12.1 Arjuna asked the messenger: Of those devotees who, ever steadfast, worship God as the Living Lord who hears and sees, and those who worship Him as the Imperishable and Unmanifest — which have the better knowledge of devotion?

12.2 Krishna conveyed the word of God: Those who fix their minds on Me and worship Me, ever steadfast and endowed with supreme faith — these I consider the most perfect in devotion.

12.3 But those who worship the Imperishable, the Indefinable, the Unmanifest, the All-Pervading, the Inconceivable, the Unchanging, the Immovable, the Eternal,

12.4 restraining all their senses, even-minded in all things, rejoicing in the welfare of all beings — they too reach Me alone.

12.5 Yet greater is the toil of those whose minds are set on the Unmanifest, for the unmanifest goal is hard to reach for embodied beings.

12.6 But those who surrender all their actions to Me, intent on Me, worshipping Me with undivided devotion and meditating on Me,

12.7 for them, whose minds are fixed on Me, I soon become the Deliverer from the sea of death and the trials of this world, O Pārtha.

12.8 Fix your mind on Me alone; let your understanding dwell on Me. Then you shall abide near Me hereafter; of this there is no doubt.

12.9 If you cannot keep your mind steadily on Me, then seek to reach Me by the discipline of constant practice, O Dhanaṃjaya.

12.10 If you are unable even to practise, make My service your supreme aim; even by doing works for My sake you shall attain perfection.

12.11 If you cannot do even this, then, taking refuge in devotion to Me and controlling yourself, renounce the fruit of all your actions.

12.12 Knowledge is better than mere practice; meditation surpasses knowledge; renunciation of the fruit of action surpasses meditation; and from renunciation peace follows at once.

12.13 One who hates no being, who is friendly and compassionate, free from possessiveness and from pride, even in pain and pleasure, forbearing,

12.14 ever content, disciplined, self-controlled, firm in resolve, with mind and understanding surrendered to Me — that devotee is dear to Me.

12.15 One by whom the world is not troubled and who is not troubled by the world, who is free from elation, impatience, fear and anxiety — he is dear to Me.

12.16 One who wants nothing, who is pure, capable, impartial, free from distress, who has given up all selfish undertakings — that devotee is dear to Me.

12.17 One who neither rejoices nor hates, neither grieves nor craves, who has renounced good and evil fortune and is full of devotion — he is dear to Me.

12.18 One who is the same to foe and friend, in honour and dishonour, in cold and heat, in pleasure and pain, free from attachment,

12.19 who regards blame and praise alike, who is restrained in speech, content with whatever comes, without a fixed home, steady of mind and full of devotion — that person is dear to Me.

12.20 But those who, full of faith, holding Me as the supreme goal, follow this righteous and immortal teaching as it has been declared — those devotees are exceedingly dear to Me.