Chapter 12. Devotional
Service
TEXT 20
ye tu dharmamrtam idam
yathoktam paryupasate
sraddadhana mat-parama
bhaktas te 'tiva me priyah
SYNONYMS
ye--one
who; tu--but; dharma--of religion; amrtam--nectar;
idam--this; yatha--as; uktam--said; paryupasate--completely
engage; sraddadhanah--with faith; mat-paramah--taking the
Supreme Lord as everything; bhaktah--devotees; te--such persons;
ativa--very, very; me--Me; priyah--dear.
TRANSLATION
He who follows
this imperishable path of devotional service and who completely engages
himself with faith, making Me the supreme goal, is very, very dear to Me.
PURPORT
In this chapter
the religion of eternal engagement, the explanation of the processes of
transcendental service for approaching the Supreme Lord, is given. This
process is very dear to the Lord, and He accepts a person who is engaged
in such a process. The question who is better--one who is engaged in the
path of impersonal Brahman or one who is engaged in the personal service
of the Supreme Personality of Godhead--was raised by Arjuna, and the Lord
replied to him so explicitly that there is no doubt that devotional service
to the Personality of Godhead is the best of all processes of spiritual
realization. In other words, in this chapter it is decided that through
good association, one develops attachment for pure devotional service and
thereby accepts a bona fide spiritual master and from him begins to hear
and chant and observe the regulative principles of devotional service with
faith, attachment and devotion and thus becomes engaged in the transcendental
service of the Lord. This path is recommended in this chapter; therefore
there is no doubt that devotional service is the only absolute path for
self-realization, for the attainment of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
The impersonal conception of the Supreme Absolute Truth, as described in
this chapter, is recommended only up to the time one surrenders himself
for self-realization. In other words, as long as one does not have the
chance to associate with a pure devotee, the impersonal conception may
be beneficial. In the impersonal conception of the Absolute Truth one works
without fruitive result, meditates and cultivates knowledge to understand
spirit and matter. This is necessary as long as one is not in the association
of a pure devotee. Fortunately, if one develops directly a desire to engage
in Krsna consciousness in pure devotional service, he does not need to
undergo step by step improvements in spiritual realization. Devotional
service, as described in the middle six chapters of the Bhagavad-gita,
is more congenial. One need not bother about materials to keep body and
soul together because by the grace of the Lord everything is carried out
automatically.
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta Purports to the Twelfth
Chapter of the Srimad Bhagavad-gita in the matter of Devotional
Service.
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