The way of devotion

Between those devotees who, ever disciplined, worship you in this way, and those who worship the Imperishable, the Unmanifest—which of them have the better grasp of yoga?

Those who fix their mind on Me and worship Me, ever disciplined, endowed with supreme faith—these I consider best grounded in yoga.

But those who worship the Imperishable, the Indefinable, the Unmanifest, the Omnipresent, the Unthinkable, the Unchanging, the Immovable, the Constant—restraining the whole company of the senses, even-minded everywhere, devoted to the welfare of all beings—they too reach Me alone.

Greater is the hardship for those whose minds cling to the Unmanifest, for the path of the Unmanifest is difficult for embodied beings to attain.

But those who, surrendering all actions to Me, holding Me as the supreme goal, meditate on Me and worship with undivided yoga—for these, whose minds are fixed on Me, I soon become, Partha, the one who lifts them out of the ocean of death and rebirth.

Set your mind on Me alone, place your buddhi in Me. Then you will live in Me from then on—of this there is no doubt.

If you're unable to hold your mind steadily fixed on Me, then seek to reach Me through the yoga of repeated practice, Dhananjaya.

If you're unable even for such practice, be intent on acting for My sake. Even by performing actions for My sake, you will attain perfection.

If you're unable to do even this, then take refuge in Me and, with self-mastery, renounce the fruit of all action.

Knowledge is indeed better than mere practice; meditation is superior to knowledge; renunciation of the fruit of action surpasses meditation; peace follows immediately upon renunciation.

One who hates no creature, who is friendly and compassionate to all, free from the sense of 'mine' and from egotism, even-minded in pain and pleasure, forbearing, always content, steady in meditation, self-controlled, of firm resolve, with mind and buddhi surrendered to Me—that devotee of Mine is dear to Me.

One by whom the world is not disturbed and who is not disturbed by the world, who is free from joy, impatience, fear, and anxiety—that one is dear to Me.

One who is free from expectation, pure, capable, impartial, untroubled, and has renounced every undertaking—that devotee of Mine is dear to Me.

One who neither rejoices nor hates, neither grieves nor desires, who has renounced both good and evil, full of devotion—that one is dear to Me.

One who is the same toward enemy and friend, and the same in honor and disgrace, the same in heat and cold, pleasure and pain, free from attachment, to whom blame and praise are equal, who is quiet, content with whatever comes, without a fixed home, steady in mind, full of devotion—that person is dear to Me.

And those who follow this immortal dharma just described, endowed with faith, holding Me as the supreme goal, devoted—they are exceedingly dear to Me.