Bhagavad Gita - Chapter 12 - Shloka (Verse) 2

व्याख्या--[भगवान्ने ठीक यही निर्णय अर्जुनके बिना पूछे ही छठे अध्यायके सैंतालीसवें श्लोकमें दे दिया था। परन्तु उस विषयमें अपना प्रश्न न होनेके कारण अर्जुन उस निर्णयको पकड़ नहीं पाये। कारण कि स्वयंका प्रश्न न होनेसे सुनी हुई बात भी प्रायः लक्ष्यमें नहीं आती। इसलिये उन्होंने इस अध्यायके पहले श्लोकमें ऐसा प्रश्न किया।

श्रीभगवान् बोले -- जो कामनाओंसे रहित पूर्णज्ञानी अक्षरब्रह्मके उपासक हैं उनको अभी रहने दो? उनके प्रति जो कुछ कहना है वह आगे कहेंगे? परंतु जो दूसरे हैं -- जो भक्त मुझ विश्वरूप परमेश्वरमें मनको समाधिस्थ करके सर्व योगेश्वरोंके अधीश्वर रागादि पञ्चक्लेशरूप अज्ञानदृष्टिसे रहित मुझ सर्वज्ञ परमेश्वरकी पिछले ( एकादश ) अध्यायके अन्तिम श्लोकके अर्थानुसार निरन्तर तत्पर हुए उत्तम श्रद्धासे युक्त होकर उपासना करते हैं? वे श्रेष्ठतम योगी हैं? यह मैं मानता हूँ। क्योंकि वे लगातार मुझमें ही चित्त लगाकर रातदिन व्यतीत करते हैं? अतः उनको युक्ततम कहना उचित ही है। ,

Is the easily performable yoga among these two yogas being asked, or is the direct cause of liberation being asked, thus creating an option, the Lord has spoken the answer in sequence, he says -- Sri Bhagavan (The Blessed Lord).

If the second, since that kind of yoga is to be spoken of later, it should not be asked, he says -- Ye tvakshareti (But those who [worship] the Imperishable).

If the first, regarding that he says -- Ye tu (But those who). Among all masters of yoga, those yogis who preside over all yogas, this is the meaning.

Vimukta (released/free) -- the sight (Drishti), which is Avidya (ignorance) or false intellect, named as Raga (attachment) etc., caused by the beginningless ignorance called 'darkness' and being the cause of Klesha (affliction), is released from him, him he specifies thus (as released/free) -- Vimukta.

He proves the state of being constantly devoted (Nityayuktatvam) -- Atita (passed/previous).

That meaning spoken there, 'matkarmakrit' (one who does work for Me) etc., in that, the going (gamanam) with determination is 'Aya', by the practice of that (Aya) with rule, this is the meaning.

Upasate (they worship) -- they constantly keep remembrance of Me, this is the meaning.

He expresses the state of being the most devoted (Yuktatamatvam) of the mentioned worshipers -- Nairantaryena (unceasingly/constantly). He clarifies that very point -- Ahoratram (day and night). Both in the day and in the night, they meditate on Me alone, greatly, having freed themselves from other objects, this is the meaning.

Is the worship superior by the attribute of ease of performance (sushakatva) among Saguna and Nirguna forms of worship being asked, or by the attribute of being the direct cause of liberation, thus creating an option, the superiority of Nirguna worship by being the direct cause of liberation is stated and will be stated, but (superiority) of the former (Saguna) by ease of performance, listen, with this intention the Blessed Lord spoke.

In Me, the universal form (Vishwarupa) Supreme Lord, the dancer (controller) of the river of the three-Guna Maya, the Self of all, the abode of the ultimate proof (Prama), those who fix (Aveshya) the mind, making it concentrated (Samadhaya), being devotees, worship Me, the Lord of the lords of all Yogas, the Omniscient, the one freed from the false sight (Mithya Drishti) characterized by beginningless ignorance and Avidya, which is the cause of Klesha (affliction) in the form of Raga (attachment) etc., constantly devoted (Nityayukta), 'matkarmakṛnmatparamo madbhaktaḥ saṅgavarjitaḥ. nirvaraḥ sarvabhūteṣu yaḥ sa mām eti pāṇḍava' (He who performs actions for Me, considers Me supreme, is My devotee, is free from attachment, and is free from enmity toward all beings, he attains Me, O Pandava), thus constantly devoted (Satatayukta), possessed of supreme (paraya) faith (Shraddha), with the certainty that liberation will happen only through the worship of Ishvara (God), they are considered by Me to be the most devoted (Yuktatama), intended, because they, turning away from other objects, constantly fix the mind on Me and meditate on Me alone day and night, this is the meaning.

