The Yoga of Devotion (Bhakti), Gita 12
Bhakti Yoga (Gita, Vivekananda)
Courses: Bhagavad Gita - Bhakti Yoga
Chapter 12: The Yoga of Devotion () of the Bhagavad Gita. Spanish / English
The Path of Total Love
The twelfth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, known as Bhakti Yoga (The Yoga of Devotion), serves as a profound guide for those seeking to reach God through the heart.
In this pivotal discourse, Arjuna asks Krishna who is more perfect: the one who worships the formless Absolute (the Unmanifest, Nirguna Brahman) or the one who worships God with form and devotion (Saguna Brahman). Krishna’s answer provides immense comfort to humanity, emphasizing that while both paths lead to Him, the path of love and devotion is the most accessible and swifter route for embodied beings.
Pedro Nonell, a renowned expert on the Bhagavad Gita and the teachings of Swami Vivekananda and Sri Ramakrishna, brings this ancient wisdom to the modern seeker, highlighting that true devotion is not mere ritual, but a state of equanimity, compassion, and total surrender to the Will of God.
This chapter is available in English and Spanish translation by Pedro Nonell.
Chapter 12 of the Bhagavad Gita: The Path of Devotion (Bhakti Yoga, Philosophy, Gandhi)
Gita according Gandhi, translated into Spanish by
Yogi: Self-control, equanimity, universal love
Yoga of the Devoción Bhakti Bhagavad Gita 
Ioga da Devoção Bhakti.
Chapter 12 of the Bhagavad Gita: The Yoga of Devotion (Bhakti Yoga)
Read the first fifteen verses of this chapter
Arjuna said:
The Lord said:
2. Those whom I consider to be the best yogis are those who, fixing their minds on Me, always united with Me, worship Me with the highest faith.
3. But those who worship the Imperishable, the Indefinable, the Unmanifested, the Omnipresent, the Unthinkable, the immovable, the immutable and the eternal.
4. Keeping all the senses in check, balanced everywhere, absorbed in the well-being of all beings, they also come to Me.
5. Greater is the effort for those whose mind is fixed on the Unmanifest; because it is difficult for incarnated mortals to reach the Goal of the Unmanifest.
6. But those who dedicate all their actions to Me, making Me their all in all, worship Me with the Meditation of total devotion.
7. Of them whose thoughts are centered on Me, O Partha, I soon become the Liberator of the ocean of this World of death.
8. Fix your mind on Me, rest your conviction on Me; thus, without a doubt, you will remain only in Me in the hereafter.
9. If you cannot fix your mind constantly on Me, then by the method of constant practice of Yoga, seek to attain Me, O Dhananjaya.
10. If you also cannot follow the method of constant Yoga practice, concentrate on serving Me; By serving me thus, you will achieve perfection.
11. If Thou are incapable of even doing this, then dedicating everything to Me, with your mind controlled, abandon the fruit of action.
12. Better than practice is Knowledge, better than knowledge is concentration, better than concentration is the renunciation of the fruit of all action, peace comes directly from it.
13. Who has no ill will towards anyone, who is friendly and compassionate, who has lost all thoughts of “mine” or “I” who considers pain and pleasure equally, who is long-suffering;
14. He who is content, devoted to yoga, self-disciplined, of firm conviction, who has dedicated his mind and reason to Me: that devotee (Bhakta) of Mine is loved by Me.
15. He who does not cause trouble to the world, to whom the world does not cause trouble, who is free from irritation, resentment, fear and vexation, that man is loved by Me
Etc.
Thus concludes the twelfth chapter entitled Bhakti Yoga.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Bhakti Yoga according to the Bhagavad Gita?
Bhakti Yoga is the path of devotion and love toward God. It involves fixing the mind and intellect on the Supreme, performing all actions as an offering, and maintaining a heart full of faith and compassion for all living beings.
Why is Pedro Nonell considered an expert on these teachings?
Pedro Nonell is a specialized translator and author who has dedicated his life to the study of the Bhagavad Gita, Vedanta, and the lives of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda. His Spanish translations and commentaries bridge Eastern philosophy with Western understanding, focusing on the practical application of Yoga in daily life.
Is it better to worship God with form or without form?
Krishna explains in Chapter 12 that while those who worship the Unmanifest (formless) eventually reach Him, the path is extremely difficult for those in human form. Worshipping God with form through Bhakti (devotion) is considered the "easier" and more direct path for most people.
What are the qualities of a true devotee (Bhakta)?
A true devotee, as described in this chapter, is one who is free from ill will, friendly, compassionate, balanced in pleasure and pain, self-controlled, and entirely dedicated to God.
Conclusion: Living the Devotion
The beauty of the twelfth chapter lies in its inclusivity. It teaches us that anyone, regardless of their intellectual capacity, can attain the highest spiritual realization through a heart full of love for God.
By following the insights of Pedro Nonell, we see how the ancient wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita is perfectly mirrored in the lives of Ramakrishna and Vivekananda. To be a true devotee is to be a source of peace for the world, free from the ego's attachments, and firmly anchored in the presence of God.
This chapter does not just ask for our worship; it asks for our transformation into beings of universal love and equanimity.
Bhagavad Gita Recitation in Spanish
Listen to the video of Pedro Nonell with English subtitles
Bhagavad Gita recited in Spanish (Pedro Nonell) and Sanskrit (Dr Ghazal Srinivas)
Chapter 12 of the Bhagavad Gita (, Comments by ): The Yoga of Devotion
Buy the Book: The Yoga of Wisdom (Spanish) by
Chapter 12 of the Bhagavad Gita (Gandhi): The Yoga of Devotion (Bhakti)
Chapter 12 of the Bhagavad Gita (versified)
Consult the Chapters of the Bhagavad Gita
- 1- Arjuna’s Despondency
- 2- Sankhya (Jnana) Yoga
- 3- The Yoga of Action
- 4- The Yoga of Knowledge and Renunciation of Action
- 5- The Yoga of Renunciation of action
- 6- The Yoga of Meditation
- 7- The Yoga of Knowledge of Brahman
- 8- The Yoga of Parabrahman
- 9- The Yoga of Royal Knowledge
- 10- The Yoga of Divine Glories
- 11- The Yoga of the Universal Form
- 13- The Yoga of the Field
- 14- The Yoga of the Three Gunas
- 15- The Yoga of the Supreme Person
- 16- The Yoga of Divine Inheritance
- 17- The Yoga of the Threefold Faith
- 18- The Yoga of Liberation
(c) Gita Institute & Pedro Nonell
