Chapter 12
Arjuna. Lord! of the men who serve Thee--true in heart-- As God revealed; and of the men who serve, Worshipping Thee Unrevealed, Unbodied, Far, Which take the better way of faith and life?
Arjuna. Lord, some men serve you with sincere hearts as God revealed. Others serve you by worshipping you as unrevealed, without a body, and far away. Which group follows the better path of faith and life?
Krishna. Whoever serve Me--as I show Myself-- Constantly true, in full devotion fixed, Those hold I very holy. But who serve-- Worshipping Me The One, The Invisible, The Unrevealed, Unnamed, Unthinkable, Uttermost, All-pervading, Highest, Sure-- Who thus adore Me, mastering their sense, Of one set mind to all, glad in all good, These blessed souls come unto Me.
Krishna. Those who serve me as I reveal myself, Always faithful and fully devoted, I consider very holy. But others serve me, Worshipping me as the One, the Invisible, The Unrevealed, the Unnamed, beyond thought, The Ultimate, present everywhere, the Highest, the Unchanging. Those who worship me this way control their senses, Treat everyone equally, and rejoice in all that is good. These blessed souls come to me.
Yet, hard The travail is for such as bend their minds To reach th' Unmanifest That viewless path Shall scarce be trod by man bearing the flesh! But whereso any doeth all his deeds Renouncing self for Me, full of Me, fixed To serve only the Highest, night and day Musing on Me--him will I swiftly lift Forth from life's ocean of distress and death, Whose soul clings fast to Me. Cling thou to Me! Clasp Me with heart and mind! so shalt thou dwell Surely with Me on high. But if thy thought Droops from such height; if thou be'st weak to set Body and soul upon Me constantly, Despair not! give Me lower service! seek To reach Me, worshipping with steadfast will; And, if thou canst not worship steadfastly, Work for Me, toil in works pleasing to Me! For he that laboureth right for love of Me Shall finally attain! But, if in this Thy faint heart fails, bring Me thy failure! find Refuge in Me! let fruits of labour go, Renouncing hope for Me, with lowliest heart, So shalt thou come; for, though to know is more Than diligence, yet worship better is Than knowing, and renouncing better still. Near to renunciation--very near-- Dwelleth Eternal Peace!
Yet the struggle is hard For those who focus their minds On reaching the Unmanifest. That unseen path Can hardly be traveled by anyone living in a body! But whoever performs all their deeds For me, giving up self-interest, filled with me, committed To serving only the Highest, night and day Reflecting on me, I will swiftly lift From life's ocean of suffering and death, If their soul holds firmly to me. Hold firmly to me! Embrace me with heart and mind! Then you will live Surely with me on high. But if your thoughts Cannot reach such heights, if you lack the strength to devote Body and soul to me constantly, Do not despair! Offer me a simpler service! Seek To reach me through worship with steady determination. And if you cannot worship steadily, Work for me. Do work that pleases me! For whoever works rightly out of love for me Will reach me in the end! But if, even in this, Your faint heart fails, bring me your failure! Find Refuge in me! Let go of the rewards of your work, Giving up hopes of reward for my sake, with the humblest heart. Then you will reach me. For although knowledge is better Than diligent practice, worship is better Than knowledge, and renunciation is better still. Close to renunciation, very close, Lies Eternal Peace!
Who hateth nought Of all which lives, living himself benign, Compassionate, from arrogance exempt, Exempt from love of self, unchangeable By good or ill; patient, contented, firm In faith, mastering himself, true to his word, Seeking Me, heart and soul; vowed unto Me,-- That man I love! Who troubleth not his kind, And is not troubled by them; clear of wrath, Living too high for gladness, grief, or fear, That man I love! Who, dwelling quiet-eyed, Stainless, serene, well-balanced, unperplexed, Working with Me, yet from all works detached, That man I love! Who, fixed in faith on Me, Dotes upon none, scorns none; rejoices not, And grieves not, letting good or evil hap Light when it will, and when it will depart, That man I love! Who, unto friend and foe Keeping an equal heart, with equal mind Bears shame and glory; with an equal peace Takes heat and cold, pleasure and pain; abides Quit of desires, hears praise or calumny In passionless restraint, unmoved by each; Linked by no ties to earth, steadfast in Me, That man I love! But most of all I love Those happy ones to whom 'tis life to live In single fervid faith and love unseeing, Drinking the blessed Amrit of my Being!
He hates nothing That lives. He is kind, Compassionate, and free from arrogance. He is free from self-love, unchanged By good or bad fortune. He is patient, content, and firm In faith. He controls himself and keeps his word. He seeks me with heart and soul, devoted to me. I love that man! He does not trouble others, And others do not trouble him. He is free from anger, Above joy, grief, and fear. I love that man! He lives with a calm gaze, Pure, peaceful, balanced, and free from confusion. He works with me, yet remains detached from all work. I love that man! His faith is fixed on me. He dotes on no one and scorns no one. He neither rejoices Nor grieves. He lets good or bad fortune Come and go whenever it will. I love that man! Toward friend and enemy, His heart is the same. With an even mind, He bears disgrace and honor. With equal peace, He accepts heat and cold, pleasure and pain. He lives Free from desires. He hears praise or slander With calm restraint, unmoved by either. He has no earthly ties and remains steadfast in me. I love that man! But most of all I love Those happy ones whose whole life is A single, passionate faith and love that needs no sight, Drinking the blessed Amrit of my Being!
"Not peering about," anapeksha.
HERE ENDETH CHAPTER XII. OF THE BHAGAVAD-GITA, Entitled "Bhaktiyog," Or"The Book of the Religion of Faith."
Here ends Chapter 12 of the Bhagavad-Gita, entitled "Bhaktiyog," or "The Book of the Religion of Faith."