Bhagavad Gita Chapter 13, Verse 11 (BG 13.11) — Meaning, Translation & Commentary

# BG 13.11 Whether impelled by Arjun's active nature or by Lord Sri Krishna's role as a social reformer—whatever the reason may be—the Bhagavad Gita, as it has come down to us, is an intensely practical scripture on the subject of self-realization. Whenever the Teacher of the Gita instructs his disciple to develop any particular mental or intellectual quality, he immediately provides practical, implementable methods for its accomplishment. If a seeker develops within himself the qualities described in the three preceding verses, he will certainly accumulate tremendous power in both his inner and outer life. This verse teaches how he may direct this additional power rightly, so that it may benefit his spiritual unfoldment. **Unwavering Devotion Through Single-Pointed Yoga** Single-pointedness means the mind becomes absorbed in its chosen object of meditation. For this, one must completely abandon all extraneous tendencies and maintain only the tendency toward one's chosen goal. Two factors can disrupt this stability in meditation or devotion: either the instability of the seeker's mind, or the lack of clarity regarding the goal itself. Until both are steady, devotion or meditation cannot succeed. If our devotion keeps shifting from one form to another, how can concentration be possible? Therefore, it is said here that for progress and growth in yoga, devotion to the Supreme through single-pointed yoga is essential. This speaks to the stability of one's aim. When the mind is undivided and filled with enthusiasm, concentration in devotion becomes easy. Otherwise, the mind itself may rebel and wander in self-created false attractions. The symbolic language the Lord uses when speaking of the mind's tendency to dwell on the lowest and most contemptible subjects during meditation reveals how severely he condemns this wandering. He says the seeker should possess unwavering devotion in his practice. Infidelity means selling one's abilities and beauty for some trivial gain. Only a mind absorbed in God can become single-pointed in meditation. Through the word "unwavering," the seeker is warned that his meditation should not scatter among many deities or thoughts, but should remain devoted to his chosen goal. Such an ordered life and stability in meditation become possible when the seeker dwells in a favorable environment. This is shown through two qualities: (a) the practice of solitude, and (b) disinterest in crowds. The more a person's mind becomes pure and detached from pleasures, the more his thirst for knowledge grows. Naturally, he then moves away from the company of people to where knowledge is available, to quench this thirst for wisdom. This is true also of poets, writers, scientists, and others. They see only one goal, and worldly matters hold no interest for them. The crowd from which one should withdraw interest is that of the uncultured, uncivilized, and those attached to pleasures—not the company of holy persons. Association with the wise is an aid to knowledge, not an obstacle. Let no one misunderstand solitude and disinterest in crowds to mean that one should flee from the world or harbor hatred toward society.