Bhagavad Gita Chapter 12, Verse 5 (BG 12.5) — Meaning, Translation & Commentary

# BG 12.5 — Commentary on the Path of Worship After declaring that the seekers of both the manifest and the unmanifest attain the same goal, Lord Sri Krishna now attempts to compare the two paths, though in truth they are incomparable and possess equal efficacy and virtue. The Lord states: Those who worship the unmanifest experience greater difficulty than those who worship the manifest with form and attributes. If this statement alone is understood in isolation, it would appear to support worship of the manifest form exclusively and to condemn the worship of the formless unmanifest. Such erroneous and misleading interpretation would render the Gita a scripture that contradicts the eternal wisdom expounded by the Upanishads. Certain verbose advocates of the path of devotion, seeking to deceive the faithful and righteous people, cite this very verse meaning for their purpose. Yet the Lord Himself clarifies the intent of the first line in the second line of the verse. Why do those who worship the unmanifest experience greater hardship? The Lord explains: The path of the unmanifest is difficult to attain for those dwelling in bodies. The critical word in this verse is "dehadbhih"—meaning "by those dwelling in bodies." This word is commonly interpreted in this literal sense. Yet if we examine the natural counterpart of such interpretation, the inconsistency becomes evident. If all embodied humans can worship only the manifest form with attributes and qualities, then it would mean that meditation upon the formless is possible only after abandoning the body. Therefore, Sri Shankaracharya clarifies that "dehadbhih" means "dehaabhimaanvadbhih"—those identified with the body. Those who regard the body as their very nature, who are attached to it, perpetually live a life of sensory indulgence. For such desire-bound persons, meditation upon the infinite, formless, and all-pervading principle is nearly impossible. Just as an elderly person with dim vision and trembling hands would find it exceedingly difficult to thread a needle, so too one whose mind and intellect are agitated, restless, and craving sensory pleasures cannot possibly attain the infinite glory of the Self that transcends all names and forms. The true meaning is this: The difficulty does not lie in the worship of the unmanifest itself, but rather it appears difficult for those identified with the body. In brief, for the majority of seekers, meditation upon the manifest, form-endowed Lord revealed in the world is simpler and more beneficial. If a person performs service to the world understanding it as worship of the Divine, then gradually attachment to the body and craving for sensory enjoyment dissolve. The mind becomes so purified and refined that one becomes capable of meditating upon the formless, unmanifest, and imperishable principle. The manner of living for those who worship the imperishable will be described in the final section of this chapter. Nevertheless, now the beneficial practices for those who worship the manifest with attributes are being expounded.