Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 12 · Bhakti Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 12.1 एवं सततयुक्ता ये भक्तास्त्वां पर्युपासते
श्लोक 12.1
अर्जुन उवाच ।
एवं सततयुक्ता ये भक्तास्त्वां पर्युपासते ।
ये चाप्यक्षरमव्यक्तं तेषां के योगवित्तमाः ॥
arjuna uvāca |
evaṃ satatayuktā ye bhaktāstvāṃ paryupāsate |
ye cāpyakṣaramavyaktaṃ teṣāṃ ke yogavittamāḥ ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
अर्जुन ने कहा: कुछ भक्त सदा आपमें लगे रहकर इस प्रकार आपकी उपासना करते हैं, और कुछ अविनाशी, निराकार ब्रह्म की। इन दोनों में योग को अधिक अच्छी तरह जानने वाला कौन है?
Meaning in English
Arjuna said: There are devotees who, ever steadfast, worship You in this way, and others who worship the imperishable, unmanifest Absolute. Of these two, who has the better understanding of yoga?
Bhagavad Gita 12.1 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| अर्जुनः उवाच | arjunaḥ uvāca | Arjuna said |
| एवम् | evam | thus |
| सतत-युक्ताः | satata-yuktāḥ | ever devoted |
| ये भक्ताः | ye bhaktāḥ | those devotees who |
| त्वाम् पर्युपासते | tvām paryupāsate | worship you |
| ये च अपि | ye ca api | and those who |
| अक्षरम् अव्यक्तम् | akṣaram avyaktam | the imperishable, unmanifest |
| तेषाम् | teṣām | of them |
| के योग-वित्तमाः | ke yoga-vittamāḥ | who are the best knowers of yoga |
Explanation
Arjuna said: Of those devotees who, ever devoted, worship you in this way, and those who worship the imperishable, unmanifest Brahman — which are the better knowers of yoga?
Having seen Krishna's cosmic form in chapter 11, Arjuna asks a question every seeker meets: is it better to love God with form, or to meditate on the formless? Chapter 12, Bhakti Yoga, is Krishna's answer.
भावार्थ
अर्जुन ने पूछा — जो भक्त निरन्तर आपमें लगे रहकर आपके साकार रूप की उपासना करते हैं, और जो अविनाशी, अव्यक्त ब्रह्म की उपासना करते हैं — उनमें योग को उत्तम जानने वाले कौन हैं?
Living it today
It is fine to ask which path suits you; the Gita welcomes honest questions about practice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 12.1?
Arjuna said: Of those devotees who, ever devoted, worship you in this way, and those who worship the imperishable, unmanifest Brahman — which are the better knowers of yoga?
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 12.1?
Arjuna speaks this verse, in Chapter 12 (Bhakti Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 12.1 in daily life?
It is fine to ask which path suits you; the Gita welcomes honest questions about practice.
Reflected on verse 12.1?
Light a diya, add a note, or share this verse.