{"id":7271,"date":"2026-09-16T19:58:08","date_gmt":"2026-09-16T14:28:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dixith.com\/jeevana-sutra\/bhagavad-gita-chapter-12-bhakti-yoga-iast\/"},"modified":"2026-09-28T20:05:04","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T14:35:04","slug":"bhagavad-gita-chapter-12-bhakti-yoga-iast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dixith.com\/jeevana-sutra\/bhagavad-gita-chapter-12-bhakti-yoga-iast\/","title":{"rendered":"Bhagavad Gita Chapter 12 in English IAST: Bhakti Yoga"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u0cb2\u0cbf\u0caa\u0cbf \u00b7 \u0932\u093f\u092a\u093f\u0903 \u00b7 Script: \u0c95\u0ca8\u0ccd\u0ca8\u0ca1<\/a>  \u00b7  \u0938\u0902\u0938\u094d\u0915\u0943\u0924\u092e\u094d<\/a>  \u00b7  English IAST<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 12: Bhakti Yoga<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Twenty verses. Arjuna\u2019s question whether to worship the Lord with form or the unmanifest, the ladder of practice with a rung for every capacity, and the marks of the devotee who is dear to the Lord are here.
Tap any verse card to open its page with the word-by-word meaning. Pages are ready for every verse of this chapter.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

All eighteen chapters are listed here: \u015ar\u012bmad Bhagavad G\u012bt\u0101<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1<\/span>arjuna uv\u0101ca
eva\u1e43 satatayukt\u0101 ye bhakt\u0101stv\u0101\u1e43 paryup\u0101sate|
ye c\u0101pyak\u1e63aramavyakta\u1e43 te\u1e63\u0101\u1e43 ke yogavittam\u0101\u1e25 || 1 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 12.1 \u2192<\/span><\/a>2<\/span>\u015br\u012bbhagav\u0101nuv\u0101ca
mayy\u0101ve\u015bya mano ye m\u0101\u1e43 nityayukt\u0101 up\u0101sate|
\u015braddhay\u0101 parayopet\u0101ste me yuktatam\u0101 mat\u0101\u1e25 || 2 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 12.2 \u2192<\/span><\/a>3<\/span>ye tvak\u1e63aramanirde\u015byamavyakta\u1e43 paryup\u0101sate|
sarvatragamacintya\u1e43 ca k\u016b\u1e6dasthamacala\u1e43 dhruvam || 3 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 12.3 \u2192<\/span><\/a>4<\/span>sanniyamyendriyagr\u0101ma\u1e43 sarvatra samabuddhaya\u1e25|
te pr\u0101pnuvanti m\u0101meva sarvabh\u016btahite rat\u0101\u1e25 || 4 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 12.4 \u2192<\/span><\/a>5<\/span>kle\u015bo’dhikataraste\u1e63\u0101mavyakt\u0101saktacetas\u0101m|
avyakt\u0101 hi gatirdu\u1e25kha\u1e43 dehavadbhirav\u0101pyate || 5 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 12.5 \u2192<\/span><\/a>6<\/span>ye tu sarv\u0101\u1e47i karm\u0101\u1e47i mayi sa\u1e43nyasya matpar\u0101\u1e25|
ananyenaiva yogena m\u0101\u1e43 dhy\u0101yanta up\u0101sate || 6 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 12.6 \u2192<\/span><\/a>7<\/span>te\u1e63\u0101maha\u1e43 samuddhart\u0101 m\u1e5btyusa\u1e43s\u0101ras\u0101gar\u0101t|
bhav\u0101mi nacir\u0101tp\u0101rtha mayy\u0101ve\u015bitacetas\u0101m || 7 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 12.7 \u2192<\/span><\/a>8<\/span>mayyeva mana \u0101dhatsva mayi buddhi\u1e43 nive\u015baya|
nivasi\u1e63yasi mayyeva ata \u016brdhva\u1e43 na sa\u1e43\u015baya\u1e25 || 8 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 12.8 \u2192<\/span><\/a>9<\/span>atha citta\u1e43 sam\u0101dh\u0101tu\u1e43 na \u015bakno\u1e63i mayi sthiram|
abhy\u0101sayogena tato m\u0101micch\u0101ptu\u1e43 dhana\u00f1jaya || 9 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 12.9 \u2192<\/span><\/a>10<\/span>abhy\u0101se’pyasamartho’si matkarmaparamo bhava|
madarthamapi karm\u0101\u1e47i kurvansiddhimav\u0101psyasi || 10 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 12.10 \u2192<\/span><\/a>11<\/span>athaitadapya\u015bakto’si kartu\u1e43 madyogam\u0101\u015brita\u1e25|
sarvakarmaphalaty\u0101ga\u1e43 tata\u1e25 kuru yat\u0101tmav\u0101n || 11 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 12.11 \u2192<\/span><\/a>12<\/span>\u015breyo hi j\u00f1\u0101namabhy\u0101s\u0101jj\u00f1\u0101n\u0101ddhy\u0101na\u1e43 vi\u015bi\u1e63yate|
dhy\u0101n\u0101tkarmaphalaty\u0101gasty\u0101g\u0101cch\u0101ntiranantaram || 12 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 12.12 \u2192<\/span><\/a>13<\/span>adve\u1e63\u1e6d\u0101 sarvabh\u016bt\u0101n\u0101\u1e43 maitra\u1e25 karu\u1e47a eva ca|
