यते ।
ध्यानात्कर्मफलत्यागस्त्यागाच्छान्तिरनन्तरम् ॥ 12.12॥

Better than mechanical practice is knowledge; better than knowledge is meditation. Better than meditation is renunciation of the fruits of actions, for peace immediately follows such renunciation.

Karma, Jnana, Dhyana, Nishkama Karma - The 4 paths each with a potential path to achieve the supreme. One can consider imbibing all these aspects into the daily lives - Perform one’s duties dispassionately without any attachments, while always focussing on the supreme and worshipping him through knowledge and Bhakti.

In Vishnu Sahasranama, we have a wonderful name for Maha Vishnu that describes his availability to his bhaktas

दुर्लभो दुर्गमो दुर्गो दुरावासो दुरारिहा || VSN.83 ||

Durlabhaḥ: One who can be attained by Bhakti, which is difficult for a person to be endowed with.
Durgamaḥ: One whom it is difficult to attain.

In the remainder of the chapter, Sri Krishna delivers a masterclass on equanimity i.e. accepting both facets of any situation or action or object. He mentions that whoever is ever-content, united with devotion, firmly self controlled and dedicated in mind and intellect are dear to him (12.13 - 12.14). The more one dives deeper into Srimad Bhagwad Gita, more can one find that western philosophy and literature is heavily influenced by the teachings of Sri Krishna. 

For example, in Gita we find:

सम: शत्रौ च मित्रे च तथा मानापमानयो: ।
शीतोष्णसुखदु:खेषु सम: सङ्गविवर्जित: ॥ 12.18॥
तुल्यनिन्दास्तुतिर्मौनी सन्तुष्टो येन केनचित् ।
अनिकेत: स्थिरमतिर्भक्तिमान्मे प्रियो नर: ॥ 12.19॥

Those, who are alike to friend and foe, equipoised in honor and dishonor, cold and heat, joy and sorrow, and are free from all unfavorable association; those who take praise and reproach alike, who are given to silent contemplation, content with what comes their way, without attachment to the place of residence, whose intellect is firmly fixed in Me, and who are full of devotion to Me, such persons are very dear to Me.

Now, if we compare with the famous poem IF by Rudyard Kipling, the similarities are pretty hard to miss:

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;   
    If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;   
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
    And treat those two impostors just the same;   

In fact, the 2nd half of this chapter i.e. from verse 13 to verse 20 is a masterclass on equanimity and how one can attain Sri Krishna’s Krupa. Though the name of the chapter quotes Bhakti Yoga, the focus is more on developing equanimity and channelising Bhakti through the same.

Please do share your view on the choice of shloka and my interpretations thereof. I would like to get your thoughts and feedback and maybe we discover something hidden in Srimad Bhagwad Gita.

Sarvam Sri Krishnaarpanamastu



Verses and meanings from:     

• https://www.holy-bhagavad-gita.org/   
• https://shlokam.org/shloka/vishnu-sahasranamam.htm 
• https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46473/if---  

Previous Chapters: 

1. Arjuna Vishada Yoga
2. Sankhya Yoga
3. Karma Yoga 
4. Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga 
5. Karma Sanyasa Yoga 
6. Dhyana Yoga 
7. Jnana Vijnana Yoga 
8. Akshara Brahma Yoga 
9. Raja Vidya Yoga 
10. Vibhuti Yoga 
11. Vishwaroopa Darshana Yoga