Bhakti Yoga
The Yoga of Devotion
Arjuna asks whether it is better to worship the personal form of God or the impersonal, unmanifested Brahman. Krishna declares that devotion to His personal form (Bhakti Yoga) is the easiest and most direct path to union with Him. He then describes the qualities of a true devotee.
अद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्रः करुण एव च | निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः समदुःखसुखः क्षमी ||13|| सन्तुष्टः सततं योगी यतात्मा दृढनिश्चयः | मय्यर्पितमनोबुद्धिर्यो मद्भक्तः स मे प्रियः ||14||
One who is not envious but is a kind friend to all living entities, who does not think himself a proprietor and is free from false ego, who is equal in both happiness and distress, who is tolerant, always satisfied, self-controlled, and engaged in devotional service with determination, his mind and intelligence fixed on Me—such a devotee of Mine is very dear to Me.
Transliteration
adveṣhṭā sarva-bhūtānāṁ maitraḥ karuṇa eva cha | nirmamo nirahankāraḥ sama-duḥkha-sukhaḥ kṣhamī ||13|| santuṣhṭaḥ satataṁ yogī yatātmā dṛiḍha-niśhchayaḥ | mayy-arpita-mano-buddhir yo mad-bhaktaḥ sa me priyaḥ ||14||
Commentary
In these verses, Krishna outlines the characteristics of a pure devotee who is very dear to Him. These qualities include compassion, lack of ego, equanimity, contentment, and unwavering devotion. They provide a clear model for spiritual aspirants to emulate.