In Bhagavad Gita 12.2, Krishna says that those who fix their minds on him, worship him ever steadfast with supreme faith, he considers the most perfect in yoga.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
मय्यावेश्य मनो ये मां
नित्ययुक्ता उपासते
श्रद्धया परयोपेताः
ते मे युक्ततमा मताः ॥ १२-२ ॥
mayyāveśya mano ye māṃ
nityayuktā upāsate
śraddhayā parayopetāḥ
te me yuktatamā matāḥ
English transliteration mayyaaveshya mano ye maam
nityayuktaa upaasate
shraddhayaa parayopetaah
te me yuktatamaa mataah ॥ 12.2 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The Blessed Lord said: Those who fix their minds on Me and worship Me, ever steadfast, endowed with supreme faith, I consider to be the most perfect in yoga.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| मयि mayi | on Me |
| आवेश्य āveśya | fixing |
| मनः manaḥ | mind |
| ये ye | who |
| माम् mām | Me |
| नित्ययुक्ताः nityayuktāḥ | ever steadfast |
| उपासते upāsate | worship |
| श्रद्धया śraddhayā | with faith |
| परया parayā | supreme |
| उपेताः upetāḥ | endowed |
| ते te | they |
| मे me | by Me |
| युक्ततमाः yuktatamāḥ | most perfect in yoga yukta (united) + tamāḥ (most) |
| मताः matāḥ | considered |
Word-wise Chanting
- may–yā–veś–ya ma–no ye māṃ 8 syllables may-yaa-vesh-ya ma-no ye maam
- nit–ya–yuk–tā u–pā–sa–te | 8 syllables nit-ya-yuk-taa u-paa-sa-te
- śrad–dha–yā pa–ra–yo–pe–tāḥ 8 syllables shrad-dha-yaa pa-ra-yo-pe-taah
- te me yuk–ta–ta–mā ma–tāḥ || 12-2 8 syllables te me yuk-ta-ta-maa ma-taah
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 2
Context
Krishna answers Arjuna’s question (12.2–12.7).
Meaning
Krishna’s first answer favours devotion to the personal Divine. Those who āveśya manaḥ, absorb their minds in the Divine, with parā śraddhā, supreme faith, and constant steadiness, are yuktatama, the most perfectly united in yoga.
Devotion engages the whole person, mind, heart and will. Absorption of the mind in a beloved Divine is the most complete form of yoga.
In Practice
Absorb your mind in the Divine for a few minutes today, with faith and love.
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.