nirmamo niraha\u1e45k\u0101ra\u1e25 samadu\u1e25khasukha\u1e25 k\u1e63am\u012b || 13 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 12.13 \u2192<\/span><\/a>14<\/span>santu\u1e63\u1e6da\u1e25 satata\u1e43 yog\u012b yat\u0101tm\u0101 d\u1e5b\u1e0dhani\u015bcaya\u1e25|
mayyarpitamanobuddhiryo madbhakta\u1e25 sa me priya\u1e25 || 14 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 12.14 \u2192<\/span><\/a>15<\/span>yasm\u0101nnodvijate loko lok\u0101nnodvijate ca ya\u1e25|
har\u1e63\u0101mar\u1e63abhayodvegairmukto ya\u1e25 sa ca me priya\u1e25 || 15 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 12.15 \u2192<\/span><\/a>16<\/span>anapek\u1e63a\u1e25 \u015bucirdak\u1e63a ud\u0101s\u012bno gatavyatha\u1e25|
sarv\u0101rambhaparity\u0101g\u012b yo madbhakta\u1e25 sa me priya\u1e25 || 16 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 12.16 \u2192<\/span><\/a>17<\/span>yo na h\u1e5b\u1e63yati na dve\u1e63\u1e6di na \u015bocati na k\u0101\u1e45k\u1e63ati|
\u015bubh\u0101\u015bubhaparity\u0101g\u012b bhaktim\u0101nya\u1e25 sa me priya\u1e25 || 17 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 12.17 \u2192<\/span><\/a>18<\/span>sama\u1e25 \u015batrau ca mitre ca tath\u0101 m\u0101n\u0101pam\u0101nayo\u1e25|
\u015b\u012bto\u1e63\u1e47asukhadu\u1e25khe\u1e63u sama\u1e25 sa\u1e45gavivarjita\u1e25 || 18 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 12.18 \u2192<\/span><\/a>19<\/span>tulyanind\u0101stutirmaun\u012b santu\u1e63\u1e6do yena kenacit|
aniketa\u1e25 sthiramatirbhaktim\u0101nme priyo nara\u1e25 || 19 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 12.19 \u2192<\/span><\/a>20<\/span>ye tu dharmy\u0101m\u1e5btamida\u1e43 yathokta\u1e43 paryup\u0101sate|
\u015braddadh\u0101n\u0101 matparam\u0101 bhakt\u0101ste’t\u012bva me priy\u0101\u1e25 || 20 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 12.20 \u2192<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n

o\u1e43 tatsaditi \u015br\u012bmadbhagavadg\u012bt\u0101s\u016bpani\u1e63atsu brahmavidy\u0101y\u0101\u1e43 yoga\u015b\u0101stre \u015br\u012bk\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47\u0101rjunasa\u1e43v\u0101de bhaktiyogo n\u0101ma dv\u0101da\u015bo’dhy\u0101ya\u1e25 ||<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

About Bhakti Yoga<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is one of the two shortest chapters of the Gita, and one that many people recite daily. The previous chapter had given its answer in the words \u2018bhaktya tv ananyaya\u2019 (11.54). The twelfth chapter unfolds that devotion: for whom it is, how it is practised, and what its marks are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The chapter has three parts. First Arjuna\u2019s question and Krishna\u2019s answer: both paths reach him, but for the embodied the path of the unmanifest is hard. Then the ladder of practice: if you cannot hold the mind on him, practice, if not that, work for him, if not even that, giving up the fruit. Lastly the marks of the devotee, with the refrain \u2018sa me priyah\u2019, he is dear to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How the chapter moves<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  • Verse 1: Arjuna\u2019s question. Those who worship you, or those who worship the imperishable unmanifest: which are the best?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Verses 2 to 5: The answer. Those who set their minds on me are the most steadfast. The worshippers of the imperishable also reach me, but their struggle is greater.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Verses 6 and 7: I myself quickly lift my devotees out of the ocean of worldly existence.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Verses 8 to 12: The ladder of practice. Offering the mind, practice, work for him, giving up the fruit of action, and peace at once from giving up.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Verses 13 to 19: The marks of the devotee. Free of hatred, friendly, compassionate, content, troubling no one, even towards foe and friend: such a devotee is dear to me.