Chapter 12
Bhakti Yoga
Last updated: 14 June 2026
भक्ति योग
Total Shlokas: 20~5 min readSanskrit + Multi-language Meanings
Script:
Shloka 1
अर्जुन उवाच। एवं सततयुक्ता ये भक्तास्त्वां पर्युपासते। ये चाप्यक्षरमव्यक्तं तेषां के योगवित्तमाः।।12.1।।
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Arjuna asks: Between those devotees who worship You with constant devotion and those who worship the imperishable, formless Brahman — which are better versed in yoga?
Shloka 2
श्री भगवानुवाच। मय्यावेश्य मनो ये मां नित्ययुक्ता उपासते। श्रद्धया परयोपेतास्ते मे युक्ततमा मताः।।12.2।।
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Krishna answers: Those who fix their minds on the personal form of the Lord and worship Him with supreme faith and steadfast devotion — they are considered the most perfect in yoga.
Shloka 3
ये त्वक्षरमनिर्देश्यमव्यक्तं पर्युपासते। सर्वत्रगमचिन्त्यं च कूटस्थमचलं ध्रुवम्।।12.3।।
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But those who worship the imperishable, the indefinable, the unmanifest, the omnipresent, the inconceivable, the unchanging, and the immovable...
Shloka 4
सन्नियम्येन्द्रियग्रामं सर्वत्र समबुद्धयः। ते प्राप्नुवन्ति मामेव सर्वभूतहिते रताः।।12.4।।
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...having restrained all the senses, being even-minded everywhere, engaged in the welfare of all beings — they also attain Krishna. Both paths lead to the same goal.
Shloka 5
क्लेशोऽधिकतरस्तेषामव्यक्तासक्तचेतसाम्। अव्यक्ता हि गतिर्दुःखं देहवद्भिरवाप्यते।।12.5।।
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Greater is the difficulty for those whose minds are attached to the unmanifest, for the path of the formless is very hard for embodied beings to follow. Abstract meditation is harder than personal devotion.
Shloka 6
ये तु सर्वाणि कर्माणि मयि संन्यस्य मत्पराः। अनन्येनैव योगेन मां ध्यायन्त उपासते।।12.6।।
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But those who worship Krishna, surrendering all actions to Him, regarding Him as the supreme goal, meditating on Him with exclusive devotion...
Shloka 7
तेषामहं समुद्धर्ता मृत्युसंसारसागरात्। भवामि नचिरात्पार्थ मय्यावेशितचेतसाम्।।12.7।।
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...for them, whose minds are fixed on Krishna, He swiftly becomes the deliverer from the ocean of birth and death. Krishna personally rescues His devoted ones.
Shloka 8
मय्येव मन आधत्स्व मयि बुद्धिं निवेशय। निवसिष्यसि मय्येव अत ऊर्ध्वं न संशयः।।12.8।।
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Fix your mind on Krishna alone, let your intellect dwell in Him. Thereafter, you will live in Him alone — there is no doubt about this.
Shloka 9
अथ चित्तं समाधातुं न शक्नोषि मयि स्थिरम्। अभ्यासयोगेन ततो मामिच्छाप्तुं धनञ्जय।।12.9।।
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If you are unable to fix your mind steadily on Krishna, then seek to reach Him by the practice of repeated meditation (Abhyasa Yoga).
Shloka 10
अभ्यासेऽप्यसमर्थोऽसि मत्कर्मपरमो भव। मदर्थमपि कर्माणि कुर्वन्सिद्धिमवाप्स्यसि।।12.10।।
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If you are unable to practice even this, then be dedicated to performing actions for Krishna's sake. Even by performing actions in His service, you will attain perfection.
Shloka 11
अथैतदप्यशक्तोऽसि कर्तुं मद्योगमाश्रितः। सर्वकर्मफलत्यागं ततः कुरु यतात्मवान्।।12.11।।
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If you are unable even to do this, then take refuge in Krishna and, with self-control, renounce the fruits of all actions. The path progressively accommodates every level of ability.
