Bhagavad Gita (with commentary) · Chapter 12

iti śrīmat-paramahaṃsa-parivrājakācāryasya śrī-govinda-bhagavat-pūjya-pāda-
śiṣyasya śrīmac-chaṃkara-bhagavataḥ kṛtau śrīmad-bhagavad-gītā-bhāṣye
ekādaśo 'dhyāyaḥ ||11||
BhG 12
atha bhakti-yogo nāma dvādaśo 'dhyāyaḥ
(śrī-śaṅkarācārya-bhagavat-pāda-kṛta-bhāṣyam)
dvitīyādhyāya-prabhṛtiṣu vibhūty-anteṣu adhyāyeṣu paramātmano brahmaṇo 'kṣarasya vidhvasta-sarvopādhi-viśeṣasyopāsanam uktam | sarva-yogaiśvarya-sarva-jñāna-śaktimat-sattvopādher īśvarasya tatra copāsanaṃ tatra tatroktam | viśva-rūpādhyāye tv aiśvaram ādyaṃ samasta-jagad-ātma-rūpaṃ viśva-rūpaṃ tvadīyaṃ darśitam upāsanārtham eva tvayā | tac ca darśayitvā uktavān asi mat-karma-kṛd [Gītā 11.55] ity ādi | ato 'ham anayor ubhayoḥ pakṣayor viśiṣṭatara-bubhutsayā tvāṃ pṛcchāmīty arjuna uvāca -
evaṃ satata-yuktā ye bhaktās tvāṃ paryupāsate |
ye cāpy akṣaram avyaktaṃ teṣāṃ ke yoga-vittamāḥ

evam ity atītānantara-lokena uktam arthaṃ parāmṛśati mat-karma-kṛd ity ādinā | evaṃ satata-yuktāḥ, nairantaryeṇa bhagavat-karmādau yathokte 'rthe samāhitāḥ santaḥ pravṛttā ity arthaḥ | ye bhaktā ananya-śaraṇāḥ santas tvāṃ yathā-darśitaṃ viśva-rūpaṃ paryupāsate dhyāyanti | ye cānye 'pi tyakta-sarveṣaṇāḥ saṃnyasta-sarva-karmāṇo yathā-viśeṣitaṃ brahmākṣaraṃ nirasta-sarvopādhitvād avyaktam akaraṇa-gocaram | yad dhi karaṇa-gocaraṃ tad vyaktam ucyate, añjer dhātos tat-karmakatvāt | idaṃ tv akṣaraṃ tad-viparītam, śiṣṭau ca ucyamānair viśeṣaṇair viśiṣṭam, tad ye cāpi paryupāsate, teṣām ubhayeṣāṃ madhye ke yogi-vittamāḥ ? ke 'tiśayena yoga-vida ity arthaḥ

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śrī-bhagavān uvāca - ye tv akṣaropāsakāḥ samyag-darśino nivṛttaiṣaṇās te tāvat tiṣṭhantu | tān prati yad vaktavyam, tad upariṣṭād vakṣyāmaḥ | ye tv itare -
mayy āveśya mano ye māṃ nitya-yuktā upāsate |
śraddhayā parayopetās te me yuktatamā matāḥ

mayi viśva-rūpe parameśvara āveśya samādhāya mano ye bhaktāḥ santaḥ, māṃ sarva-yoge varāṇām adhīśvaraṃ sarvajñaṃ vimukta-rāgādi-kleśa-timira-dṛṣṭim, nitya-yuktā atītānantarādhyāyāntokta-ślokārtha-nyāyena satata-yuktāḥ santa upāsate śraddhayā parayā prakṛṣṭayopetāḥ, te me mama matā abhipretā yuktatamā iti | nairantaryeṇa hi te mac-cittatayāho-rātram ativāhayanti | ato yuktaṃ tān prati yuktatamā iti vaktum

