Passage 1
श्रीभगवानुवाच— भक्तियोगमथो वक्ष्ये मत्स्वरूपैकसंश्रयम्। सर्वशास्त्रसमूहेभ्यः सारभूतं समुद्धृतम्॥१॥
The blessed Lord said: “Now I shall teach bhakti-yoga, resting solely in my own form and extracted as the essence of every body of scripture.
Passage 2
पूर्वप्रोक्तमिमं योगं कुर्यान्मद्रूपसंश्रयम्। यथानुरज्यते चित्तं मन्नामश्रवणादिषु॥२॥
Practice the yoga taught earlier with reliance upon my form, so that the mind grows devoted through hearing my name and the other disciplines.
Passage 3
तथा कुर्यान्मदासक्तिं वृद्धिगामुत्तरोत्तरम्। कर्मणां चोपासनानां योगस्य तपसां तथा॥३॥
Cultivate attachment to me so that it increases continually. Of actions, forms of worship, yoga, and austerities,
Passage 4
भक्तेश्चापि सुभिद्धाया ज्ञानानां चाप्यदः फलम्। मत्स्वरूपैकपरया यदासक्तिर्भवेद्ध्रुवम्॥४॥
and of devotion in its various forms and all kinds of knowledge, this is the fruit: unwavering attachment directed solely to my own form.
Passage 5
यया सद्यः प्रसीदामि वशीभूत इव ध्रुवम्। यदक्षरं पुरा प्रोक्तं ब्रह्मोपादानमव्ययम्॥५॥
Through it I am immediately pleased and become as though subject to the devotee. The imperishable Brahman previously described is the immutable material ground,
Passage 6
कारणं सर्वजगतस्तस्य चाप्यहमाश्रयः। भवं मदाश्रयं विद्धि मुक्ति चापि मदाश्रयाम्॥६॥
the cause of the whole universe, while I am the ground even of that. Know worldly becoming to depend upon me, and liberation likewise to depend upon me.
Passage 7
अहं पूर्णं परं ब्रह्म माया यस्य वशे स्थिता। मयि स्थिताः सर्व एव भावाः प्रकृतिसम्भवाः॥७॥
I am the full and supreme Brahman, under whose control māyā remains. Every state arising from prakṛti abides in me.
Passage 8
आविर्भावस्तिरोभावो मयि तेषां स्वरूपतः। गुणमय्या भ्रमसृजा मायया मम मोहिताः॥८॥
Their manifestation and disappearance occur in me. Bewildered by my guṇa-made māyā, which produces delusion,
Passage 9
ततः परं चिदानन्दविग्रहं मां न जानते। अनेकैर्जन्मभिः शुद्धा यज्ज्ञानं समुपाश्रिताः॥९॥
people do not know me beyond it as the embodiment of consciousness and bliss. Purified through many births and established in true knowledge,
Passage 10
मत्स्वरूपैकलाभाय भजन्ते मां दृढव्रताः। अपरे वैदिकं चार्थं नयन्ते स्वधियान्यथा॥१०॥
the firm in vow worship me to attain my form alone. Others bend the Vedic meaning elsewhere according to their own reasoning.
Passage 11
ते विघ्निता दुश्चरितैः स्वीयैरेव भ्रमाविलाः। न मां जानन्ति परमं भजन्ते चापि न क्वचित्॥११॥
Obstructed by their own misconduct and clouded by delusion, they neither know me as supreme nor truly worship me.
Passage 12
अनेकदेवतोपास्तिपरा अकृतनिश्चयाः। प्रवाहमार्गपतिता न तत्त्वं ते विदन्ति हि॥१२॥
Unsettled in conviction, they remain devoted to the worship of many gods. Fallen into the path of conventional current, they do not know reality.
Passage 13
मायागुणैः कृष्यमाणाः केचित्कर्माणि कुर्वते। केचित्तपोरताश्चापि केचिद्योगांश्च युञ्जते॥१३॥
Drawn by māyā's guṇas, some perform ritual actions, some devote themselves to austerity, and some practice yogic methods.
Passage 14
केचिद्भवापवर्गाय स्वात्मज्ञानमुपासते। अपरे शुद्धसत्त्वेन मामेवैकं विजानते॥१४॥
Some cultivate knowledge of the Self for liberation from becoming, while others through pure sattva know me alone.
