Chapter 12, Verse 12
Bhakti Yoga — Sanskrit shloka, transliteration, word meanings, English translation, and commentary.
Original Sanskrit verse
Transliteration
Word meanings
śhreyaḥ—better; hi—for; jñānam—knowledge; abhyāsāt—than (mechanical) practice; jñānāt—than knowledge; dhyānam—meditation; viśhiṣhyate—better; dhyānāt—than meditation; karma-phala-tyāgaḥ—renunciation of the fruits of actions; tyāgāt—renunciation; śhāntiḥ—peace; anantaram—immediately
English translation
Better 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 Sivananda
Listen to Shloka 12.12
Commentary
Theoretical or indirect knowledge of Brahman gained from the scriptures is better than the practice (of restraining the modifications of the mind or worship of idols or selfmortification for the purpose of control of the mind and the senses) accompained with ignorance. Meditation is better than theoretical knowledge. Renunciation of the fruits of actions is bettern than meditation. Renunciation of the fruits of all actions as a means to the attainment of supreme peace or Moksha is merely eulogised here by the declaration of the superiority of one over the other to encourage Arjuna (and other spiritual aspirants) to practise Nishkama Karma Yoga; to create a strong desire in them to take up the Yoga of selfless action; in the same manner as by saying that the ocean was drunk by the Brahmana sage Agastya even the Brahmanas of this age are extolled because they are also Brahmanas. Desire is an enemy of peace. Desire causes restlessness of the mind. Desire is the source of all human miseries; sorrows and troubles. Stop the play of desire through discrimination; dispassion and eniry into the nature of the Self then you will enjoy supreme peace. Renunciation of the fruits of actions; is prescribed for the purification of the aspirants heart. It annihlates desire; the enemy of wisdom. The sage; too; renounces the fruits of actions. It has become natural to him to do so.
Commentary by Swami Sivananda
Read Bhagavad Gita Offline
Save bookmarks, listen to Sanskrit shloka recitations, and track your daily spiritual reading progress in our lightweight Android mobile app.