Adhyāya 34

Swami SivanandaArjuna said, "Which of them are better versed in Yoga—those who steadfastly worship You, or those who worship the imperishable and the unmanifested?"

Swami GambiranandaArjuna said: "Which of these devotees, who are ever dedicated and meditate on You, and those who meditate on the Unmanifested and Immutable, are the best experiencers of yoga [here, yoga means samadhi, spiritual absorption]?"

Swami AdidevanandaArjuna said: Which of these has greater knowledge of yoga—those devotees who meditate on You, ever integrated, or those who meditate on the Imperishable and the Unmanifest?

Dr. S. SankaranarayanArjuna said: Who are the best knowers of yoga, those who are constantly attached to You and worship You, or those who worship the motionless Unmanifest?

Shri Purohit SwamiArjuna asked, "My Lord, which are the better devotees who worship You: those who try to know You as a Personal God, or those who worship You as Impersonal and Indestructible?"

Swami SivanandaThe Blessed Lord said, "In My opinion, those who fix their minds on Me, worship Me ever steadfastly, and are endowed with supreme faith, are the best in Yoga."

Swami GambiranandaThe Blessed Lord said, "Those who meditate on Me, fixing their minds on Me with steadfast devotion, endowed with supreme faith—they are considered to be the most perfect yogis according to Me."

Swami AdidevanandaThe Lord said, "Those who, ever integrated with Me and possessing supreme faith, worship Me, focusing their minds on Me—these are considered by Me to be the highest among the yogis."

Dr. S. SankaranarayanThe Bhagavat said, "Those who, causing their mind to enter into Me well, remain permanently attached to Me, and are endowed with an extraordinary faith, worship Me—they are considered by Me to be the best among the masters of Yoga."

Shri Purohit SwamiLord Shri Krishna replied: Those who keep their minds fixed on Me, who worship Me always with unwavering faith and concentration, are the very best.

Swami SivanandaThose who worship the imperishable, the indefinable, the unmanifest, the omnipresent, the unthinkable, the immovable, and the eternal.

Swami GambiranandaThose, however, who meditate in every way on the immutable, the indefinable, the unmanifest, which is all-pervasive, incomprehensible, unchanging, immovable, and constant.

Swami AdidevanandaBut those who meditate on the Imperishable, the indefinable, the unmanifest, omnipresent, unthinkable, common to all beings, immovable, and constant—

Dr. S. SankaranarayanThose who contemplate on the Unmanifest, which is motionless, undefinable, all-pervading, unthinkable, peak-like, unmoving, and fixed.

Shri Purohit SwamiThose who worship Me as the Indestructible, the Undefinable, the Omnipresent, the Unthinkable, the Primal, the Immutable, and the Eternal;

Swami SivanandaHaving restrained all the senses, being even-minded everywhere, and intent on the welfare of all beings, they verily come unto Me.

Swami GambiranandaBy fully controlling all the organs and remaining even-minded at all times, they, engaged in the welfare of all beings, attain Me alone.

Swami AdidevanandaHaving subdued all the senses, being even-minded, and engaged in the welfare of all beings, they too come to Me only.

Dr. S. SankaranarayanWho, by properly restraining the group of sense-organs, remain equanimous at all stages and find pleasure in the welfare of all beings—they attain nothing but Me.

Shri Purohit SwamiSubduing their senses, viewing all conditions of life with an equal eye, and working for the welfare of all beings, they assuredly come to Me.

Swami SivanandaGreater is their trouble whose minds are set on the unmanifested, for the goal of the unmanifested is very hard for the embodied to reach.

Swami GambiranandaFor those whose minds are attached to the Unmanifested, the struggle is greater; for the Goal, which is the Unmanifest, is attained with difficulty by the embodied ones.

Swami AdidevanandaGreater is the difficulty for those whose minds are thus attached to the unmanifest, for the way of the unmanifest is hard to reach for embodied beings.

Dr. S. SankaranarayanBut the trouble is much greater for those who have their minds fixed on the Unmanifest, for it is difficult for those with physical bodies to attain the Unmanifest goal.