Passage 15
तेषामपि भवेन्मुक्तिस्त्रयी सात्त्विकी न तु निर्गुणा। एवं बहुविधैर्मार्गैरात्मानं खेदयन्ति ते॥१५॥
They too may attain the sāttvika liberation taught by the three Vedas, but not the state beyond guṇas. Through such many paths they weary themselves.
Passage 16
शुद्धेन भक्तियोगेन न तु मां समुपासते। मत्स्वरूपैकसम्बद्धा भक्तिर्मत्प्रेमलक्षणा॥१६॥
They do not worship me through pure bhakti-yoga. Bhakti is bound exclusively to my own form and characterized by love for me.
Passage 17
तया मां स्ववशे कृत्वा कश्चित्साक्षात्करोत्यपि। यावतीर्देवताः लोकैरुपास्यन्ते गुणात्मिकाः॥१७॥
Through that love a rare devotee brings me under one's sway and directly realizes me. However many guṇa-formed deities the worlds worship,
Passage 18
तासामहमधिष्ठाता स्वाधिदैविकरूपतः। मूले सिक्ते सुसिक्तैः किं पत्रशाखादिभिः पृथक्॥१८॥
I am their indwelling ruler in my presiding divine form. When the root is well watered, what need is there to water leaves and branches separately?
Passage 19
असिक्ते चापि सिक्तैः किं पत्रशाखादिभिः पृथक्। इति ज्ञात्वा भजेन्नित्यं मामेवैकं विशेषतः॥१९॥
If the root remains dry, what is gained by watering leaves and branches separately? Knowing this, worship me alone always and especially. Knowledge, Dispassion, and Grace
Passage 20
विशुद्धात्मिकया भक्त्या मत्स्वरूपैकसंस्थया। विशुद्धचित्तसंस्कारैर्जातश्रद्धो विरक्तिमान्॥२०॥
Through devotion of wholly pure nature, established exclusively in my form, one whose mind's impressions are purified becomes faithful and dispassionate.
Passage 21
ब्रह्मानन्दपदे स्थित्वा ज्ञानी नाद्रियते ततः। उत्कृष्टं पूर्णपाथोधिदुर्लभं देवतैरपि॥२१॥
Then the knower does not cling even to the state of Brahman's bliss, but seeks a supreme fullness, an ocean difficult even for the gods to attain.
Passage 22
भक्तिमात्रैकलभ्यं च कश्चित्प्रेमाणमाप्नुयात्। ज्ञानं चैवापि वैराग्यं भक्तेः पूर्वाङ्गमिष्यते॥२२॥
A rare soul attains divine love, accessible only through bhakti. Knowledge and dispassion are considered preliminary limbs of devotion.
Passage 23
अथवा पूर्वसंस्कारादकस्मात्सम्प्रजायते। कुतोऽपि परितुष्टेन मया दत्ता प्रसादवत्॥२३॥
Or it may arise suddenly from impressions formed before, bestowed as grace when for some reason I become pleased.
Passage 24
पूर्वभक्तिः पराभक्तिसाधनात्मानमुपेयुषी। स्वात्मानं नाशयित्वापि कार्यमस्य प्रसाधयेत्॥२४॥
Preliminary devotion approaches the nature of a means to supreme devotion and fulfills its work even by dissolving itself.
Passage 25
माहात्म्यज्ञानयोगार्थं भक्तेरुद्बोधसिद्धये। मत्स्वरूपं विजानीयाद्वेदानामप्यगोचरम्॥२५॥
To awaken bhakti through knowledge of my greatness, one should know my form, which lies beyond even the Vedas.
Passage 26
अक्षरोपादेयमिदमखिलं विश्वमण्डलम्। मन्निमित्तं विजानीहि लीलावेशवशान्मनः॥२६॥
Know this entire universe to take the imperishable as its material and me as its efficient cause, brought forth through the power of absorption in līlā.
Passage 27
एताः सर्गविसर्गाद्या मम लीलाविनिश्चिताः। ताभिर्युक्तः सदा जीवानधिष्ठाय सृजाम्यहम्॥२७॥
Creation, secondary creation, and all the rest are determined as my līlās. Engaged in them and presiding over the jīvas, I perpetually create.
