Bhakti Yog: The Yog of Devotion

Chapter 12: With 20 verses or shlokas, the twelfth chapter is one of the shortest chapters, and it discusses the two types of Yogis and who among them is best.

Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead (Shloka 2-20): 19 Shlokas

Arjuna (Shloka 1): 1 Shloka

Brief Summary: Arjun mentions that devoted Yogis may worship a personal form or a formless Brahman. Then, he enquired which of the two forms of worship was better.

The lord explains that worship of the formless aspect is harder due to the numerous challenges faced on that path. Therefore, the path of surrender and total devotion is the best.

Fix your mind on the Supreme personality of the Godhead. If not, follow Bhakti yoga (i.e., desire to attain me). If not, just work for me. Even by working for the lord, you can attain. If not, try to give up all the results of your work and try to be self-situated. 

Bhakti--> Knowledge-->Meditation-->renunciation of the fruits of your action

Characteristics of a true devotee:

1. Not envious
2. Friend of all living entities
3. Free from false ego
4. Equivanimity in happiness and distress
5. Tolerant
6. Contented
7. Engaged in devotional service
8. Mind and intelligence fixed upon Lord Krishna
9. Not striving for results
10. Neither laments nor desires
11. Renounces both auspicious and inauspicious things
12. Equipoised in honour and dishonour, heat & cold, happiness & distress, fame & infamy, fear & anxiety
13. Free from contaminating associations
14. Fixed in knowledge

Favorite Shlokas:

Shloka 12:

śhreyo hi jñānam abhyāsāj jñānād dhyānaṁ viśhiṣhyate

dhyānāt karma-phala-tyāgas tyāgāch chhāntir anantaram

Shloka 18-19:

samaḥ śhatrau cha mitre cha tathā mānāpamānayoḥ

śhītoṣhṇa-sukha-duḥkheṣhu samaḥ saṅga-vivarjitaḥ

tulya-nindā-stutir maunī santuṣhṭo yena kenachit

aniketaḥ sthira-matir bhaktimān me priyo naraḥ