अर्जुन उवाचएवं सततयुक्ता ये भक्तास्त्वां पर्युपासते ।
येचाप्यक्षरमव्यक्तं तेषां के योगवित्तमाः ॥
येचाप्यक्षरमव्यक्तं तेषां के योगवित्तमाः ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
जो भक्त इस प्रकार निरन्तर आपमें लगे रहकर आपसगुण भगवान् की उपासना करते हैं और जो अविनाशी निराकारकी ही उपासना करते हैं, उनमेंसे उत्तम योगवेत्ता कौन हैं ॥
English
Arjuna said: Those devotees who worship You with constant devotion, and those who worship the imperishable, unmanifest reality—who among them are the most accomplished in yoga?
What this verse means
Arjuna asks whether devoted worship of Krishna or worship of the imperishable, formless reality is the higher yoga.
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, with Arjuna still uncertain and the battle waiting, he asks Krishna a sharp question: is loving the personal divine better, or is worshipping the unmanifest absolute higher? Chapter 12 begins by comparing two ways of devotion.
Why this verse still matters
You stand between two paths: a relationship that feels alive, and a principle that feels pure. The question is not weak — it is the mind trying to find the deepest way to give itself.
The takeaway
It is honest to ask which form of devotion leads deepest.
Word-by-word translation
अर्जुन उवाच (Arjuna said) / एवम् (thus) / सततयुक्ताः (constantly devoted) / ये (those who) / भक्ताः (devotees) / त्वाम् (You) / पर्युपासते (worship) / ये (those who) / च (and) / अपि (also) / अक्षरम् (the imperishable) / अव्यक्तम् (the unmanifest) / तेषाम् (of them) / के (which) / योगवित्तमाः (most accomplished in yoga)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 12: Bhakti Yoga — The Yoga of Devotion, which contains 20 verses.
Explore related themes: bhakti (69 verses), akshara (12 verses), avyakta (10 verses)