In Bhagavad Gita 12.1, Arjuna asks which are better versed in yoga: devotees who worship Krishna with form, ever steadfast, or those who worship the imperishable unmanifest.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
एवं सततयुक्ता ये
भक्तास्त्वां पर्युपासते
ये चाप्यक्षरमव्यक्तं
तेषां के योगवित्तमाः ॥ १२-१ ॥
evaṃ satatayuktā ye
bhaktāstvāṃ paryupāsate
ye cāpyakṣaramavyaktaṃ
teṣāṃ ke yogavittamāḥ
English transliteration evam satatayuktaa ye
bhaktaastvaam paryupaasate
ye chaapyaksharamavyaktam
teshaam ke yogavittamaah ॥ 12.1 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Arjuna said: Those devotees who, ever steadfast, worship You in this way, and those who worship the Imperishable, the Unmanifest: which of these have the better knowledge of yoga?
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| एवम् evam | in this way |
| सततयुक्ताः satatayuktāḥ | ever steadfast satata (ever) + yuktāḥ (steadfast) |
| ये ye | who |
| भक्ताः bhaktāḥ | devotees |
| त्वाम् tvām | You |
| पर्युपासते paryupāsate | worship |
| ये ye | who |
| च ca | and |
| अपि api | also |
| अक्षरम् akṣaram | the Imperishable |
| अव्यक्तम् avyaktam | the Unmanifest |
| तेषाम् teṣām | of them |
| के ke | which |
| योगवित्तमाः yogavittamāḥ | have the better knowledge of yoga yoga (yoga) + vittamāḥ (best knowers) |
Word-wise Chanting
- e–vaṃ sa–ta–ta–yuk–tā ye 8 syllables e-vam sa-ta-ta-yuk-taa ye
- bhak–tās–tvāṃ par–yu–pā–sa–te | 8 syllables bhak-taas-tvaam par-yu-paa-sa-te
- ye cāp–ya–kṣa–ra–mav–yak–taṃ 8 syllables ye chaap-ya-ksha-ra-mav-yak-tam
- te–ṣāṃ ke yo–ga–vit–ta–māḥ || 12-1 8 syllables te-shaam ke yo-ga-vit-ta-maah
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 12 Verse 1
Context
Chapter 12, the Yoga of Devotion, opens with Arjuna’s question after the vision of Chapter 11 and the call to devotion in 11.55.
Meaning
Arjuna has seen the Divine with form and has heard of the formless Imperishable. He asks which path is better: devotion to the personal Divine or meditation on the impersonal, unmanifest Absolute.
This is one of the great questions of spiritual life. Krishna’s answer will honour both paths while showing which is easier for most people.
In Practice
Reflect on whether you feel drawn more to the Divine with form or to the formless. Both are valid.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 12: Bhakti Yoga (The Yoga of Devotion). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.