Shri Purohit SwamiBut they who fix their attention on the Absolute and Impersonal encounter greater hardships, for it is difficult for those who have a body to realize Me as without one.

Swami SivanandaBut to those who worship Me, renouncing all actions in Me, regarding Me as the supreme goal, meditating on Me with single-minded yoga.

Swami GambiranandaAs for those who, having dedicated all actions to Me and accepted Me as the supreme, meditate on Me with single-minded concentration only-.

Swami AdidevanandaFor those who dedicate all their actions to Me, hold Me as their supreme goal, are intent on Me, and worship Me, meditating on Me with exclusive devotion;

Dr. S. SankaranarayanOn the other hand, those who, having renounced all their actions in Me, have Me as their sole goal; and revere Me, meditating on Me through that Yoga alone, which admits no other element but Me in it;

Shri Purohit SwamiVerily, those who surrender their actions to Me, who contemplate Me, worship Me, and meditate on Me alone, with no thought other than Me.

Swami SivanandaTo those whose minds are set on Me, O Arjuna, verily I soon become the savior out of the ocean of Samsara.

Swami GambiranandaO son of Prtha, for those who have their minds absorbed in Me, I become, without delay, the deliverer from the sea of the world, which is fraught with death.

Swami AdidevanandaThose whose minds are thus focused on Me, I soon become their savior from the ocean of mortal life.

Dr. S. SankaranarayanOf them, with their minds completely entered into Me, I soon become a redeemer from the ocean of the cycle of death, O son of Prtha!

Shri Purohit SwamiO Arjuna! I rescue them from the ocean of life and death, for their minds are fixed upon Me.

Swami SivanandaFix your mind on Me, and your intellect in Me. Then you will certainly live in Me alone hereafter.

Swami GambiranandaFix the mind on Me alone; in Me alone let the intellect rest. There is no doubt that hereafter you will dwell in Me alone.

Swami AdidevanandaFocus your mind on Me alone; and let your intellect enter into Me. Then, you will live in Me alone; there is no doubt.

Dr. S. SankaranarayanHence, fix your mind on nothing but Me; cause your thought to settle in Me. Thus, resorting to the best Yoga, you will dwell in Me alone.

Shri Purohit SwamiThen let your mind cling only to Me, let your intellect abide in Me; and without doubt, you will live hereafter in Me alone.

Swami SivanandaIf you are unable to fix your mind steadily on Me, then seek to reach Me through the yoga of constant practice, O Arjuna.

Swami GambiranandaIf, however, you are unable to establish the mind steadily on Me, then, O Dhananjaya, seek to attain Me through the yoga of practice.

Swami AdidevanandaIf now you are unable to focus your mind on Me, then seek to reach Me, O Arjuna, through the practice of repetition.

Dr. S. SankaranarayanIn case you are not able to cause your mind to enter completely into Me, then, O Dhananjaya! Seek to attain Me through the practice of Yoga.

Shri Purohit SwamiBut if you cannot fix your mind firmly on Me, then, my beloved friend, try to do so through constant practice.

Swami SivanandaIf you are unable to practice even this Abhyasa Yoga, be intent on doing actions for My sake; even by doing actions for My sake, you will attain perfection.

Swami GambiranandaIf you are unable even to practice, be intent on works for Me. By undertaking works for Me as well, you will attain perfection. [Identify with Brahman.]

Swami AdidevanandaIf you are incapable of even this practice of repetition, then devote yourself to My deeds. For even by working for My sake, you will attain perfection.

Dr. S. SankaranarayanIf you are incapable of doing a steady practice, then have Me as your chief aim in performing actions. Even by performing actions for Me, you shall attain success.

Shri Purohit SwamiAnd if you are not strong enough to practice concentration, then devote yourself to My service, do all your acts for My sake, and you will still attain the goal.

Swami SivanandaIf you are unable to do even this, then, resort to union with Me and renounce the fruits of all actions with self-control.

Swami GambiranandaIf you are unable to do even this, then resort to the Yoga for Me and afterwards, control your mind and renounce the results of all your works.