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kim itare yuktatamā na bhavanti ? na | kiṃtu tān prati yad vaktavyam, tac chṛṇu -
ye tv akṣaram anirdeśyam avyaktaṃ paryupāsate |
sarvatra-gam acintyaṃ ca kūṭastham acalaṃ dhruvam

ye tv akṣaram anirdeśyam, avyaktatvād aśabda-gocareti na nirdeṣṭuṃ śakyate, ato 'nirdeśyam | avyaktaṃ na kenāpi pramāṇena vyajyata ity avyaktaṃ paryupāsate pari samantād upāsate | upāsanaṃ nāma yathā-śāstram upāsyasyārthasya viṣayī-karaṇena sāmīpyam upagamya taila-dhārāvat samāna-pratyaya-pravāheṇa dīrgha-kālaṃ yad āsanam, tad upāsanam ācakṣate | akṣarasya viśeṣaṇam āha - sarvatra-gaṃ vyomavad vyāpy acintyaṃ cāvyaktatvād acintyam | yad dhi karaṇa-gocaram, tan manasāpi cintyam, tad-viparītatvād acintyam akṣaram, kūṭa-sthaṃ dṛśyamāna-guṇam antar-doṣaṃ vastu kūṭam | kūṭa-rūpam kūṭa-sākṣyam ity ādau kūṭa-śabdaḥ prasiddho loke | tathā cāvidyādy-aneka-saṃsāra-bījam antar-doṣavan māyā-vyākṛtādi-śabda-vācyatayā māyāṃ tu prakṛtiṃ vidyān māyinaṃ
tu maheśvaram [ŚvetU 4.10], mama māyā duratyayā [Gītā 7.14] ity ādau prasiddhaṃ yat tat kūṭam, tasmin kūṭe sthitaṃ kūṭa-sthaṃ tad-adhyakṣatayā | athavā, rāśir iva sthitaṃ kūṭa-stham ata evācalam | yasmād acalam, tasmād dhruvam, nityam ity arthaḥ

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saṃniyamyendriya-grāmaṃ sarvatra sama-buddhayaḥ |
te prāpnuvanti mām eva sarva-bhūta-hite ratāḥ

saṃniyamya samyak niyamya upasaṃhṛtya indriya-grāmam indriya-samudāyaṃ sarvatra sarvasmin kāle sama-buddhayaḥ samā tulyā buddhir yeṣām iṣṭāniṣṭa-prāptau te sama-buddhayaḥ | te ye evaṃ-vidhās te prāpnuvanti mām eva sarva-bhūta-hite ratāḥ | na tu teṣāṃ vaktavyaṃ kiṃcit māṃ te prāpnuvantīti | jñānī tv ātmaiva me matam iti hy uktam | na hi bhagavat-svarūpāṇāṃ satāṃ yuktatamatvam ayuktatamatvaṃ vā vācyam

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kiṃ tu -
kleśo 'dhikataras teṣām avyaktāsakta-cetasām |
avyaktā hi gatir duḥkhaṃ dehavadbhir avāpyate

kleśo 'dhikataraḥ | yadyapi mat-karmādi-parāṇāṃ kleśo 'dhika eva | kleśo 'dhikataras tv akṣarātmanāṃ paramārtha-darśināṃ dehābhimāna-parityāga-nimittaḥ | avyaktāsakta-cetasām avyakta āsaktaṃ ceto yeṣāṃ te 'vyaktāsakta-cetasas teṣām avyaktāsakta-cetasām | avyaktā hi yasmād yā gatir akṣarātmikā duḥkhaṃ sā dehavadbhir dehābhimānavadbhir avāpyate | ataḥ kleśo 'dhikataraḥ | akṣaropāsakānāṃ yad vartanam, tad upariṣṭād vakṣyāmaḥ

