The Bhagavad Gita Interpreted - Part 12

Arjuna said:

—Some worship God by Your name, the one manifest in Your creation. Others worship God beyond all names as the transcendent unmanifest. Between these two paths, which is the best way to Your presence?

Krishna said:

—Those who love Me above and beyond all others, who are devoted to Me, who know Me without doubt or hesitation, follow My way and reach Me. And those who worship Me as the transcendent unmanifest and who restrain their senses, caring for the highest and the lowest, the best and the worst without preference or prejudice, they also reach Me.

—Yet of these two paths, those who worship Me as the infinite, everywhere present, immortal transcendent, their way is more difficult. Not knowing My name, not recognizing My station, how will they find Me, their ineffable goal? I am manifest among the manifest that they might more easily comprehend Me, and love Me above and beyond all others. In My manifest form, they find in Me deliverance from death. I am their manifest way.

—Turn your thoughts to Me alone and you will find the best of shelters. If this is not possible, if your thoughts stray, continue My practice and your thoughts may yet be tamed. If this is not possible, offer your every action to Me and you may yet attain Me. If this is not possible, be devoted to Me, restrain your senses, and renounce the fruit of your every action. Knowledge is superior to study. Meditation is superior to knowledge. But transcending meditation is the renunciation of the fruit of all action. And in renunciation you will find peace and contentment.

—I love him who is without hatred or arrogance, who is equitable to all, who feels compassion, who is detached from the lures of possession, who is untouched by happiness or sorrow, who is patient and satisfied, self-restrained and resolute, focused, dedicating his every thought to Me.

—I cherish him who neither disturbs the world or is disturbed by it, who is unmoved by joy or misery, who is tolerant, unafraid and untormented.

—I bless him who relies on nothing except Me, who is pure and chaste, who is detached and untroubled, who renounces the fruit of all action.

—I delight in him who relinquishes wrath and joy, who rejects sadness and desire, transcending good and evil.

—I treasure him who is equitable to friend and enemy, who is unmoved by glory or abasement, untouched by heat or cold, who restrains his passions, who sees praise or blame with the same eye, contented with his state, who regards not the world as his home, who is focused and devoted.

—Of all these, I love him the most who is faithful to Me, his thoughts ever fixed on Me, who does not hesitate but drinks from the camphor fountain of My Law.