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In this chapter, Arjun asks Shri Krishna about the two types of Yogis and who is the greatest between them. Arjun asks which yogi is greater: the one who worships the formless Brahman or the one who worships the personal form of God. Upon which, Krishna replies that both yogis can attain him; however, the yogi who worships his personal form attains him more quickly.
In this chapter, Shri Krishna emphasizes the path of devotion and calls it greater than all spiritual practices.
Krishna says to Arjun that it is difficult to meditate upon the formless God or the form which has no manifestation; the path is full of turbulence. Hence the devotees can easily worship God in his personal form, and that path of devotion is way easier to follow. The devotees who keep their minds constantly surrendered to him attain him. Such souls quickly get rid of the cycle of death and birth. Therefore Shri Krishna asks Arjun to get rid of all doubts and fix his mind in God forever.
Krishna also states that devotion to God doesn’t come easily to souls who are confused. Devotion itself is a mysterious gift that one can only get if he believes in God. Krishna tells Arjun that if he is unable to absorb his mind in God, then he should do all his work with devotion to God. If that is not possible, then he should work for the pleasure of Shri Krishna. And if even this seems not possible, then he should abandon the result of all his works to God.
Shree Krishna further explains that knowledge is high, but meditation is even higher. He says that detaching yourself from the fruit of your karma is even higher than meditation. This path provides instance peace to the devotee.
Let’s head to the conversation-
Arjun inquired: O Krishna, between the yogi who worships your formless avatar and who worships your personal form, who do you consider perfect?
The Lord said:Those who absorb their minds in me and engage in my devotion constantly, such yogis attain me.
Those who worship my formless aspect, which is imperishable and unmanifested, also attain me. However, the path of worshipping the formless me is full of troubles and difficulties. The living beings find it extremely difficult to worship something that has no form or the mind doesn’t know about.
The yogis who fix their mind in me and meditate on my manifested form and worship me swiftly gain their spiritual goals. Such yogis attain me and get united with me more quickly.
Therefore, O Parth, fix your mind on me, surrender yourself to me. This way, I will always live in you, and you will always live in me.
If you find it difficult to fix your mind on me completely, then practice remembering Me while restraining the mind from worldly things.
If remembering me is also not possible, then try to work for Me. You need to perform devotional services to me.
However, if even that is not possible, then try to detach yourself from the fruit of your karmas and stay situated in the self.
O Arjun sacrificing the fruit of your karma to me is the ultimate way to receive peace; it is even better than meditating on me.
A soul who is free from all malice and who has compassion for all living beings are the dearest to me. A soul that is free from attachments and forgiving, the soul who is constantly engaged in me, and the one who is self-controlled definitely attain me.
Those who do not bother anyone and those who are not restless, those who remain equal in peace and pain, such devotees are very dear to me.
Devotees who are indifferent to worldly things, they are pure internally and externally, those who are free from all selfish motives, and those who care without expectations are dear to me.
Such people are full of devotion, they don’t feel lost in sorrows neither they get excited in joy. Such people who remain equal regardless of the situation because they are detached from worldly things, and they have control over their senses, such devotees definitely find me.
Those who believe in this wisdom declared here, and those who have complete faith in Me and consider Me as the Supreme Goal are exceedingly dear to Me.