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ye tu sarvāṇi karmāṇi mayi saṃnyasya mat-parāḥ |
ananyenaiva yogena māṃ dhyāyanta upāsate

ye tu sarvāṇi karmāṇi mayīśvare saṃnyasya mat-parā ahaṃ paro yeṣāṃ te mat-parāḥ santo 'nanyenaivāvidyamānam anyat ālambanaṃ viśva-rūpaṃ devam ātmānaṃ muktvā yasya so 'nanyas tenānanyenaiva | kena ? yogena samādhinā māṃ dhyāyantaś cintayanta upāsate

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teṣāṃ kim ? -
teṣām ahaṃ samuddhartā mṛtyu-saṃsāra-sāgarāt |
bhavāmi nacirāt pārtha mayy āveśita-cetasām

teṣāṃ mad-upāsanaika-parāṇām aham īśvaraḥ samuddhartā | kutaḥ ? ity āha - mṛtyu-saṃsāra-sāgarān mṛtyu-yuktaḥ saṃsāro mṛtyu-saṃsāraḥ, sa eva sāgara iva sāgaraḥ, dustaratvāt, tasmāt mṛtyu-saṃsāra-sāgarāt ahaṃ teṣāṃ samuddhartā bhavāmi na cirāt | kiṃ tarhi ? kṣipram eva he pārtha, mayi āveśita-cetasāṃ mayi viśva-rūpa āveśitaṃ samāhitaṃ ceto yeṣāṃ te mayy āveśita-cetasas teṣām

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yata evam, tasmāt -
mayy eva mana ādhatsva mayi buddhiṃ niveśaya |
nivasiṣyasi mayy eva ata ūrdhvaṃ na saṃśayaḥ

mayy eva viśva-rūpa īśvare manaḥ saṃkalpa-vikalpātmakaṃ ādhatsva sthāpaya | mayy evādhyavasāyaṃ kurvatīṃ buddhim ādhatsva niveśaya | tatas te kiṃ syād iti sṛṇu - nivasiṣyasi nivatsyasi niścayena mad-ātmanā mayi nivāsaṃ kariṣyasi | evātaḥ śarīra-pātād ūrdhvam | na saṃśayaḥ, saṃśayo 'tra na kartavyaḥ

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atha cittaṃ samādhātuṃ na śaknoṣi mayi sthiram |
abhyāsa-yogena tato mām icchāptuṃ dhanañjaya

atha evaṃ yathāvocaṃ tathā mayi cittaṃ samādhātuṃ sthāpayituṃ sthiram acalaṃ na śaknoṣi cet, tataḥ paścād abhyāsa-yogena | cittasyaikasmin ālambane sarvataḥ samāhṛtya punaḥ punaḥ sthāpanam abhyāsaḥ | tat-pūrvako yogaḥ samādhāna-lakṣaṇas tenābhyāsa-yogena māṃ viśva-rūpam iccha prārthayasva āptuṃ prāptum | he dhanañjaya

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abhyāse 'py asamartho 'si mat-karma-paramo bhava |
mad-artham api karmāṇi kurvan siddhim avāpsyasi

abhyāse 'py asamartho 'sy aśakto 'si, tarhi mat-karma-paramo bhava mad-arthaṃ karma mat-karma tat-paramaḥ mat-karma-paramaḥ, mat-karma-pradhāna ity arthaḥ | abhyāsena vinā mad-artham api karmāṇi kevalaṃ kurvan siddhiṃ sattva-śuddhi-yoga-jñāna-prāpti-dvāreṇāvāpsyasi

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athaitad apy aśakto 'si kartuṃ mad-yogam āśritaḥ |
sarva-karma-phala-tyāgaṃ tataḥ kuru yatātmavān

atha punar etad api yad uktaṃ mat-karma-paramatvam, tat kartum aśakto 'si, mad-yogam, āśrito mayi kriyamāṇāni karmāṇi saṃnyasya yat karaṇaṃ teṣām anuṣṭhānaṃ sa mad-yogaḥ, tam āśritaḥ san, sarva-karma-phala-tyāgaṃ sarveṣāṃ karmaṇāṃ phala-saṃnyāsaṃ sarva-karma-phala-tyāgaṃ tato 'nantaraṃ kuru yatātmavān saṃyata-cittaḥ san ity arthaḥ

