The Devotional Path—Bhakti Yoga according to THE GITA

N K Srinivasan

The Bhagavad Gita---the song of the Lord ---Krishna’s talks to Arjuna here ---contains Bhakti Yoga –the path of devotion –in Chapter 12.

In this chapter, the verses 1 to 5 tells us that it is easy to worship a god with form compared to worshipping a formless , Impersonal God. Lord Krishna says that it is difficult for lay people with body consciousness , attached to senses ,to worship a formless god…therefore worshipping a God with form is not only permitted ,but easy for most of us.

Swami Sivananda wrote: “Bhakti yoga is much easier than Jnana yoga or the Yoga of knowledge.In Bhakti yoga, the devotee establishes a near and dear relationship with the Lord.”.

Then Lord Krishna urges Arjuna to worship him, Lord Krishna himself, the friend and counselor for Arjuna….Now Lord Krishna is not just a friend, but Guru as well. It follows that we can worship any God or Ishta Devata or favourite deity , just as Arjuna is asked to worship Krishna.With this background , let us see the next set of verses: verses 6 to 12.These verses contain the devotional path in simple terms from the mouth of Lord Krishna.He expounds several means ,each easier than the previous one---in a graded manner.

Verses 6 & 7

Those who worship me, resigning all actions to Me, regarding Me as the Supreme Goal, meditating on Me with single-minded devotion[yoga] --- to those whose mind is set on Me, verily, I become, before long,O Arjuna, the saviour out of the Ocean of the mortal cycle of birth and death[Samsara]

The lord emphasizes single-minded devotion, resigning all actions to Him, with concentration of mind. This is ,indeed, a difficult path.[This is called ‘ananya yoga”..unswerving,steadfast devotion.]

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Verse 8Fix thy mind on Me only; place thy intellect [buddhi] in Me; then thou shalt no doubt live in Me hereafter.

Here the Lord promises that the devotee will abide with the Lord for ever.There is no question of birth again, unless ordained by God for specific mission on Earth.One has to keep the mind focused always on the Lord…this is devotion by practicing the presence of the Lord…”Constant remembrance of the Lord”, as extolled by Sufis and by Brother Lawrence.

Verse 9If thou art unable to fix thy mind steadily on me, then by steady practice or Abhyasa Yoga ,do thous seek to reach Me, O Arjuna.

Devotional path requires steady practices of devotion.This may include a lot of rituals too. These control and purify your mind ,leading to single-minded devotion. This practice includes japa [chanting,telling the beads],pooja [worship],prayer, sankirtan[singing hymns] and so on.[Narada’s bhakti sutras elaborate on this.]

Verse 10 If also thou art unable to practice Abhyasa Yoga, be thou intent on doing actions for My sake. By this you shall attain perfection.

Do actions for the sake of the Lord. You are an instrument in the hands of God;you are His servant.

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Mother Teresa always felt that she was the instrument of God, servant of Jesus Christ; she told that she was a small pencil in the hand of God.Numerous saints have gained utmost devotion by this expediency of being a humble servant /slave of the Lord.Swami Sivananda wrote: Serving humanity with ‘Narayana bhava” [feeling that one is serving the Lord in all] is also doing actions for the service of the Lord.”

Verse 11

If thou art unable to do even this, then taking refuge in Me, abandon the fruit of all action, being self-controlled.

The Lord finally tells us the easiest method---do work ,but give up all fruits or results to the lord…This is karma yoga told again in the context of Bhakti marga.{renounce the fruits of labor—karma-phala-tyaga,emphasized again and again by Lord Krishna---an essential teaching in the Gita}The Lord calls this “madyogam”—union with Me. He exhorts one to follow this yoga as the easiest path.

Verse 12Better indeed is knowledge, than Abhysa; meditation with knowledge is more esteemed than mere knowledge; better than meditation, the renunciation of the fruit of action; peace immediately follows renunciation.This verse is like a summary.The Lord brings out the hierarchy of practices, with decreasing difficulty for lay people: Knowledge abhyasa meditation renounce the fruit of action

From Jnana yoga to raja yoga to bhakti to karma -----all with devotion to the Lord or Your Ishta devata.Lord Krishna clearly expounds on the path of devotion with different levels of difficulty for lay people.

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-------Sarvam Krishnarpanam astu--------------

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