Passage 28
अधिभूतं तथाध्यात्ममाधिदैविकमेव च। त्रीणि त्रीणि स्वरूपाणि सर्वस्येति विनिश्चितम्॥२८॥
The physical, the individual, and the presiding divine are the three forms of everything; this is firmly established.
Passage 29
अहमेवास्मि सर्वेषु तेषु नास्त्यत्र संशयः। तस्मात्सर्वत्र मामेव नित्यं संस्मर संस्मर॥२९॥
I alone am present in every one of them; there is no doubt. Therefore remember me alone, everywhere and always—remember me. Meditation, Mantra, and the Supreme Abode
Passage 30
मनश्च भक्तियोगेन मय्येव विनिवेशय। अनन्यगं यदा चित्तमभ्यासेन प्रजायते॥३०॥
Through bhakti-yoga place the mind entirely in me. When by practice consciousness becomes single-pointed,
Passage 31
सदा मामभ्युपैत्येव पूर्णं श्रीपुरुषोत्तमम्। सर्वेशं सर्ववशिनं सर्वज्ञं सर्वरूपिणम्॥३१॥
it always approaches me—the complete and glorious Supreme Person, Lord of all, controller of all, omniscient and formed as all.
Passage 32
ज्ञानक्रियोभययुतं सर्वस्याधारमव्ययम्। विश्वतोमुखमानन्दमनन्तं चित्प्रकाशिनम्॥३२॥
I possess both knowledge and action, am the immutable support of everything, facing everywhere, blissful, infinite, and radiant as consciousness.
Passage 33
अणुं महान्तमचलमव्यक्तं प्रकृतेः परम्। एवं ध्यानं समभ्यस्य चित्तं कुर्याद्वशे सदा॥३३॥
Meditate on me as minute and immense, unmoving, unmanifest, and beyond prakṛti. Practicing such meditation, keep the mind always mastered.
Passage 34
अन्तकालेऽपि च ततो मामुपैति न संशयः। जीवशक्तिं सुसंहृत्य जीवं ध्यायेच्चिदुज्ज्वलम्॥३४॥
Then even at the final hour one certainly reaches me. Gathering the jīva's powers inward, contemplate the jīva as radiant consciousness.
Passage 35
रामेति राममन्त्रेण परे ब्रह्मणि योजयेत्। परं ब्रह्म यथोक्तं मत्स्वरूपं भावयन् सदा॥३५॥
Through the Rāma-mantra “Rāma,” unite it with supreme Brahman, continually contemplating that supreme Brahman as my form just described.
Passage 36
विशते शुद्धभावेन प्रेमाख्येनोपबृंहितः। एवं मयि सुसंगम्य पुनर्जन्म न चाप्नुयात्॥३६॥
Strengthened by the pure disposition called love, one enters me. Perfectly united with me in this way, one is never born again.
Passage 37
ततो दुःखालयो घोरः संसारो विनिवर्तते। ब्रह्मलोकात्परं स्थानं यतो नावर्तते पुनः॥३७॥
Then terrible saṃsāra, the abode of sorrow, ceases. Beyond Brahmaloka lies the state from which one never returns.
Passage 38
तत्स्थानं समुपेत्येष भक्तियोगप्रभावतः। द्विपरार्धं विधेरायुस्तदन्ते भूतभौतिकाः॥३८॥
Through the power of bhakti-yoga the devotee reaches that state. Brahmā's life extends for two parārdhas; at its end elemental beings and their products
Passage 39
महाभूते विलीयन्ते तच्च मय्यहमव्ययः। जागर्मि सर्वदा भानः सदानन्दपदस्थितः॥३९॥
dissolve into the great elements, and those dissolve in me. Imperishable, I remain ever awake and luminous, established in eternal bliss.
Passage 40
तस्य मे प्राप्त्युपायस्तु भक्त्यन्यो नैव विद्यते। तपःस्वाध्याययोगाद्यैर्भक्तिः साध्यास्ति केवलम्॥४०॥
There is no means of attaining me other than bhakti. Austerity, sacred recitation, yoga, and the rest merely serve to accomplish devotion. Divine and Demonic Dispositions
Passage 41
भावशुद्ध्या भवेद्भक्तिस्तस्माद्भावं विशोधयेत्। अपरे त्वासुरे सर्गे सम्भूतास्तामसा जनाः॥४१॥
Bhakti arises through purity of disposition; therefore purify the heart. Others are tāmasic people born within a demonic creation.
