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Chapter 12 · Devotional Service · 20 verses

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Bhakti & surrenderChapter 12 · Devotional Service

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 12.3

Krishna describes devotional practice and progression

ये त्वक्षरमनिर्देश्यमव्यक्तं पर्युपासते ।

सर्वत्रगमचिन्त्यं च कूटस्थमचलं ध्रुवम् ॥ ३ ॥

सन्नियम्येन्द्रियग्रामं सर्वत्र समबुद्धय: ।

ते प्राप्‍नुवन्ति मामेव सर्वभूतहिते रता: ॥ ४ ॥

ye tv akṣaram anirdeśyam

avyaktaṁ paryupāsate

sarvatra-gam acintyaṁ ca

kūṭa-stham acalaṁ dhruvam

sanniyamyendriya-grāmaṁ

sarvatra sama-buddhayaḥ

te prāpnuvanti mām eva

sarva-bhūta-hite ratāḥ

Translation

But those who fully worship the unmanifested, that which lies beyond the perception of the senses, the all-pervading, inconceivable, unchanging, fixed and immovable – the impersonal conception of the Absolute Truth – by controlling the various senses and being equally disposed to everyone, such persons, engaged in the welfare of all, at last achieve Me.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

The Indirect Path to Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1Those who worship the unmanifested Absolute Truth, control their senses, treat everyone equally and work for everyone's welfare eventually reach Kṛṣṇa.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that this indirect path is very difficult. Perfect realization requires surrender to Kṛṣṇa.
  3. 3Practice sense control and serve others, seeing the soul rather than the outer body.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 12, Devotional Service: krishna describes devotional practice and progression.

What it teaches

Theme summary

Loving service and surrender to Kṛṣṇa.

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Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: bhakti, śaraṇāgati.

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 12.3 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to bhakti & surrender?

Practice

Offer one act today with devotion.

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The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 12 ›
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Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

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