Swami AdidevanandaIf you are unable to do even this—that is, take refuge in My Yoga—then, with your self-control, renounce the fruits of every action.

Dr. S. SankaranarayanNow, if you are not capable of doing this either, then take refuge in My Yoga, renouncing the fruits of all action, with your mind subdued.

Shri Purohit SwamiAnd if thou art too weak to do even this, then seek refuge in union with Me, and with perfect self-control renounce the fruits of thy actions.

Swami SivanandaBetter indeed is knowledge than practice; better than knowledge is meditation; better than meditation is the renunciation of the fruits of actions: peace immediately follows renunciation.

Swami GambiranandaKnowledge is certainly superior to practice; meditation surpasses knowledge. The renunciation of the results of works surpasses meditation. From renunciation, peace follows immediately.

Swami AdidevanandaFar better is knowledge of the Self than the repeated practice (of remembrance of the Lord). Better is meditation than this knowledge; better is renunciation of the fruits of action than meditation. From such renunciation, peace ensues.

Dr. S. SankaranarayanFor, knowledge is superior to practice; due to knowledge, meditation becomes pre-eminent; from meditation arises the renunciation of the fruits of actions; and peace follows renunciation.

Shri Purohit SwamiKnowledge is superior to blind action, meditation is superior to knowledge, renunciation of the fruit of action is superior to meditation, and peace follows from renunciation.

Swami SivanandaHe who hates no creature, is friendly and compassionate to all, is free from attachment and egoism, is balanced in pleasure and pain, and is forgiving.

Swami GambiranandaHe who is not hateful towards any creature, who is friendly and compassionate, who has no concept of 'mine' and no sense of egoism, who remains the same in sorrow and happiness, and who is forgiving;

Swami AdidevanandaHe who never hates any being, who is friendly and compassionate, who is free from the feelings of "I" and "mine," who looks upon all pain and pleasure equally, and who is enduring;

Dr. S. SankaranarayanHe, who is not a hater but a compassionate friend of every being; who is free from the sense of 'mine' and the sense of 'I'; who is even-minded in pain and pleasure and is endowed with forbearance;

Shri Purohit SwamiHe who is incapable of hatred towards any being, who is kind and compassionate, free from selfishness, without pride, equable in pleasure and pain, and forgiving—

Swami SivanandaEver content, steady in meditation, self-controlled, possessing firm conviction, with the mind and intellect dedicated to Me, he, My devotee, is dear to Me.

Swami GambiranandaHe who is ever content, who is a yogi, who has self-control, who has firm conviction, and who has dedicated his mind and intellect to Me—he who is such a devotee of Mine is dear to Me.

Swami AdidevanandaHe who is content, who meditates ever, is self-restrained, and is firm in his convictions, and has his mind and reason dedicated to Me—he is dear to Me.

Dr. S. SankaranarayanWho remains well-content and is a practitioner of Yoga at all times; who is self-controlled and is firmly resolute; and who has offered to Me their mind and intellect-that devotee of Mine is dear to Me.

Shri Purohit SwamiAlways content, self-centered, self-controlled, resolute, with mind and reason dedicated to Me, such a devotee of Mine is beloved to Me.

Swami SivanandaHe whom the world does not agitate, and who cannot be agitated by the world, and who is freed from joy, anger, fear, and anxiety—he is dear to Me.

Swami GambiranandaHe, too, owing to whom the world is not disturbed, and who is not disturbed by the world, who is free from joy, impatience, fear, and anxiety, is dear to me.

Swami AdidevanandaHe from whom the world has no cause to be frightened, who is not frightened by the world, who is free from joy and impatience, fear, and aversion - he is dear to me.

Dr. S. SankaranarayanHe, on account of whom the world does not become agitated; who also does not become agitated on account of the world; who is free from joy and impatience, fear and anxiety—he is dear to Me.

Shri Purohit SwamiHe who does not harm the world, and whom the world cannot harm, who is not carried away by any impulse of joy, anger, or fear; such a one is My beloved.

Swami SivanandaHe who is free from wants, pure, expert, unconcerned, and free from pain, renouncing all undertakings and commencements, he who is devoted to Me is dear to Me.