Shloka 12
श्रेयो हि ज्ञानमभ्यासाज्ज्ञानाद्ध्यानं विशिष्यते। ध्यानात्कर्मफलत्यागस्त्यागाच्छान्तिरनन्तरम्।।12.12।।
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Knowledge is better than mechanical practice; meditation is better than knowledge; renunciation of the fruits of action is better than meditation, for peace immediately follows such renunciation.
Shloka 13
अद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्रः करुण एव च। निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः समदुःखसुखः क्षमी।।12.13।।
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One who bears no hatred toward any being, who is friendly and compassionate, free from possessiveness and ego, equal in pleasure and pain, and forgiving...
Shloka 14
सन्तुष्टः सततं योगी यतात्मा दृढनिश्चयः। मय्यर्पितमनोबुद्धिर्यो मद्भक्तः स मे प्रियः।।12.14।।
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...that yogi who is ever content, self-controlled, of firm resolve, with mind and intellect dedicated to Krishna — such a devotee is dear to Krishna.
Shloka 15
यस्मान्नोद्विजते लोको लोकान्नोद्विजते च यः। हर्षामर्षभयोद्वेगैर्मुक्तो यः स च मे प्रियः।।12.15।।
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One from whom the world does not shrink and who does not shrink from the world, who is free from the agitation of joy, indignation, fear, and anxiety — such a person is dear to Krishna.
Shloka 16
अनपेक्षः शुचिर्दक्ष उदासीनो गतव्यथः। सर्वारम्भपरित्यागी यो मद्भक्तः स मे प्रियः।।12.16।।
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One who is free from wants, who is pure, capable, impartial, undisturbed, and who has renounced all undertakings — such a devotee is dear to Krishna.
Shloka 17
यो न हृष्यति न द्वेष्टि न शोचति न काङ्क्षति। शुभाशुभपरित्यागी भक्तिमान्यः स मे प्रियः।।12.17।।
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One who neither rejoices nor hates, neither grieves nor desires, who renounces both the pleasant and the unpleasant, full of devotion — such a person is dear to Krishna.
Shloka 18
समः शत्रौ च मित्रे च तथा मानापमानयोः। शीतोष्णसुखदुःखेषु समः सङ्गविवर्जितः।।12.18।।
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One who is equal to friend and foe, balanced in honor and dishonor, heat and cold, pleasure and pain, free from attachment...
Shloka 19
तुल्यनिन्दास्तुतिर्मौनी सन्तुष्टो येन केनचित्। अनिकेतः स्थिरमतिर्भक्तिमान्मे प्रियो नरः।।12.19।।
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...who treats praise and censure alike, who is silent and content with anything, homeless (not attached to any place), steady-minded, and full of devotion — that person is dear to Krishna.
Shloka 20
ये तु धर्म्यामृतमिदं यथोक्तं पर्युपासते। श्रद्दधाना मत्परमा भक्तास्तेऽतीव मे प्रियाः।।12.20।।
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Those who follow this immortal path of dharma as described, endowed with faith, regarding Krishna as the supreme goal — such devotees are exceedingly dear to Him. This is Krishna's concluding promise.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bhagavad Gita Chapter 12 (Bhakti Yoga) about?
Chapter 12, Bhakti Yoga, deals with the path of loving devotion (Bhakti Yoga) and the qualities dear to the Lord. It contains 20 verses and is part of the dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna at Kurukshetra.
How many verses are in Chapter 12 of the Bhagavad Gita?
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 12 (Bhakti Yoga) has 20 shlokas (verses). On VedKosh each one is available with the original Sanskrit, transliteration, and meaning in Hindi and English.
What is the key teaching of Chapter 12?
The central teaching of Bhakti Yoga is the path of loving devotion (Bhakti Yoga) and the qualities dear to the Lord. Read it as part of the unfolding wisdom Krishna gives Arjuna to resolve his moral crisis and act with clarity.