Bhagavad Gita -Srila Prabhupada 544

Shrimad Bhagavad Gita As It Is -Shri Shrimad A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Prev.png
Devotional Service
Chapter 12: Verse-20

ye tu dharmämrtamidam yathoktam paryupäsate
sraddadhänä mat-paramä bhaktäs te ’tiva me priyäh[1]

TRANSLATION

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

PURPORT
In this chapter, from verse 2 through the end—from mayy ävesya mano ye mäm [2]through ye tu dharmämrtamidam [3]”—the Supreme Lord has explained the processes of transcendental service for approaching Him. Such processes are very dear to the Lord, and He accepts a person engaged in them. The question of who is better—one who is engaged in the path of impersonal Brahman or one who is engaged in the personal service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead—was raised by Arjuna, and the Lord replied to him so explicitly that there is no doubt that devotional service to the Personality of Godhead is the best of all processes of spiritual realization. In other words, in this chapter it is decided that through good association one develops attachment for pure devotional service and thereby accepts a bona fide spiritual master and from him begins to hear and chant and observe the regulative principles of devotional service with faith, attachment and devotion and thus becomes engaged in the transcendental service of the Lord. This path is recommended in this chapter; therefore there is no doubt that devotional service is the only absolute path for self-realization, for the attainment of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The impersonal conception of the Supreme Absolute Truth, as described in this chapter, is recommended only up to the time one surrenders himself for self-realization. In other words, as long as one does not have the chance to associate with a pure devotee, the impersonal conception may be beneficial. In the impersonal conception of the Absolute Truth one works without fruitive result, meditates and cultivates knowledge to understand spirit and matter. This is necessary as long as one is not in the association of a pure devotee. Fortunately, if one develops directly a desire to engage in krsna consciousness in pure devotional service, he does not need to undergo step-by-step improvements in spiritual realization. Devotional service, as described in the middle six chapters of Bhagavad-gita, is more congenial. One need not bother about materials to keep body and soul together, because by the grace of the Lord everything is carried out automatically.

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta Purports to the Twelfth Chapter of the Srimad Bhagavad-gita in the matter of Devotional Service.


Next.png

References

  1. ye=those who; tu=but; dharma=of religion; amrtam=nectar; idam=this;
    yathä=as; uktam=said; paryupäsate=completely engage; sraddadhänäh=with faith; mat-paramäh=taking Me, the Supreme Lord, as
    everything; bhaktäh=devotees; te=they; ativa=very, very; me=to Me; priyäh=dear.
  2. “fixing the mind on Me”
  3. “this religion of eternal engagement

Related Articles