Verse 1
arjuna uvācha
evaṁ satata-yuktā ye bhaktās tvāṁ paryupāsate
ye chāpy akṣharam avyaktaṁ teṣhāṁ ke yoga-vittamāḥ
arjunaḥ uvācha
Arjun said
evam satata yuktāḥ ye bhaktāḥ tvām paryupāsate
thus steadfastly devoted those devotees you worship
ye cha api akṣharam avyaktam teṣhām ke yoga-vit-tamāḥ
those and also the imperishable the formless Brahman of them who more perfect in Yog
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Arjuna said: Which of these has greater knowledge of yoga—those devotees who meditate on You, ever integrated, or those who meditate on the Imperishable and the Unmanifest?
Verse 2
śhrī-bhagavān uvācha
mayy āveśhya mano ye māṁ nitya-yuktā upāsate
śhraddhayā parayopetās te me yuktatamā matāḥ
śhrī-bhagavān uvācha
the Blessed Lord said
mayi āveśhya manaḥ ye mām nitya yuktāḥ upāsate
on me fix the mind those me always engaged worship
śhraddhayā parayā upetāḥ te me yukta-tamāḥ matāḥ
with faith best endowed they by me situated highest in Yog I consider
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The Lord said, "Those who, ever integrated with Me and possessing supreme faith, worship Me, focusing their minds on Me—these are considered by Me to be the highest among the yogis."
Verse 3
ye tv akṣharam anirdeśhyam avyaktaṁ paryupāsate
sarvatra-gam achintyañcha kūṭa-stham achalandhruvam
sanniyamyendriya-grāmaṁ sarvatra sama-buddhayaḥ
te prāpnuvanti mām eva sarva-bhūta-hite ratāḥ
ye tu akṣharam anirdeśhyam avyaktam paryupāsate
who but the imperishable the indefinable the unmanifest worship
sarvatra-gam achintyam cha kūṭa-stham achalam dhruvam
the all-pervading the unthinkable and the unchanging the immovable the eternal
sanniyamya indriya-grāmam sarvatra sama-buddhayaḥ
restraining the senses everywhere even-minded
te prāpnuvanti mām eva sarva-bhūta-hite ratāḥ
they attain me also in the welfare of all beings engaged
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But those who meditate on the Imperishable, the indefinable, the unmanifest, omnipresent, unthinkable, common to all beings, immovable, and constant—
Having subdued all the senses, being even-minded, and engaged in the welfare of all beings, they too come to Me only.
Verse 5
kleśho ’dhikataras teṣhām avyaktāsakta-chetasām
avyaktā hi gatir duḥkhaṁ dehavadbhir avāpyate
kleśhaḥ adhika-taraḥ teṣhām avyakta āsakta chetasām
tribulations full of of those to the unmanifest attached whose minds
avyaktā hi gatiḥ duḥkham deha-vadbhiḥ avāpyate
the unmanifest indeed path exceeding difficulty for the embodied is reached
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Greater is the difficulty for those whose minds are thus attached to the unmanifest, for the way of the unmanifest is hard to reach for embodied beings.
Verse 6
ye tu sarvāṇi karmāṇi mayi sannyasya mat-paraḥ
ananyenaiva yogena māṁ dhyāyanta upāsate
ye tu sarvāṇi karmāṇi mayi sannyasya mat-paraḥ
who but all actions to me dedicating regarding me as the Supreme goal
ananyena eva yogena mām dhyāyantaḥ upāsate
exclusively certainly with devotion me meditating worship
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For those who dedicate all their actions to Me, hold Me as their supreme goal, are intent on Me, and worship Me, meditating on Me with exclusive devotion;
Verse 7
teṣhām ahaṁ samuddhartā mṛityu-saṁsāra-sāgarāt
bhavāmi na chirāt pārtha mayy āveśhita-chetasām
teṣhām aham samuddhartā mṛityu-saṁsāra-sāgarāt
of those I the deliverer from the ocean of birth and death
bhavāmi na chirāt pārtha mayi āveśhita chetasām
(I) become not after a long time Arjun, the son of Pritha with me of those whose consciousness is united
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Those whose minds are thus focused on Me, I soon become their savior from the ocean of mortal life.
