Srimad Bhagavadgita -Ramsukhdas 1153

Srimad Bhagavadgita Sadhaka Sanjivani -Swami Ramsukhdas

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Chapter 12
INTRODUCTION

Lord Krsna, in the thirty-third and the thirty-fourth verses of the fourth chapter, explained the superiority of the path of knowledge (wisdom), and exhorted Arjuna to gain knowledge. Then He explained, the glory of knowledge. After that, He explained the importance of worship of the Supreme, Who is attributeless and formless, in the sixteenth and the seventeenth verses, and from the twenty-fourth to the twenty-sixth verses of the fifth chapter, from the twenty-fourth to the twenty-eighth verses of the sixth chapter and from the eleventh to the thirteenth verses of the eighth chapter. In the forty-seventh verse of the sixth chapter, He explained the glory of a devotee. From the seventh chapter to the eleventh chapter, He time. and again through the terms 'Aham (I) and 'Mam' (me) specially, laid emphasis on the importance of worship of God, Who is endowed with attributes and form, and also is endowed with attributes, but is formless. At last, in the fifty-fourth and fifty-fifth verses of the eleventh chapter, He glorified exclusive devotion, and its fruit.[1]।Having heard the above description, Arjuna had a curiosity to know, which of the devotees—of those who worship God with attributes, or those who worship the unmanifested, attributeless Brahma, is better. So he puts the question

arjuna uvaca

evatit satatayukta ye bhaktastvath paryupasate ye
capyaksaramavyaktam tesam ke yogavittamah

Arjuna said:-
Those devotees who, ever steadfast, thus worship Thee (Saguna) and those again, who worship only the Imperishable and the Unmanifest (Nirguna) which of them are better versed in Yoga? 1
Comment:-
Evam satatayukta ye bhaktah:—The expression 'Ye bhaktah' (those devotees) stands, for the same striver for whom 'Yah' (who) and 'Sub' (he) terms, have been used by the Lord in the fifty-fifth verse of the eleventh chapter. Such strivers, worship God, Who is endowed with attributes and form.

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References

  1. Before this chapter in the following verses, there is a description of the devotees who worship the lord, with form.
    Chapter Post Meaning
    6 47 He fall of faith worships Me with his inner self abiding in Me.
    7 1 The mind intent on Me practising Yoga and raking refuge in Me.
    7 29-30 They strive taking refuge in Me of steadfast in mind.
    8 7 With mind and intellect fixed in Me.
    8 14 He constantly remembers Me with single-minded devotion.
    9 14 They firm in vows worship Me with steadfast devotion.
    9 22 They worship Me alone thinking of no one else.
    9 30 Worship Me with exclusive devotion.
    10 9 With their mind and their life wholly absorbed in Me, enlightening each other.
    1 55 He performs all acdons for Me, he is devoted to Me and he depends on Me. In the following verses before this chapter there is the description of the devotees who worship formless God.
    4 34 Know that (knowledge of the self) by prostration, by question, by service.
    4 39 The man who is full of faith obtains that knowledge.
    5 8 Sankhyayogi who knows the truth (reality) thinks, " I do nothing at all."
    5 13 Neither acting nor causing others to act.
    5 24-26 Attains Brahma Nirvana (beatitude of God).
    6 25 Having established the mind in the self or in God
    8 11 The Supreme Being who is declared Imperishable by those who know to the Vedas.
    8 13 Uttering the mono-syllabled Om, the Brahma and remembering Me.
    9 15 Others worship Me in My absolute formless aspect.