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idānīṃ sarva-karma-phala-tyāgaṃ stauti -
śreyo hi jñānam abhyāsāj jñānād dhyānaṃ viśiṣyate |
dhyānāt karma-phala-tyāgas tyāgāc chāntir anantaram

śreyo hi praśasyataraṃ jñānam | kasmāt ? viveka-pūrvakād abhyāsāt | tasmād api jñānāj jñāna-pūrvakaṃ dhyānaṃ viśiṣyate | jñānavato dhyānād api karma-phala-tyāgo viśiṣyata ity anuṣajyate | evaṃ karma-phala-tyāgāt pūrva-viśeṣaṇavataḥ śāntir upaśamaḥ sa-hetukasya saṃsārasyānantaram eva syāt, na tu kālāntaram apekṣate |
ajñasya karmaṇi pravṛttasya pūrvopadiṣṭopāyānuṣṭhānāśaktau sarva-karmaṇāṃ phala-tyāgaḥ śreyaḥ-sādhanam upadiṣṭam, na prathamam eva | ataś ca śreyo hi jñānam abhyāsād ity uttarottara-viśiṣṭatvopadeśena sarva-karma-phala-tyāgaḥ stūyate, saṃpanna-sādhanānuṣṭhānāśaktau anuṣṭheyatvena śrutatvāt | kena sādharmyeṇa stutitvam ? yadā sarve pramucyanta iti sarva-kāma-prahāṇād amṛtatvam uktam | tat prasiddham | kāmāś ca sarve śrauta-smārta-karmaṇāṃ phalāni | tat-tyāge ca viduṣo dhyāna-niṣṭhasyānantaraiva śāntir iti sarva-kāma-tyāga-sāmānyam ajña-karma-phala-tyāgasyāstīti tat-sāmānyāt sarva-karma-phala-tyāga-stutir iyaṃ prarocanārthā | yathāgastyena brāhmaṇena samudraḥ pīta itīdānīṃtanā api brāhmaṇā brāhmaṇatva-sāmānyāt stūyante, evaṃ karma-phala-tyāgāt
karma-yogasya śreyaḥ sādhanatvam abhihitam

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atra cātmeśvara-bhedam āśritya viśva-rūpa īśvare cetaḥ-samādhāna-lakṣaṇo yoga uktaḥ, īśvarārthaṃ karmānuṣṭhānādi ca | athaitad apy aśakto 'si [Gītā 12.11] ity ajñāna-kārya-sūcanān nābheda-darśino 'kṣaropāsakasya karma-yoga upapadyata iti darśayati | tathā karma-yogino 'kṣaropāsanānupapattim | te prāpnuvanti mām eva [Gītā 12.4] ity akṣaropāsakānāṃ kaivalya-prāptau svātantryam uktvā, itareṣāṃ pāratantryād īśvarādhīnatāṃ darśitavān teṣām ahaṃ samuddhartā [Gītā 12.7] iti | yadi hīśvarasyātma-bhūtās te matā abheda-darśitvāt, akṣara-svarūpā eva ta iti samuddharaṇa-karma-vacanaṃ tān praty apeśalaṃ syāt | yasmāc cārjunasyātyantam eva hitaiṣī bhagavān tasya samyag-darśanānanvitaṃ karma-yogaṃ bheda-dṛṣṭimantam eva upadiśati | na cātmānam īśvaraṃ pramāṇato
buddhvā kasyacid guṇa-bhāvaṃ jigamiṣati kaścid, virodhāt | tasmād akṣaropāsakānāṃ samyag darśana-niṣṭhānāṃ saṃnyāsināṃ tyakta-sarveṣaṇānām adveṣṭā sarva-bhūtānām ity ādi-dharma-pūgaṃ sākṣād amṛtatva-kāraṇaṃ vakṣyāmīti pravartate -
adveṣṭā sarva-bhūtānāṃ maitraḥ karuṇa eva ca |
nirmamo nirahaṃkāraḥ sama-duḥkha-sukhaḥ kṣamī

