In Bhagavad Gita 12.14, Krishna says that the yogi who is ever content, self-controlled, firm in resolve, with mind and intellect offered to him, is his devotee and dear to him.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
सन्तुष्टः सततं योगी
यतात्मा दृढनिश्चयः
मय्यर्पितमनोबुद्धिर्
यो मद्भक्तः स मे प्रियः ॥ १२-१४ ॥
santuṣṭaḥ satataṃ yogī
yatātmā dṛḍhaniścayaḥ
mayyarpitamanobuddhir
yo madbhaktaḥ sa me priyaḥ
English transliteration santushtah satatam yogee
yataatmaa dridhanishchayah
mayyarpitamanobuddhir
yo madbhaktah sa me priyah ॥ 12.14 ॥
Translation / Meaning
ever content, a yogi, self-controlled, firm in resolve, with mind and intellect offered to Me: such a devotee is dear to Me.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| सन्तुष्टः santuṣṭaḥ | content |
| सततम् satatam | ever |
| योगी yogī | a yogi |
| यतात्मा yatātmā | self-controlled yata (controlled) + ātmā (self) |
| दृढनिश्चयः dṛḍhaniścayaḥ | firm in resolve dṛḍha (firm) + niścayaḥ (resolve) |
| मयि mayi | to Me |
| अर्पितमनोबुद्धिः arpitamanobuddhiḥ | with mind and intellect offered arpita (offered) + manaḥ (mind) + buddhiḥ (intellect) |
| यः yaḥ | who |
| मद्भक्तः madbhaktaḥ | My devotee |
| सः saḥ | he |
| मे me | to Me |
| प्रियः priyaḥ | dear |
Word-wise Chanting
- san–tuṣ–ṭaḥ sa–ta–taṃ yo–gī 8 syllables san-tush-tah sa-ta-tam yo-gee
- ya–tāt–mā dṛ–ḍha–niś–ca–yaḥ | 8 syllables ya-taat-maa dri-dha-nish-cha-yah
- may–yar–pi–ta–ma–no–bud–dhir– 8 syllables may-yar-pi-ta-ma-no-bud-dhir-
- yo mad–bhak–taḥ sa me pri–yaḥ || 12-14 8 syllables yo mad-bhak-tah sa me pri-yah
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 14
Context
The description of the dear devotee continues (12.13–12.20).
Meaning
The devotee is santuṣṭa, contented with whatever comes; yatātmā, self-disciplined; dṛḍha-niścaya, firm in conviction; and has offered both mind and intellect to the Divine. Such a person is priya, dear, to the Divine.
The refrain “dear to Me” runs through these verses. They describe not what earns God’s love, which is given to all, but the qualities in which that love is fully received.
In Practice
Practise contentment today: accept one situation as it is without complaint.
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.