Bhagavad Gita Chapter 12, Verse 1

Chapter 12 – Bhakti Yoga · Speaker: Arjuna

Sanskrit verse

अर्जुन उवाच ।
एवं सततयुक्ता ये भक्तास्त्वां पर्युपासते ।
ये चाप्यक्षरमव्यक्तं तेषां के योगवित्तमाः ॥

Transliteration

arjuna uvāca .
evaṃ satatayuktā ye bhaktāstvāṃ paryupāsate .
ye cāpyakṣaramavyaktaṃ teṣāṃ ke yogavittamāḥ ॥

Meaning

Arjuna said: Of those devotees who, ever steadfast, thus worship You, and those who worship the imperishable unmanifest, which are the better knowers of yoga?

Word meanings

एवम् – thus, in the way described
सततयुक्ताः – ever steadfast
ये भक्ताः – those devotees who
त्वाम् – You
पर्युपासते – worship
ये च अपि – and those who also
अक्षरम् – the imperishable
अव्यक्तम् – the unmanifest
तेषाम् – of these two
के – which
योगवित्तमाः – best knowers of yoga

Anvaya (word order)

अर्जुनः उवाच — एवं सततयुक्ताः ये भक्ताः त्वां पर्युपासते, ये च अपि अक्षरम् अव्यक्तं (पर्युपासते), तेषां के योगवित्तमाः?

Explanation

Chapter twelve begins with a direct and practical question from Arjuna. In chapter eleven he saw the cosmic form, and at the end the Lord said that one who acts for him with exclusive devotion reaches him (11.55). Now a clear dilemma stands in Arjuna's mind: two paths of worship appear, devotion to the Lord with form, and worship of the formless imperishable unmanifest Brahman. Which is better?

The first side is evam satatayukta ye bhaktas tvam paryupasate, devotees who are constantly engaged and worship your form. The second side is ye chapy aksharam avyaktam, those who worship the imperishable unmanifest described in earlier chapters (especially 8.21 and 9.4). Arjuna asks, teshaam ke yogavittamah: which of them are best versed in yoga?

The question is not merely philosophical. Every seeker at some point wonders whether his path is right or another is better. According to Shankara the purpose of the question is to get a settled conclusion by ranking one path higher. Ramanuja takes it as a comparison between saguna devotion and knowledge of the Akshara.

The Lord's answer begins in the next verse. The notable thing is that he does not disparage either path, but on the basis of reality says which is easier and more certain for an embodied human being.

Context

At the end of chapter 11 (11.55) the Lord taught exclusive devotion. In this first verse of chapter 12 Arjuna asks which is superior, saguna or nirguna worship; the answer begins at 12.2.

Life lesson

Rather than being tangled in comparing spiritual paths, it is better to follow one with faith according to your own nature. Asking is fine, but walking on after the answer is more important.

Key terms

सगुण उपासना: worship of God with form and attributes
अक्षर-अव्यक्त उपासना: worship of the formless, imperishable Brahman
योगवित्तम: most proficient in yoga