Passage 42
मत्स्वरूपं न जानन्ति तस्मान्नैव भजन्ति ते। मूढा वितथकर्माणो वितथाज्ञानवैभवाः॥४२॥
They do not know my form and therefore do not worship me. Deluded, their actions are vain and the display of their false knowledge is vain.
Passage 43
विज्ञाय सगुणाकारमात्मोपम्येन मामपि। अवज्ञावञ्चितात्मानो न विजानन्ति तत्त्वतः॥४३॥
Conceiving me only as a form with guṇas and measuring me by themselves, they cheat themselves through contempt and do not know me truly.
Passage 44
ते वै दूरतरा मत्तो न कदाचिद्भवाम्बुधेः। मुक्ता भवन्त्यपसदाः सदैवासुरयोनयः॥४४॥
They remain exceedingly far from me. Those degraded beings of demonic birth are never freed from the ocean of becoming.
Passage 45
देवाश्चैवासुराश्चैव जीवाः सामान्ययोनयः। तत्र देवाः सदा मुक्ताः सामान्याः साधनव्रजैः॥४५॥
Jīvas are born in divine, demonic, or ordinary classes. The divine are ever free, while ordinary beings are liberated through groups of disciplines.
Passage 46
आसुरा नैव मुच्यन्ते जन्मकोटिशतैरपि। तस्माद्विवस्वन् मुक्तोऽसि देवसृष्ट्यैकसम्भवः॥४६॥
The demonic are not liberated even through hundreds of millions of births. Vivasvān, you are free because you arise solely from divine creation.
Passage 47
मा त्वं शोचः कदापि त्वमनुतिष्ठ मतं मम। इदं ते ज्ञानमतुलमुपदिष्टं परंतप॥४७॥
Never grieve. Follow my teaching. I have instructed you in this incomparable knowledge, scorcher of foes. Resume Creation and Transmit the Teaching
Passage 48
एतद्विज्ञाय सततं कुरु सृष्टिं मदाज्ञया। न भविष्यति ते मोहः प्रजासर्गं प्रवर्तय॥४८॥
Knowing this, continually create by my command. Delusion will not arise in you; set the creation of beings in motion.
Passage 49
इति ते प्रतिजानेऽहं मा ग्लासीस्त्वं मनागपि। मां विद्धि शुद्धभावेन मयि बुद्धिं निवेशय॥४९॥
I promise you this. Do not become despondent even slightly. Know me with a pure heart and place your understanding in me.
Passage 50
मामुपास्स्व च मय्यास्स्व मयि सर्वं विचिन्तय। कर्माणि मयि संन्यस्य ज्ञानं कुरु मदाश्रयम्॥५०॥
Worship me, abide in me, and contemplate everything in me. Surrender actions to me and cultivate knowledge with me as refuge.
Passage 51
मामेव यजमानस्त्वं वीतशोको भविष्यसि। इदं शास्त्रं मया पूर्वं ब्रह्मणे प्रतिबोधितम्॥५१॥
Sacrificing to me alone, you will become free of sorrow. Long ago I taught this scripture to Brahmā.
Passage 52
ब्रह्मा प्राह प्रसादेन सनकादीन् महामुनीन्। सनत्कुमारो भगवान् नारदायोपदिष्टवान्॥५२॥
By grace Brahmā told the great sages Sanaka and the others, and Lord Sanatkumāra instructed Nārada.
Passage 53
एवं परम्परायातमिदं ज्ञानं सनातनम्। त्वं चापि निजपुत्राय मनवे शुद्धचेतसे॥५३॥
Thus this eternal knowledge has descended through succession. You too, at the proper time, shall teach your own son Manu, whose consciousness is pure,
Passage 54
सरहस्यमिदं ज्ञानं काले समुपदेक्ष्यसि। स आकर्ण्याखिलं त्वत्तो विमलं मन्मतं प्रभो। भवानिव यथेदानीं चित्ते निर्वृतिमेष्यति॥५४॥
this knowledge together with its mystery. Hearing my stainless teaching in full from you, lord, he will find peace within, just as you do now.”