Bhakti Yoga · Verse 16

Bhagavad Gita 12.16

True closeness releases craving, anxiety, and compulsive beginning.

Wisdom translation, edited by Ankur Shukla. Commentary AI-drafted, human-reviewed. Reviewed June 2026. Methodology →

अनपेक्षः शुचिर्दक्ष उदासीनो गतव्यथः ।
सर्वारम्भपरित्यागी यो मद्भक्तः स मे प्रियः ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
जो आकाङ्क्षासे रहित, बाहरभीतरसे पवित्र, दक्ष, उदासीन, व्यथासे रहित और सभी आरम्भोंका अर्थात् नयेनये कर्मोंके आरम्भका सर्वथा त्यागी है, वह मेरा भक्त मुझे प्रिय है ॥
English
One who has no expectation, is pure, skilled, detached, free from anxiety, and has given up all undertakings is dear to me, my devotee.

What this verse means

Krishna says his beloved devotee has no craving, stays inwardly clean, acts skillfully, remains detached, and drops anxious new beginnings.

Context & commentary

On Kurukshetra, Arjuna stands frozen while Krishna defines the devotee who is truly close to him. This verse adds another layer to the chapter’s portrait: the beloved one has no craving, no inner agitation, and no urge to keep launching new projects from restlessness.

Why this verse still matters

You keep opening new tabs, new plans, new fixes because stillness feels unbearable. This verse points to a calmer strength: do what is needed, but stop feeding anxiety with constant beginnings.

The takeaway

Devotion here feels light, not needy. Love becomes cleaner when grasping and restless starting are gone.

Word-by-word translation

अनपेक्षः (without expectation) / शुचिः (pure) / दक्षः (skilled) / उदासीनः (detached) / गतव्यथः (free from distress) / सर्वारम्भपरित्यागी (one who has given up all undertakings) / यः (who) / मद्भक्तः (my devotee) / सः (that one) / मे (to me) / प्रियः (dear)

Explore related themes: bhakti (69 verses), sattva (26 verses), surrender (23 verses)

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