Verse 8
mayy eva mana ādhatsva mayi buddhiṁ niveśhaya
nivasiṣhyasi mayy eva ata ūrdhvaṁ na sanśhayaḥ
mayi eva manaḥ ādhatsva mayi buddhim niveśhaya
on me alone mind fix on me intellect surrender
nivasiṣhyasi mayi eva ataḥ ūrdhvam na sanśhayaḥ
you shall always live in me alone thereafter not doubt
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Focus your mind on Me alone; and let your intellect enter into Me. Then, you will live in Me alone; there is no doubt.
Verse 9
atha chittaṁ samādhātuṁ na śhaknoṣhi mayi sthiram
abhyāsa-yogena tato mām ichchhāptuṁ dhanañjaya
atha chittam samādhātum na śhaknoṣhi mayi sthiram
if mind to fix (you) are unable on me steadily
abhyāsa-yogena tataḥ mām ichchhā āptum dhanañjaya
by uniting with God through repeated practice then me desire to attain Arjun, the conqueror of wealth
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If now you are unable to focus your mind on Me, then seek to reach Me, O Arjuna, through the practice of repetition.
Verse 10
abhyāse ’py asamartho ’si mat-karma-paramo bhava
mad-artham api karmāṇi kurvan siddhim avāpsyasi
abhyāse api asamarthaḥ asi mat-karma paramaḥ bhava
in practice if unable you devotedly work for me be
mat-artham api karmāṇi kurvan siddhim avāpsyasi
for my sake also work performing perfection you shall achieve
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If you are incapable of even this practice of repetition, then devote yourself to My deeds. For even by working for My sake, you will attain perfection.
Verse 11
athaitad apy aśhakto ’si kartuṁ mad-yogam āśhritaḥ
sarva-karma-phala-tyāgaṁ tataḥ kuru yatātmavān
atha etat api aśhaktaḥ asi kartum mad-yogam āśhritaḥ
if this even unable you are to work with devotion to me taking refuge
sarva-karma phala-tyāgam tataḥ kuru yata-ātma-vān
of all actions to renounce the fruits then do be situated in the self
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If you are unable to do even this—that is, take refuge in My Yoga—then, with your self-control, renounce the fruits of every action.
Verse 12
śhreyo hi jñānam abhyāsāj jñānād dhyānaṁ viśhiṣhyate
dhyānāt karma-phala-tyāgas tyāgāch chhāntir anantaram
śhreyaḥ hi jñānam abhyāsāt jñānāt dhyānam viśhiṣhyate
better for knowledge than (mechanical) practice than knowledge meditation better
dhyānāt karma-phala-tyāgaḥ tyāgāt śhāntiḥ anantaram
than meditation renunciation of the fruits of actions renunciation peace immediately
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Far better is knowledge of the Self than the repeated practice (of remembrance of the Lord). Better is meditation than this knowledge; better is renunciation of the fruits of action than meditation. From such renunciation, peace ensues.
Verse 13
adveṣhṭā sarva-bhūtānāṁ maitraḥ karuṇa eva cha
nirmamo nirahankāraḥ sama-duḥkha-sukhaḥ kṣhamī
adveṣhṭā sarva-bhūtānām maitraḥ karuṇaḥ eva cha
free from malice toward all living beings friendly compassionate indeed and
nirmamaḥ nirahankāraḥ sama duḥkha sukhaḥ kṣhamī
free from attachment to possession free from egoism equipoised distress happiness forgiving
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He who never hates any being, who is friendly and compassionate, who is free from the feelings of "I" and "mine," who looks upon all pain and pleasure equally, and who is enduring;
Verse 14
santuṣhṭaḥ satataṁ yogī yatātmā dṛiḍha-niśhchayaḥ
mayy arpita-mano-buddhir yo mad-bhaktaḥ sa me priyaḥ
santuṣhṭaḥ satatam yogī yata-ātmā dṛiḍha-niśhchayaḥ
contented steadily united in devotion self-controlled firm in conviction
mayi arpita manaḥ buddhiḥ yaḥ mat-bhaktaḥ saḥ me priyaḥ
to me dedicated mind intellect who my devotees they to me very dear
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He who is content, who meditates ever, is self-restrained, and is firm in his convictions, and has his mind and reason dedicated to Me—he is dear to Me.
