Bhagavad Gita Chapter 12, Verse 2 (BG 12.2) — Meaning, Translation & Commentary

12.2 मयि on Me? आवेश्य fixing? मनः the mind? ये who? माम् Me? नित्ययुक्ताः ever steadfast? उपासते worship? श्रद्धया with faith? परया supreme? उपेताः endowed? ते those? मे of Me? युक्ततमाः the best versed in Yoga? मताः (in My) opinion.Commentary Those devotees who fix their minds on Me in the Cosmi Form? the Supreme Lord and worship Me? ever harmonised and with intense and supreme faith? regarding Me as the Lord of all the masters of Yoga? who are free from attachment and other evil passions -- these? in My opinion? are the best versed in Yoga.They spend their days and nights in worshipping Me. They have no other thoughts except those,of Myself. They live for Me only. Therefore it is indeed proper to say that they are the best Yogins.Are not the others? those who contemplate the imperishable? formless? attributeless? alityless Supreme Brahman? the best of Yogins Listen now to what I have to say regarding them.

Commentaries

Contemporary scholarly and practical interpretations for modern seekers.

This interpretation draws on a specific tradition and may not represent the view of any single school. For authoritative guidance within a specific tradition, seek a qualified teacher.

Modern

At the very beginning of His answer, the Lord expounds three essential qualities, by the presence of which alone the devoted worship of the Divine yields assured fruit. It is commonly believed that the path of devotion is exceedingly simple. Yet it is equally true that for the seeker who chooses his own path, that path does not become difficult. The difference between paths lies only in the means employed—that is, in the instruments used. A boat cannot traverse the Grand Trunk Road, nor can an aeroplane travel across the sea, nor can a bicycle cover sixty miles per hour. Each vehicle has its own limitations. Yet by the wise and careful use of any instrument, one can reach one's destination. Similarly, in the development of the Self, each seeker, according to the predominance of body, mind, or intellect available to him, chooses the path of karma yoga, or bhakti yoga, or jnana yoga. To each seeker, the path he has chosen appears the simplest. To fix the mind upon Me—Mind and intellect are both faculties, which together form what is called the subtle body. It is not sufficient that the modifications of the mind should move freely around the form of the Divine. They must truly penetrate that form, enter into its depths, and ultimately become one with the ideal of perfection. That form is but a symbol of perfection. This process is indicated here by the word "fix" or "focus"—not merely a touching of the faculty with the form, but a penetration of the form. Indeed, the human mind takes on the shape, fragrance, and radiance of the object of its meditation. Thus, when a devotee meditates upon the Divine with complete dedication and love, he momentarily ceases to exist as an individual and becomes absorbed in the beauty and radiance of his Beloved Lord. Engaged in constant worship of Me—The second quality essential for the accomplishment of Self-development through the path of devotion is constancy in practice. To be constantly engaged means to exercise self-restraint during the regular hours of worship. The mind, by its outward-turning nature, abandons its object of meditation and wanders into other subjects. The art of fixing such a mind upon its object is what is called self-restraint. Although the Sanskrit word upasana can be translated as "worship," one should not take an overly superficial meaning from it. We commonly understand it as ritualistic worship performed mechanically. True worship is the inner process of becoming one with the Supreme, through which we become the very embodiment of the Divine. Endowed with supreme faith—Ordinarily, the word faith is understood to mean blind belief, but this is incorrect. Faith means that conviction of mine regarding an unknown thing, through which that thing becomes known to me in its true form—something in which I previously had only belief. Without such faith, even a devoted seeker, after years of practice, cannot accomplish sufficient purification of heart and the divinization of his own being. Thus, to become a true devotee, this verse sets forth three essential and indispensable qualities: (1) supreme faith, (2) constancy in worship, and (3) the concentration of mind upon the form of one's chosen ideal. The Lord considers the person endowed with these three qualities to be the most devoted. Are not other devotees devoted? It is not so. But listen to what is to be said concerning them.