Chapter XII
Krishna teaches the religion of faith and devotion to the revealed and unrevealed divine.
15 argumentative units
- 01Arjuna's Question on Two Paths
Arjuna asks Krishna which path is superior: serving the revealed divine or worshipping the unrevealed, unbodied divine.
- 02Those Who Serve the Revealed Divine Are Most Holy
Krishna states that those who serve him as he reveals himself with constant devotion are the most holy.
- 03Those Who Serve the Unrevealed Divine Also Reach Krishna
Krishna acknowledges that those who worship the unrevealed, invisible, and unthinkable divine—mastering their senses with focused minds—also become blessed souls who come to him.
- 04The Path to the Unrevealed is Difficult for Embodied Beings
Krishna acknowledges that the path to the unmanifest divine is arduous and can scarcely be traversed by those bound in flesh.
- 05Path of Complete Surrender and Devotion Leads to Liberation
Krishna offers an alternative path: whoever renounces self for him, remains devoted and meditative day and night, will be quickly lifted from life's suffering and death.
- 06Direct Exhortation to Cling to Krishna with Heart and Mind
Krishna directly commands Arjuna to cling to him with heart and mind, promising he will dwell with Krishna in the highest state.
- 07Graduated Path for Those of Weak Conviction
Krishna offers a graduated approach for those who cannot maintain constant devotion: lower forms of worship, steadfast will, or laboring for Krishna's sake will also lead to ultimate attainment.
- 08Ultimate Refuge in Surrender and Renunciation
Krishna advises bringing one's failures to him as refuge, renouncing the fruits of labor with a humble heart; this surrender brings the aspirant to him.
- 09Hierarchy: Knowledge, Worship, and Renunciation
Krishna establishes a hierarchy in which worship is superior to mere knowledge, and renunciation is the highest, as it borders on eternal peace.
- 10First Set of Qualities Krishna Loves: Non-violence and Humility
Krishna describes his beloved as one who harbors no hatred for any living being, is benign and compassionate, free from arrogance and self-love, and steadfast in faith.
- 11Second Set of Qualities: Non-disturbance and Equanimity
Krishna loves those who do not trouble others and are not troubled by them, remain free from wrath, and live beyond the swings of gladness, grief, and fear.
- 12Third Set of Qualities: Detachment and Inner Balance
Krishna loves those who dwell in tranquility and serenity, remain well-balanced and unperplexed while working with him, yet remain detached from all actions.
- 13Fourth Set of Qualities: Equanimity in Faith and Circumstance
Krishna loves those fixed in faith who neither dote upon nor scorn anyone, and remain unmoved by the vicissitudes of good and evil fortune.
- 14Fifth Set of Qualities: Perfect Equanimity Toward All Dualities
Krishna loves those who maintain equal hearts toward friends and foes, and equal minds toward shame and glory, heat and cold, pleasure and pain.
- 15Those Most Beloved: Single-Minded Faith and Devotion
Krishna reveals that most beloved are those whose life is lived in single-minded, fervent faith and love, drinking the blessed nectar of his being in unselfconscious devotion.