Verse 15
yasmān nodvijate loko lokān nodvijate cha yaḥ
harṣhāmarṣha-bhayodvegair mukto yaḥ sa cha me priyaḥ
yasmāt na udvijate lokaḥ lokāt na udvijate cha yaḥ
by whom not are agitated people from people not are disturbed and who
harṣha amarṣha bhaya udvegaiḥ muktaḥ yaḥ saḥ cha me priyaḥ
pleasure pain fear anxiety freed who they and to me very dear
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He from whom the world has no cause to be frightened, who is not frightened by the world, who is free from joy and impatience, fear, and aversion - he is dear to me.
Verse 16
anapekṣhaḥ śhuchir dakṣha udāsīno gata-vyathaḥ
sarvārambha-parityāgī yo mad-bhaktaḥ sa me priyaḥ
anapekṣhaḥ śhuchiḥ dakṣhaḥ udāsīnaḥ gata-vyathaḥ
indifferent to worldly gain pure skillful without cares untroubled
sarva-ārambha parityāgī saḥ mat-bhaktaḥ saḥ me priyaḥ
of all undertakings renouncer who my devotee he to ne very dear
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He who is free from desires, who is pure, expert, indifferent, and free from agony, who has renounced every undertaking—he is dear to me.
Verse 17
yo na hṛiṣhyati na dveṣhṭi na śhochati na kāṅkṣhati
śhubhāśhubha-parityāgī bhaktimān yaḥ sa me priyaḥ
yaḥ na hṛiṣhyati na dveṣhṭi na śhochati na kāṅkṣhati
who neither rejoice nor despair neither lament nor hanker for gain
śhubha-aśhubha-parityāgī bhakti-mān yaḥ saḥ me priyaḥ
who renounce both good and evil deeds full of devotion who that person to me very dear
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He who does not rejoice, nor hate, nor grieve, nor desire, who renounces both good and evil, and who is full of devotion to Me—such a devotee is dear to Me.
Verse 18
samaḥ śhatrau cha mitre cha tathā mānāpamānayoḥ
śhītoṣhṇa-sukha-duḥkheṣhu samaḥ saṅga-vivarjitaḥ
samaḥ śhatrau cha mitre cha tathā māna-apamānayoḥ
alike to a foe and to a friend as well as in honor and dishonor
śhīta-uṣhṇa sukha-duḥkheṣhu samaḥ saṅga-vivarjitaḥ
in cold and heat in joy and sorrow equipoised free from all unfavorable association
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He who is the same to foe and friend, honor and dishonor, who is alike to both cold and heat, pleasure and pain, and who is free from all attachments;
Verse 19
tulya-nindā-stutir maunī santuṣhṭo yena kenachit
aniketaḥ sthira-matir bhaktimān me priyo naraḥ
tulya nindā-stutiḥ maunī santuṣhṭaḥ yena kenachit
alike reproach and praise silent contemplation contented with anything
aniketaḥ sthira matiḥ bhakti-mān me priyaḥ naraḥ
without attachment to the place of residence firmly fixed intellect full of devotion to me very dear a person
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He who regards both blame and praise alike, who is silent and content with any lot, who has no home, who is firm of mind, and who is devoted to Me - such a man is dear to Me.
Verse 20
ye tu dharmyāmṛitam idaṁ yathoktaṁ paryupāsate
śhraddadhānā mat-paramā bhaktās te ’tīva me priyāḥ
ye tu dharma amṛitam idam yathā uktam paryupāsate
who indeed of wisdom nectar this as declared exclusive devotion
śhraddadhānāḥ mat-paramāḥ bhaktāḥ te atīva me priyāḥ
with faith intent on me as the supreme goal devotees they exceedingly to me dear
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But those devotees who follow this nectar of virtuous duty, as taught above, who are full of faith and regard Me as the Supreme, are exceedingly dear to Me.