In Bhagavad Gita 13.11, Krishna continues: unswerving devotion to him through undivided yoga, resort to solitary places and distaste for crowds.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
मयि चानन्ययोगेन
भक्तिरव्यभिचारिणी
विविक्तदेशसेवित्वम्
अरतिर्जनसंसदि ॥ १३-११ ॥
mayi cānanyayogena
bhaktiravyabhicāriṇī
viviktadeśasevitvam
aratirjanasaṃsadi
English transliteration mayi chaananyayogena
bhaktiravyabhichaarinee
viviktadeshasevitvam
aratirjanasamsadi ॥ 13.11 ॥
Translation / Meaning
unswerving devotion to Me through the yoga of non-separation; resorting to solitary places, and distaste for the company of crowds,
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| मयि mayi | to Me |
| च ca | and |
| अनन्ययोगेन ananyayogena | through the yoga of non-separation ananya (no other) + yogena (yoga) |
| भक्तिः bhaktiḥ | devotion |
| अव्यभिचारिणी avyabhicāriṇī | unswerving |
| विविक्तदेशसेवित्वम् viviktadeśasevitvam | resorting to solitary places vivikta (solitary) + deśa (places) + sevitvam (resorting) |
| अरतिः aratiḥ | distaste |
| जनसंसदि janasaṃsadi | for crowds jana (people) + saṃsadi (gathering) |
Word-wise Chanting
- ma–yi cā–nan–ya–yo–ge–na 8 syllables ma-yi chaa-nan-ya-yo-ge-na
- bhak–ti–rav–ya–bhi–cā–ri–ṇī | 8 syllables bhak-ti-rav-ya-bhi-chaa-ri-nee
- vi–vik–ta–de–śa–se–vit–vam– 8 syllables vi-vik-ta-de-sha-se-vit-vam-
- a–ra–tir–ja–na–saṃ–sa–di || 13-11 8 syllables a-ra-tir-ja-na-sam-sa-di
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 13 Verse 11
Context
Krishna continues listing the qualities of knowledge (13.8–13.12).
Meaning
Avyabhicāriṇī bhakti, devotion that does not waver, is part of knowledge. So is the love of solitude, vivikta-deśa, and a lack of appetite for crowds and social noise. Inner work needs quiet.
The Gita does not ask us to hate people. It asks us to value solitude for inner growth and not to depend on crowds for stimulation.
In Practice
Spend some time alone in a quiet place today, without phone or company.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 13: Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga (The Field and the Knower of the Field). 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.