But those who say that in 'ye tu me matam' (but which is My view), regarding the Jnanin (Knower) as the Self alone, even among the ignorant, they are 'Yuktatama' (most devoted) in the view of the Omniscient (Bhagavan) who shows partiality out of compassion (Karunya), in their opinion, the consistency of this statement in this context is questionable. Because the supreme quality (Shreshthatamatva) intended by the fact that the devotees of the Lord, who are deemed 'Yuktatama' due to the Lord's partiality out of compassion, are engaged in easy worship (Sushakopasana), is clearly not established in reality.

Indicating the superiority of the Nirguna by merely stating its difficulty of attainment, and also showing the excellence of the Saguna in words, the Blessed Lord spoke -- Mayi (In Me).

Those who, fixing the mind on Me, the Saguna Brahman, constantly devoted (Nityayukta), worship (meditate upon) Me, the Supreme Lord, endowed with supreme (Satvika) faith (Shraddha), with the conviction/understanding of an Astika (believer), with the certainty-form of faith, 'Surely this Supreme Self, having been worshipped, will save us,' they are considered by Me, the Omniscient, who sees the Jnanin (Knower) as the Self alone

('The Knower is verily My Self, this is My view'), and who shows partiality even towards the ignorant out of compassion, to be the most devoted (Yuktatama).

The Blessed Lord spoke -- Due to extreme love for Me, those who fix the mind on Me, possessed of supreme (excellent) faith, constantly devoted (Nityayukta), desiring constant union (Nityayoga), who worship Me; meaning, those who fix the mind on Me, the object to be attained, who worship Me,

they are considered by Me to be the most devoted (Yuktatama).

They attain Me easily and quickly, this is the meaning.

Among them the first (worshipers of Saguna) are superior, this answer the Blessed Lord spoke -- Mayi (In Me).

Those who, fixing the mind on Me, the Supreme Lord, endowed with attributes like omniscience, making it concentrated, constantly devoted (Nityayukta), being firmly established in Me through the performance of actions for My sake, and endowed with supreme faith, worship Me, they are considered by Me to be the most devoted (Yuktatama).

Mayi (In Me). In 'mayyāveśya' (fixing [the mind] in Me), since (it would be) without purpose if it were only aimed at making (Me) the object of knowledge, which is obtained from the non-impossibility of any other explanation for worship (Upasana),

and since there is an equality of fixing the mind on the Lord as a means even for those devoted to the Imperishable (Akshara-nishtha), to show the distinction from them, he says -- Prāpyaviṣayamiti (The object to be attained).