adveṣṭā sarva-bhūtānāṃ na dveṣṭā, ātmano duḥkha-hetum api na kiṃcid dveṣṭi, sarvāṇi bhūtāny ātmatvena hi paśyati | maitro mitra-bhāvo maitrī mitratayā vartata iti maitraḥ | karuṇa eva ca, karuṇā kṛpā duḥkhiteṣu dayā, tadvān karuṇaḥ, sarva-bhūtābhaya-pradaḥ, saṃnyāsīty arthaḥ | nirmamo mama-pratyaya-varjitaḥ | nirahaṃkāro nirgatāhaṃ-pratyayaḥ | sama-duḥkha-sukhaḥ same duḥkha-sukhe dveṣa-rāgayor apravartake yasya sa sama-duḥkha-sukhaḥ | kṣamī kṣamāvān, ākruṣṭo 'bhihato vāvikriya evāste

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saṃtuṣṭaḥ satataṃ yogī yatātmā dṛḍha-niścayaḥ |
mayy arpita-mano-buddhir yo mad-bhaktaḥ sa me priyaḥ

saṃtuṣṭaḥ satataṃ nityaṃ deha-sthiti-kāraṇasya lābhe 'lābhe ca utpannālaṃ-pratyayaḥ | tathā guṇaval-lābhe viparyaye ca saṃtuṣṭaḥ | satataṃ yogī samāhita-cittaḥ | yatātmā saṃyata-svabhāvaḥ | dṛḍha-niścayo dṛḍhaḥ sthiro niścayo 'dhyavasāyo yasyātma-tattva-viṣaye sa dṛḍha-niścayaḥ | mayy arpita-mano-buddhiḥ saṃkalpa-vikalpātmakaṃ manaḥ, adhyavasāya-lakṣaṇā buddhiḥ, te mayy evārpite sthāpite yasya saṃnyāsinaḥ sa mayy arpita-mano-buddhiḥ | ya īdṛśo mad-bhaktaḥ sa me priyaḥ | priyo hi jñānino 'ty artham ahaṃ sa ca mama priya iti saptame 'dhyāye sūcitam, tad iha prapañcyate

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yasmān nodvijate loko lokān nodvijate ca yaḥ |
harṣāmarṣa-bhayodvegair mukto yaḥ sa ca me priyaḥ

yasmāt saṃnyāsino nodvijate nodvegaṃ gacchati na santapyate na saṃkṣubhyati lokaḥ, tathā lokān nodvijate ca yaḥ, harṣāmarṣa-bhayodvegair harṣaś cāmarṣaś ca bhayaṃ codvegaś ca tair harṣāmarṣa-bhayodvegair muktaḥ | harṣaḥ priya-lābhe 'ntaḥ-karaṇasyotkarṣo romāñcanāśrupātādi-liṅgaḥ | amarṣo 'sahiṣṇutā | bhayaṃ trāsaḥ | udvega udvignatā | tair mukto yaḥ sa ca me priyaḥ

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anapekṣaḥ śucir dakṣa udāsīno gata-vyathaḥ |
sarvārambha-parityāgī yo mad-bhaktaḥ sa me priyaḥ

dehendriya-viṣaya-saṃbandhādiṣu apekṣā-viṣayeṣu anapekṣo niḥspṛhaḥ | śucir bāhyena ābhyantareṇa ca śaucena saṃpannaḥ | dakṣaḥ pratyutpanneṣu kāryeṣu sadyo yathāvat pratipattuṃ samarthaḥ | udāsīno na kasyacit mitrādeḥ pakṣaṃ bhajate yaḥ, sa udāsīno yatiḥ | gata-vyatho gata-bhayaḥ | sarvārambha-parityāgī ārabhyanteti | ārambhā ihāmutra-phala-bhogārthāni kāma-hetūni karmāṇi sarvārambhāḥ, tān parityaktuṃ śīlam asyeti sarvārambha-parityāgī yaḥ mad-bhaktaḥ saḥ me priyaḥ

