12-1

Arjuna asked: Who is considered more perfect – he who always properly serves You with faith, or he who worships the unmanifest, the eternal?

Explanation: In this verse, Arjuna wants to clarify who is considered a more complete practitioner of spiritual discipline from two paths to God-realization – either serving God as a personified being or worshipping the unmanifest, formless Absolute. He asks which of these worshippers is better established in spiritual practice.

12-2

The Supreme Lord said: Those who fix their minds on My personal form and always serve Me with great and transcendental faith are considered by Me to be most perfect.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna replies that those who have fixed their minds on His personal form with the most heartfelt faith and always serve Him are considered by Him to be most perfect. The emphasis here is on building a personal relationship with God and serving with love and devotion.

12-3

But those who fully serve the unmanifested, the inconceivable, the omnipresent, the unimaginable, the unchanging, the immovable, and the eternal—the impersonal conception of the Divine.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna begins to answer about those who worship the unmanifested, impersonal aspect of the Divine. He describes this path, emphasizing that it involves serving the unmanifested, which is beyond sensory perception, omnipresent, unimaginable, unchanging, immovable, and eternal.

12-4

Balancing all the senses, being equally disposed in all situations, and working for the benefit of all beings, they eventually reach Me.

Explanation: Continuing the answer about the worshipers of the unmanifested, Krishna indicates that those who can balance all their senses, maintain an equal attitude in all situations, and work for the benefit of all beings, eventually reach Him as well. This path requires a high level of self-discipline and inner peace.

12-5

For those whose minds are attached to the impersonal, unmanifested aspect of the Divine, progress is more difficult, because embodied beings find it difficult to reach the goal by following this path.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna explains that it is much more difficult for those who are attached to the impersonal, unmanifested aspect of the Divine to progress on the spiritual path, because embodied beings find it difficult to comprehend this impersonal, unmanifested Absolute.

12-6

But those who serve Me, dedicating all their actions to Me, engaging in devotional service with unwavering faith, always meditating on Me, and fixing their minds on Me.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna turns again to those who serve Him as the personified God. He emphasizes that those who dedicate all their actions to Him, engage in devotional service with unwavering faith, always meditate on Him, and fix their minds on Him are on an easier path.

12-7

Them, O Arjuna, I swiftly deliver from the ocean of birth and death.

Explanation: Krishna promises that those who have dedicated all their actions to Him and engage in devotional service with unwavering faith, always meditating on Him and fixing their minds on Him, He will swiftly deliver from the ocean of birth and death, i.e., from the suffering of material existence and the cycle of reincarnation.

12-8

Simply fix your mind upon Me, the Supreme Divine Being, and engage all your intelligence in Me. Thus, you will live in Me always, of this there is no doubt.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna once again emphasizes the importance of fixing one's mind on Him and engaging one's intelligence in Him, because by doing so, a person will always live in God. Krishna promises that those who are capable of this will always live in Him, and there is no doubt about it.

12-9

My dear Arjuna, conqueror of wealth, if you are unable to fix your mind on Me without deviation, then follow the regulative principles of spiritual practice. In this way, develop within yourself the desire to attain Me.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna offers an alternative for those who are unable to fix their minds on Him completely at once. This alternative is to follow the regulative principles of spiritual practice in order to gradually develop within oneself the desire to attain God. This practice includes regular prayers, rituals, and other spiritual exercises.

12-10

If you cannot follow the principles of spiritual practice, then endeavor to work for Me. By working for Me, you will achieve perfection.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna offers another alternative—if a person is unable to follow the principles of spiritual practice, he should endeavor to work for God. This means performing one's daily duties with the thought of God and dedicating one's work to Him, because by dedicating one's work to God, one can achieve spiritual perfection. In this way, even without strictly following rituals, one can achieve spiritual perfection.

12-11

However, if you are unable to work in this consciousness of Me, then try to renounce all the fruits of your labor and establish yourself in self-sufficiency.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna gives another piece of advice—if a person is unable to work in the consciousness of God, then he should try to renounce all the fruits of his labor. This means performing one's duties without attachment to the result and being ready to accept whatever God gives. Such renunciation helps to develop inner peace and self-sufficiency. Such action helps to get rid of egoism and develop inner peace.