अपने उत्तर के प्रारम्भ में ही भगवान् उन तीन अत्यावश्यक गुणों को बताते हैं? जिनके होने पर ही ईश्वर की भक्ति का निश्चित लाभ मिल सकता है। सामान्यत? लोगों की यह धारणा है कि भक्तिमार्ग अत्यन्त सरल है। परन्तु यह भी उतना ही सत्य है कि जो साधक अपना जो मार्ग स्वयं चुनता है? उसके लिए वह मार्ग कठिन नहीं होता है। मार्गों की भिन्नता केवल प्रयुक्त साधनों अर्थात् उपाधियों के कारण ही है। एक नौका के द्वारा ग्राँडट्रंक रोड् की यात्रा नहीं की जा सकती है और न हवाई जहाज के द्वारा समुद्र यात्रा? और न ही साइकिल से साठ मील प्रति घंटे की गति से मार्ग तय किया जा सकता है प्रत्येक वाहन की अपनी सीमाएं हैं। परन्तु किसी भी साधन का बुद्धिमत्ता तथा सावधानीपूर्वक उपयोग करने से गन्तव्य तक पहुँचा जा सकता है। इसी प्रकार आत्मविकास के लिए भी प्रत्येक साधक उपलब्ध शरीर? मन और बुद्धि की उपाधियों में से किसी एक की प्रधानता से कर्मयोग या भक्तियोग या ज्ञानयोग के मार्ग को चुनता है। प्रत्येक साधक को अपना चुना हुआ मार्ग सबसे सरल प्रतीत होता है।मन को मुझमें एकाग्र करके मन और बुद्धि दोनों ही वृत्तिरूप हैं? जिन्हें सूक्ष्म शरीर कहा जाता है। यह पर्याप्त नहीं है कि मन की वृत्तियां आराम से भगवान् के रूप के आसपास विचरण करती रहें। उन्हें वास्तव में? उस रूप का भेदन करके? गहराई में प्रवेश कर अन्त में? पूर्णत्व के आदर्श के साथ एकरूप हो जाना चाहिए। वह रूप तो पूर्णत्व का केवल प्रतीक होता है।इस प्रक्रिया को यहाँ आवेश्य शब्द से सूचित किया गया है। इसका अर्थ रूप के साथ वृत्ति का स्पर्श मात्र नहीं? वरन् रूप का भेदन है। वस्तुत मनुष्य का मन अपने ध्येय विषय का आकार? सुगन्ध और गुणों की आभा भी धारण करता है? इस प्रकार जब कोई भक्त पूर्ण लगन और प्रेम के साथ भगवान् का ध्यान करता है? तब वह एक व्यक्ति के रूप में क्षणभर के लिए लुप्त हो जाता है और अपने हृदयकेइष्ट भगवान् की सुन्दरता और आभा को प्राप्त होता है।नित्ययुक्त हुए मेरी पूजा (उपासना) करते हैं भक्तिमार्ग के द्वारा आत्मविकास के सम्पादन के लिए जो दूसरा गुण भक्त में होना आवश्यक है? वह नित्ययुक्तता है। नित्ययुक्त होने का अर्थ है नित्य नियमित उपासना के समय आत्मसंयम का होना। मन अपनी बहिर्मुखी प्रवृत्ति के कारण ध्येय को त्यागकर अन्य विषयों में ही विचरण करने लगता हैं। ऐसे मन का ध्यान ध्येय में ही स्थिर करने की कला का ही नाम है? आत्मसंयम। यद्यपि संस्कृत शब्द उपासना का अनुवाद पूजा किया जा सकता है? तथापि उससे अत्यन्त सतही अर्थ नहीं लेना चाहिए। उस शब्द से हम सामान्यत यन्त्रवत् कर्मकाण्डीय पूजा समझते हैं। वास्तविक उपासना तो परमात्मा के साथ तादात्म्य करने की आन्तरिक क्रिया है? जिसके द्वारा हम परमात्मस्वरूप बन जाते हैं।परा श्रद्धा से युक्त हुए साधारणत श्रद्धा शब्द का अर्थ अन्धविश्वास समझा जाता है? परन्तु वह अनुचित है। श्रद्धा का अर्थ है किसी अज्ञात वस्तु में मेरा वह विश्वास जिसके द्वारा मुझे वह वस्तु यथार्थ रूप से ज्ञात होती है? जिसमें मेरा पहले केवल विश्वास ही था। ऐसी श्रद्धा के बिना साधक भक्त? वर्षों के अभ्यास के बाद भी पर्याप्त मात्रा में चित्तशुद्धि और स्वयं का दैवीकरण सम्पादित नहीं कर सकता है।इस प्रकार? एक सच्चा भक्त बनने के लिए इस श्लोक में जिस तीन आवश्यक एवं अपरिहार्य गुणों को बताया गया है? वे हैं (1) परम श्रद्धा (2) उपासना में नित्ययुक्तता और (3) ध्येयस्वरूप में मन की एकाग्रता। इन तीन गुणों से सम्पन्न व्यक्ति को भगवान् युक्ततम मानते हैं।तो क्या अन्य भक्त युक्ततम नहीं हैं ऐसी बात नहीं है? किन्तु उनके विषय में जो कहना है? उसे सुनो

Mayi (In Me).

Those whose absorption (Samavesha) regarding the state of the Great Lord (Maheshvarya) is natural (Akritrima), whose feeling is one with Him (Tanmayibhāva),

they are the most devoted (Yuktatama) in My opinion, by this statement a solemn declaration (Pratijñā) is made.

Therein the Omniscient Lord, seeing Arjuna's qualification only in the Saguna Vidya (knowledge of Saguna Brahman), will enjoin it to him? And also the means (Sādhanāni) endowed with graduation (Tāratamya) according to qualification. Therefore, first to make the knowledge of Saguna Brahman desirable, praising it, the Blessed Lord spoke the answer, 'The first are superior' -- Mayi (In Me).

In Me, the Blessed Vāsudeva Supreme Lord, the Saguna Brahman, fixing the mind, making it enter through non-reliance on any other and supreme dearness. Just as the color of cinnabar in lacquer, making it one with that (Tanmaya), those who worship (always meditate on) Me, the Lord of all Masters of Yoga, the Omniscient, the abode of all auspicious qualities, the embodied (Sākāra), constantly devoted (Nityayukta), possessed of supreme (excellent) Sāttvika faith, they are considered by Me to be the most devoted (Yuktatama), intended.

