Muni's PlayBhakti Lakshana in Bhagavad Gita (Verses 12.13–20)
In the twelfth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita (Bhakti Yoga), Verses 13 to 20 outline the essential qualities and characteristics (lakṣaṇa) of a perfect devotee (bhakta) who is dear to the Lord.
Verse 12.13
Sanskrit Verse
अद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्रः करुण एव च ।
निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः समदुःखसुखः क्षमी ॥ १२.१३ ॥
Transliteration
adveṣṭā sarva-bhūtānāṃ maitraḥ karuṇa eva ca |
nirmamo nirahaṅkāraḥ sama-duḥkha-sukhaḥ kṣamī || 12.13 ||
English Translation
He who hates no creature, is friendly and compassionate to all, is free from attachment and egoism, is balanced in pleasure and pain, and is forgiving.
Verse 12.14
Sanskrit Verse
सन्तुष्टः सततं योगी यतात्मा दृढनिश्चयः ।
मय्यर्पितमनोबुद्धिर्यो मद्भक्तः स मे प्रियः ॥ १२.१४ ॥
Transliteration
santuṣṭaḥ satataṃ yogī yatātmā dṛḍha-niścayaḥ |
mayy arpita-mano-buddhir yo mad-bhaktaḥ sa me priyaḥ || 12.14 ||
English Translation
Ever content, steady in meditation, self-controlled, possessing firm conviction, with the mind and intellect dedicated to Me, he, My devotee, is dear to Me.
Verse 12.15
Sanskrit Verse
यस्मान्नोद्विजते लोको लोकान्नोद्विजते च यः ।
हर्षामर्षभयोद्वेगैर्मुक्तो यः स च मे प्रियः ॥ १२.१५ ॥
Transliteration
yasmān nodvijate loko lokān nodvijate ca yaḥ |
harṣāmarṣa-bhayodvegair mukto yaḥ sa ca me priyaḥ || 12.15 ||
English Translation
He whom the world does not agitate, and who cannot be agitated by the world, and who is freed from joy, anger, fear, and anxiety—he is dear to Me.
Verse 12.16
Sanskrit Verse
अनपेक्षः शुचिर्दक्ष उदासीनो गतव्यथः ।
सर्वारम्भपरित्यागी यो मद्भक्तः स मे प्रियः ॥ १२.१६ ॥
Transliteration
anapekṣhaḥ śhuchir dakṣha udāsīno gata-vyathaḥ |
sarvārambha-parityāgī yo mad-bhaktaḥ sa me priyaḥ || 12.16 ||
English Translation
He who is free from wants, pure, expert, unconcerned, and free from pain, renouncing all undertakings and commencements, he who is devoted to Me is dear to Me.
Verse 12.17
Sanskrit Verse
यो न हृष्यति न द्वेष्टि न शोचति न काङ्क्षति ।
शुभाशुभपरित्यागी भक्तिमान्यः स मे प्रियः ॥ १२.१७ ॥
Transliteration
yo na hṛiṣhyati na dveṣhṭi na śhochati na kāṅkṣhati |
śhubhāśhubha-parityāgī bhaktimān yaḥ sa me priyaḥ || 12.17 ||
English Translation
He who neither rejoices nor hates, nor grieves nor desires, renouncing both good and evil, and who is full of devotion, is dear to Me.
Verse 12.18
Sanskrit Verse
समः शत्रौ च मित्रे च तथा मानापमानयोः ।
शीतोष्णसुखदुःखेषु समः सङ्गविवर्जितः ॥ १२.१८ ॥
Transliteration
samaḥ śhatrau cha mitre cha tathā mānāpamānayoḥ |
śhītoṣhṇa-sukha-duḥkheṣhu samaḥ saṅga-vivarjitaḥ || 12.18 ||
English Translation
He who is the same to foe and friend, and also in honor and dishonor, who is the same in cold and heat, in pleasure and pain, and who is free from attachment.
Verse 12.19
Sanskrit Verse
तुल्यनिन्दास्तुतिर्मौनी सन्तुष्टो येनकेनचित् ।
अनिकेतः स्थिरमतिर्भक्तिमान्मे प्रियो नरः ॥ १२.१९ ॥
Transliteration
tulya-nindā-stutir maunī santuṣhṭo yena kenachit |
aniketaḥ sthira-matir bhaktimān me priyo naraḥ || 12.19 ||
English Translation
He to whom censure and praise are equal, who is silent, content with anything, homeless, of a steady mind, and full of devotion; that man is dear to me.
Verse 12.20
Sanskrit Verse
ये तु धर्म्यामृतमिदं यथोक्तं पर्युपासते ।
श्रद्दधाना मत्परमा भक्तास्तेऽतीव मे प्रियाः ॥ १२.२० ॥
Transliteration
ye tu dharmyāmṛitam idaṁ yathoktaṁ paryupāsate |
śhraddadhānā mat-paramā bhaktās te ’tīva me priyāḥ || 12.20 ||
English Translation
They who follow this immortal Dharma, endowed with faith and regarding Me as their supreme goal, are exceedingly dear to Me.
Reference Chapters
- Chapter link: Gita Chapter 12
- Gita Index: Bhagavad Gita