Swami GambiranandaHe who has no desires, who is pure, dexterous, impartial, free from fear, and who has renounced every undertaking—such a devotee of Mine is dear to Me.

Swami AdidevanandaHe who is free from desires, who is pure, expert, indifferent, and free from agony, who has renounced every undertaking—he is dear to me.

Dr. S. SankaranarayanHe who does not expect anything, who is pure, dexterous, unconcerned, and untroubled, and who has renounced all his undertakings all around—that devotee of Mine is dear to Me.

Shri Purohit SwamiHe who expects nothing, is pure, watchful, indifferent, unruffled, and renounces all initiative—such a one is My beloved.

Swami SivanandaHe who neither rejoices nor hates, nor grieves nor desires, renouncing both good and evil, and who is full of devotion, is dear to Me.

Swami GambiranandaHe who does not rejoice, nor fret, nor lament, nor hanker; who gives up both good and bad, and is filled with devotion—he is dear to Me.

Swami AdidevanandaHe who does not rejoice, nor hate, nor grieve, nor desire, who renounces both good and evil, and who is full of devotion to Me—such a devotee is dear to Me.

Dr. S. SankaranarayanHe who neither delights nor hates, nor grieves nor craves; who has renounced both the good and the bad results [of actions] and is full of devotion [to Me]—he is dear to Me.

Shri Purohit SwamiHe who is beyond joy and hate, who neither laments nor desires, to whom good and evil fortunes are the same, such a one is beloved to Me.

Swami SivanandaHe who is the same to foe and friend, and also in honor and dishonor, who is the same in cold and heat, in pleasure and pain, and who is free from attachment.

Swami GambiranandaHe who is the same towards friend and foe, and in honor and dishonor; who is the same under cold, heat, happiness, and sorrow; who is free from attachment to all.

Swami AdidevanandaHe who is the same to foe and friend, honor and dishonor, who is alike to both cold and heat, pleasure and pain, and who is free from all attachments;

Dr. S. SankaranarayanHe who feels alike to the foe and the friend, to honor and dishonor, to cold and heat, to pleasure and pain; who is totally free from attachment;

Shri Purohit SwamiHe to whom friend and foe are alike, who welcomes equally honor and dishonor, heat and cold, pleasure and pain, and who is enamored of nothing—

Swami SivanandaHe to whom censure and praise are equal, who is silent, content with anything, homeless, of a steady mind, and full of devotion; that man is dear to me.

Swami GambiranandaThe person to whom denunciation and praise are the same, who is silent, content with anything, homeless, steadfast-minded, and full of devotion is dear to me.

Swami AdidevanandaHe who regards both blame and praise alike, who is silent and content with any lot, who has no home, who is firm of mind, and who is devoted to Me - such a man is dear to Me.

Dr. S. SankaranarayanTo whom blame and praise are equal; who is silent (does not over-speak) and is content with whatever comes to him; who has no fixed thoughts in the mundane life; who is yet steady-minded in spiritual practice and is full of devotion—that man is dear to Me.

Shri Purohit SwamiWho is indifferent to praise and censure, enjoys silence, is content with every fate, has no fixed abode, is steadfast in mind, and filled with devotion—such a one is My beloved.

Swami SivanandaThey who follow this immortal Dharma, endowed with faith and regarding Me as their supreme goal, are exceedingly dear to Me.

Swami GambiranandaBut those devotees who accept Me as the supreme Goal, and with faith seek for this ambrosia—nectar in the form of virtue—which is indistinguishable from the virtues as stated above, they are very dear to Me.

Swami AdidevanandaBut those devotees who follow this nectar of virtuous duty, as taught above, who are full of faith and regard Me as the Supreme, are exceedingly dear to Me.

Dr. S. SankaranarayanThose who, as instructed above, resort to this duty that leads to immortality, who have faith in it and have Me as their only goal—those devotees are exceedingly dear to Me.

Shri Purohit SwamiVerily, those who love the spiritual wisdom as I have taught, whose faith never wavers, and who focus their entire being on Me, they are indeed My most beloved.