Indeed, they, with their minds constantly attached to Me, pass their days and nights meditating on Me alone, turning away from other objects. Therefore, they are considered the most devoted, intended.

Therein, those who perform devotion to Me in the form of the manifest Supreme Person, they are superior, with this intention the Blessed Lord gives the answer -- Mayi (In Me).

In Me, the manifest form, having properly fixed the mind always as one through detachment, having made it enter completely (āsamantāt) with the attitude of the self of all, those fortunate ones who are constantly devoted (Nityayukta), intent only on My service, endowed with supreme faith whose characteristic is love alone, and who then worship (serve) Me, they are the most devoted (superior) considered accepted in My opinion, this is the meaning.

In Me, the universal form Supreme Lord, having fixed and concentrated the mind, those who, being devotees, worship Me, the Overlord of all masters of yoga, the Omniscient, the one whose sight is freed from the darkness of Klesha (affliction) like Raga (attachment) etc., constantly devoted (Nityayukta), being perpetually devoted by the principle of the meaning of the verse stated at the end of the immediately preceding chapter, and endowed with supreme (excellent) faith, they are considered by Me, intended, to be the most devoted (Yuktatama), thus.

Indeed, by constant connection, they pass their days and nights with their minds focused on Me. Therefore, it is proper to call them the most devoted.

Are the others (worshipers of the Imperishable) not the most devoted? No, but what is to be said regarding them, listen --

Therein, stating the definitive conclusion, the Blessed Lord spoke -- Mayi (In Me).

In Me, the controller of all, possessing all extraordinary qualities, the very Cupid of Cupid, in the eternal, endless world free from blemish, the compassionate one, in the supreme bliss, the one whose name, form, and limbs are transcendental, the Supreme Reality which is the support of countless all virtues, the essence of bliss (Rasātmaka), the Complete Supreme Person (Pūrṇapuruṣottama), the direct doer, the Supreme Deity, the Lord (Bhagavati), the root cause of everything, those who, constantly devoted by a connection of mere love (by any connection whatsoever), fixing the mind, worship Me.

'This alone is the abode of qualities to be worshipped by us, the supreme beloved Self, not another' -- those endowed with this supreme faith, they are the most devoted in My opinion.

मयि on Me? आवेश्य fixing? मनः the mind? ये who? माम् Me? नित्ययुक्ताः ever steadfast? उपासते worship? श्रद्धया with faith? परया supreme? उपेताः endowed? ते those? मे of Me? युक्ततमाः the best versed in Yoga? मताः (in My) opinion.Commentary Those devotees who fix their minds on Me in the Cosmi Form? the Supreme Lord and worship Me? ever harmonised and with intense and supreme faith? regarding Me as the Lord of all the masters of Yoga? who are free from attachment and other evil passions -- these? in My opinion? are the best versed in Yoga.They spend their days and nights in worshipping Me. They have no other thoughts except those,of Myself. They live for Me only. Therefore it is indeed proper to say that they are the best Yogins.Are not the others? those who contemplate the imperishable? formless? attributeless? alityless Supreme Brahman? the best of Yogins Listen now to what I have to say regarding them.

Ye, those who, being devotees; upasate, meditate; mam, on Me, the supreme Lord of all the masters of yoga, the Omniscient One whose vision is free from purblindness caused by such defects as attachment etc.; avesya,by fixing, concentrating; their manah, minds; mayi, on Me, on God in His Cosmic form; nitya-yuktah, with steadfast devotion, by being ever-dedicated in accordance with the idea expressed in the last verse of the preceding chapter; and being upetah, endowed; paraya, with supreme; sraddhaya faith;-te, they; matah, are considered; to be yukta-tamah, most perfect yogis; me, according to Me, for they spend days and nights with their minds constantly fixed on Me. Therefore, it is proper to say with regard to them that they are the best yogis.
'Is it that the others do not become the best yogis?'
No, but listen to what has to be said as regards them:'

The Lord said I consider them to be the highest among the Yogins (i.e., among those striving for realisation) - them who worship Me focusing their minds upon Me as one exceedingly dear to them, who are endowed with supreme faith, and who are ever 'integrated' with Me, namely ever desirous of constant union with Me. Those who thus worship Me, focusing their minds on Me as their supreme goal, attain Me soon and easily. Such is the meaning.