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kiṃ ca -
yo na hṛṣyati na dveṣṭi na śocati na kāṅkṣati |
śubhāśubha-parityāgī bhaktimān yaḥ sa me priyaḥ

yo na hṛṣyatīṣṭa-prāptau, na dveṣṭy aniṣṭa-prāptau, na śocati priya-viyoge, na cāprāptaṃ kāṅkṣati, śubhāśubhe karmaṇī parityaktuṃ śīlam asyeti śubhāśubha-parityāgī bhaktimān yaḥ sa me priyaḥ

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samaḥ śatrau ca mitre ca tathā mānāpamānayoḥ |
śītoṣṇa-sukha-duḥkheṣu samaḥ saṅga-vivarjitaḥ

samaḥ śatrau ca mitre ca, tathā mānāpamānayoḥ pūjā-paribhavayoḥ, śītoṣṇa-sukha-duḥkheṣu samaḥ | sarvatra ca saṅga-vivarjitaḥ

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kiṃ ca -
tulya-nindā-stutir maunī saṃtuṣṭo yena kenacit |
aniketaḥ sthira-matir bhaktimān me priyo naraḥ

tulya-nindā-stutiḥ | nindā ca stutiś ca nindā-stutī | te tulye yasya sa tulya-nindā-stutiḥ | maunī maunavān saṃyata-vāk | saṃtuṣṭaḥ yena kenacit śarīra-sthiti-hetu-mātreṇa | tathā coktam -
yena kenacid ācchanno yena kenacid āśitaḥ |
yatra kvacana śāyī syāt taṃ devā brāhmaṇaṃ viduḥ || [Mbh 12.245.12] iti |
kiṃ ca, aniketo niketa āśrayo nivāso niyato na vidyate yasya so 'niketaḥ, nāgāre ity ādi-smṛty-antarāt | sthira-matiḥ sthirā paramārtha-viṣayā yasya matiḥ saḥ sthira-matiḥ | bhaktimān me priyo naraḥ

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adveṣṭā sarva-bhūtānām [Gītā 12.13] ity ādinākṣaropāsakānāṃ nivṛtta-sarveṣaṇānāṃ saṃnyāsināṃ paramārtha-jñāna-niṣṭhānāṃ dharma-jātaṃ prakrāntam upasaṃhriyate -
ye tu dharmyāmṛtam idaṃ yathoktaṃ paryupāsate |
śraddadhānā mat-paramā bhaktās te 'tīva me priyāḥ

ye tu saṃnyāsino dharmyāmṛtaṃ dharmād anapetaṃ dharmyaṃ ca tad amṛtaṃ ca tat, amṛtatva-hetutvāt, idaṃ yathoktam, adveṣṭā sarva-bhūtānām ity ādinā paryupāsate 'nutiṣṭhanti śraddadhānāḥ santaḥ mat-paramāḥ yathokto 'ham akṣarātmā paramo niratiśayā gatir yeṣāṃ te mat-paramāḥ, mad-bhaktāś cottamāṃ paramārtha-jñāna-lakṣaṇāṃ bhaktim āśritāḥ, te 'tīva me priyāḥ | priyo hi jñānino 'ty artham [Gītā 7.18] iti yat sūcitaṃ tat vyākhyāyehopasaṃhṛtam bhaktās te 'tīva me priyā iti | yasmād dharmyāmṛtam idaṃ yathoktam anutiṣṭhan bhagavato viṣṇoḥ parameśvarasyātīva priyo bhavati, tasmād idaṃ dharmyāmṛtaṃ mumukṣuṇā yatnato 'nuṣṭheyaṃ viṣṇoḥ priyaṃ paraṃ dhāma jigamiṣuṇeti vākyārthaḥ