12-12

If you are unable to do this, then engage in the cultivation of knowledge. Better than knowledge, however, is meditation, and better than meditation is renunciation of the fruits of action, for by renunciation of the fruits of action one can attain peace.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna offers a hierarchy in spiritual development, stating that meditation is better than knowledge, and renunciation of the fruits of action is better than meditation, because by renouncing the fruits of action one can attain peace. If a person is unable to renounce the fruits of his actions, he should engage in the cultivation of knowledge. However, meditation is better than knowledge, and the best is renunciation of the fruits of action, as it leads to true inner peace.

12-13

He who is not envious of anyone, but is a kind friend to all living entities, who does not think himself a proprietor and is free from false ego, who is equal in both happiness and distress, who is tolerant.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna begins to list the qualities of a person who has reached a high level of spiritual development. Such a person is not envious of anyone, is kind and friendly to all beings, does not consider himself a proprietor, is free from egoism, and is able to maintain balance in both suffering and happiness, and is tolerant of others. He is also tolerant of others.

12-14

Always satisfied, engaged in devotional service with determination, whose mind and intelligence are fixed on Me—he is very dear to Me.

Explanation: Continuing the description, Krishna adds that such a person is always satisfied, engaged in devotional service with determination, and his mind and intelligence are focused on God, and therefore he is very dear to Krishna. Such a faithful servant is very dear to Krishna.

12-15

He by whom no one is put into difficulty and who is not disturbed by anyone, who is equipoised in happiness and distress, fear and anxiety, is very dear to Me.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna continues to describe the qualities of a spiritually advanced person. Such a person does not disturb others with their actions or words, and they themselves are not disturbed by the actions of other people. He is able to maintain peace in all situations - in happiness, sadness, fear, and anxiety, and therefore is very dear to Krishna. Such a person is very dear to Krishna.

12-16

My devotee who is not dependent on the ordinary course of activities, who is pure, expert, without cares, free from all suffering, and not striving for some result, is very dear to Me.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna adds that a servant who is not dependent on the ordinary course of events, is pure in his thoughts and actions, knows how to act according to the circumstances, is free from worries and sufferings, and does not try to achieve a specific result in his actions, because He simply fulfills his duty without attachment, is very dear to Him. He simply fulfills his duty without attachment.

12-17

He who neither rejoices nor grieves, who neither laments nor desires, and who has renounced both auspicious and inauspicious things—such a devotee is very dear to Me.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna continues to describe the qualities of a spiritually advanced person. Such a person does not indulge in joy or sadness, he does not grieve for what is lost and does not want to acquire something for himself. He has renounced both good and evil, and therefore is very dear to Krishna, understanding that everything is God's will. Such a faithful servant is very dear to Krishna.

12-18

He who is equal to friends and enemies, who is equipoised in honor and dishonor, heat and cold, happiness and distress, fame and infamy, who is always free from contaminating association.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna continues to list the qualities of a spiritually advanced person. Such a person is equal to friends and enemies, is not affected by honor and dishonor, heat and cold, happiness and unhappiness, fame and infamy. He always avoids contaminating association that could negatively affect his spiritual state.

12-19

Always satisfied and silent, caring for nothing, fixed in knowledge, and engaged in devotional service—such a person is very dear to Me.

Explanation: Concluding this list, Krishna adds that a spiritually advanced person is always satisfied and silent, indifferent to his dwelling place, firmly established in spiritual knowledge, and engaged in devotional service to God, and such a person is very dear to Krishna. Such a person is very dear to Krishna.

12-20

Those who follow this imperishable path of devotional service and who are completely engaged, with faith, making Me the supreme goal, are very, very dear to Me.

Explanation: In this verse, Krishna concludes the 12th chapter, emphasizing once again that those who follow the imperishable path of devotional service, fully surrender to Him, and make Him their supreme goal are extremely dear to Him. This chapter is devoted to explaining the path of devotional service and describing the qualities of a spiritually advanced person who follows this path.