The Path of Devotion — Bhakti Yoga

Arjuna. Of those who, ever-faithful, worship Thee — The True, the Manifest — and those who serve The Unmanifest, the Imperishable, which Are the better versed in Yoga? Which of these Is the more perfect, the more blessed path?

Krishna. Whoso with fixed faith worship Me, making Me Their utmost aim, with hearts set hard on Me — Those hold I very holy. But who serve The Undefinable, the Unmanifest, The Omnipresent, Inconceivable, Unchanging, Unremovable, the Fixed — Bridling all sense, with equal mind for all, Seeking the welfare of all living things — Those also come to Me.

Yet greater is The toil of those whose minds are set upon The Unmanifest; that is the harder road For embodied souls to tread. But they who cast All acts on Me, making Me all in all, Worshipping Me with meditation fixed Upon none other — those, Arjuna! swift I lift them from the flood of death, for them Whose souls fix thought on Me. Set then thy heart Upon Me only, fill thy mind with Me; So shalt thou dwell in Me hereafter. Of this Be thou assured. In Me alone abide!

But if thy thought droops from such height; if thou, Being weak, hast not the strength to set thy soul Upon Me constantly — then, Dhananjaya! Seek to attain Me by the frequent Yoga Of meditation. If for that, even, Thou art not strong enough — give Me thy toil! Make perfect works for Me; for, doing deeds For My sake, thou shalt also gain perfection.

And if thou canst not even work for Me, Then, unto Me devoted, casting off All fruit of action, with thy soul controlled, Forsake the fruit! That is enough. For knowledge Is better than blind practice, meditation Exceeds mere knowledge, and the renouncing Of fruit of action follows meditation: Peace comes at once from such renouncing.

He is My devotee who hates no being, Who is friendly and compassionate to all, Who is freed from attachment and from ego, Who is equal in pleasure and in pain, Who is forgiving, who is always content, The Yogi who is self-controlled, of firm Resolve, whose mind and reason are devoted To Me — he is beloved of Me!

He from whom the world shrinks not, and who Shrinks not from the world, whom joy and envy, Fear and trouble, never agitate — He, too, is dear to Me. He who is equal, Pure, ready, unperplexed, dispassionate, Who has renounced all undertakings — He, My devotee, is very dear to Me.

He who neither grasps at pleasure Nor shrinks from pain; who mourns not, nor desires; Who puts aside alike both good and evil — Full of devotion, he is dear to Me. Alike to foe and friend, in honour and Dishonour, alike in cold and heat, In joy and sorrow, free from attachment; Taking equal praise and blame, silent, Content with whatsoever lot befalls — Homeless, of steady mind, devoted — that man Is very dear to Me!

But most of all I love Those who, with faith supreme and love undying, Follow this deathless Dharma which I teach, Making Me their utmost aim! Fix thy mind On Me; be devoted unto Me; Sacrifice to Me; bow down to Me. Thus steadfast, with Me as thy supreme goal, Thou shalt attain unto Me!