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Verse 20: Those who follow this nectar of dharma with faith are exceedingly dear to me.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    With attributes and without: three views<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The acharyas read the chapter\u2019s very first question differently. For Shankara the imperishable unmanifest is Brahman free of all adjuncts. The knowers who worship it are the Lord\u2019s own nature, so there is no talk of higher or lower about them, and \u2018most steadfast\u2019 is said of those who worship the Lord with attributes. For him the list of the devotee\u2019s marks too describes the renunciate who worships the imperishable. For Ramanuja the imperishable is the nature of the individual self, and its worship is devotion to the self. The Lord\u2019s bhakti yoga is higher than that, easier, and quicker to bear fruit. For Madhva the unmanifest is the principle of Shri bearing the name avyakta, and since the Lord alone grants liberation, worship of him is the higher. Sridhara Swami reads the chapter as a verdict between worship with attributes and without, and brings out the ease of devotion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    These pages do not decide between the readings. Wherever the acharyas part, each position is recorded in its own terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    About these pages<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    These pages hope that the verses on the marks of a devotee will be read as a mirror to look into, not a stick to measure ourselves with. On the page for 12.17 we have made clear that not grieving is a state that comes from long practice, not the pressing down of sorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In this chapter the \u2018For life today\u2019 box links the ladder of practice and the marks of the devotee to daily life: the practice of attention, service, freedom from worry over results, relationships at work, cleanliness such as washing the hands, and help for prolonged grief. The health notes are for general understanding only, and for personal problems a doctor\u2019s advice is what counts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Sources:<\/strong> several.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    The twenty verses of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 12 in English IAST transliteration, each linked to its page with word-by-word meaning, Kannada and English.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7412,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":0,"_manohara_link_phrases":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[156],"tags":[187,188],"class_list":["post-7271","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bhagavad-gita","tag-krishna","tag-shlokada-artha"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dixith.com\/jeevana-sutra\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7271","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dixith.com\/jeevana-sutra\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dixith.com\/jeevana-sutra\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dixith.com\/jeevana-sutra\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dixith.com\/jeevana-sutra\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7271"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dixith.com\/jeevana-sutra\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7271\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7413,"href":"https:\/\/dixith.com\/jeevana-sutra\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7271\/revisions\/7413"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dixith.com\/jeevana-sutra\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7412"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dixith.com\/jeevana-sutra\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7271"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dixith.com\/jeevana-sutra\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7271"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dixith.com\/jeevana-sutra\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7271"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}