Gita 12.8
मय्येव मन आधत्स्व मयि बुद्धिं निवेशय |
निवसिष्यसि मय्येव अत ऊर्ध्वं न संशय: || 8||
mayy eva mana ādhatsva mayi buddhiṁ niveśhaya
nivasiṣhyasi mayy eva ata ūrdhvaṁ na sanśhayaḥ
Shree Krishna emphasises the importance of worshipping Him through the personal form by fixing the mind on God and surrendering the intellect to Him. The mind creates desires and attachments, while the intellect discriminates and analyses. True devotion requires engaging the mind, not just the senses, since without mental focus, physical acts are meaningless. The mind alone can experience all sensory perceptions, as seen in dreams.
Scriptures stress that liberation or bondage depends on the state of the mind. However, beyond the mind is the intellect, which is often clouded by illusion and habitual material thinking. The intellect tends to make three key errors:
- Mistaking the body for the self.
- Believing worldly objects are permanent.
- Seeking lasting happiness in fleeting pleasures.
In everyday life, we rely on experts like doctors or lawyers when faced with situations beyond our knowledge, surrendering our intellect to their guidance. Similarly, to progress spiritually, we must surrender this flawed intellect and align our thinking with divine wisdom through scriptures and the guidance of a genuine Guru. This is the essence of surrender: to follow God's will rather than relying on our own imperfect understanding.
BG 12.9
अथ चित्तं समाधातुं न शक्नोषि मयि स्थिरम् |
अभ्यासयोगेन ततो मामिच्छाप्तुं धनञ्जय || 9||
atha chittaṁ samādhātuṁ na śhaknoṣhi mayi sthiram
abhyāsa-yogena tato mām ichchhāptuṁ dhanañjaya
Fixing the mind on Shree Krishna is the goal of spiritual practice (sādhanā), but perfection is not expected at the beginning. For those who cannot fully concentrate on God, Shree Krishna advises abhyāsa yog—repeated, devotional practice. Each time the mind strays, it should be gently brought back to God by remembering His Names, Forms, Qualities, Pastimes, Abodes, and Associates.
Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj also stresses the importance of this effort, urging seekers to constantly withdraw the mind from the world and refocus it on God through regular practice:
jagata te mana ko haṭā kara, lagā hari meñ pyāre
isī kā abhyāsa puni puni, karu nirantara pyāre (Sādhanā Karu Pyāre)
"O dear one, remove the mind from the world and fix it on God. Practice this constantly, again and again!"
BG 12.10
अभ्यासेऽप्यसमर्थोऽसि मत्कर्मपरमो भव |
मदर्थमपि कर्माणि कुर्वन्सिद्धिमवाप्स्यसि || 10||
abhyāse ’py asamartho ’si mat-karma-paramo bhava
mad-artham api karmāṇi kurvan siddhim avāpsyasi
Remembering God constantly is difficult because the mind, made of material energy, is naturally drawn to the world. For those who struggle with continuous remembrance, Shree Krishna advises practising working for God. Whatever duties one performs—whether household responsibilities, earning a living, or caring for the body—should be done with the intention of pleasing God.
Instead of acting out of attachment or for personal gain, one should shift their inner consciousness to see all actions as service to the Lord. By doing so, selfish motives are gradually replaced by devotional purposes. Over time, this practice steadies the mind, deepens love for God, and leads to the ability to remember Him constantly.
BG 12.11
अथैतदप्यशक्तोऽसि कर्तुं मद्योगमाश्रित: |
सर्वकर्मफलत्यागं तत: कुरु यतात्मवान् || 11||
athaitad apy aśhakto ’si kartuṁ mad-yogam āśhritaḥ
sarva-karma-phala-tyāgaṁ tataḥ kuru yatātmavān
After offering three paths for Arjun's welfare, Shree Krishna now gives a fourth option for those not yet ready to work for God due to a lack of spiritual clarity or conviction. He advises Arjun to continue his duties as before but remain detached from the fruits of his actions. This practice of detachment purifies the mind by reducing the influence of ignorance (tamas) and passion (rajas), and elevates it to goodness (sattva). As a result, the intellect becomes stronger and more capable of understanding spiritual truths, enabling progress to higher stages of spiritual practice (sādhanā).
BG 12.12
श्रेयो हि ज्ञानमभ्यासाज्ज्ञानाद्ध्यानं विशिष्यते |
ध्यानात्कर्मफलत्यागस्त्यागाच्छान्तिरनन्तरम् || 12||
śhreyo hi jñānam abhyāsāj jñānād dhyānaṁ viśhiṣhyate
dhyānāt karma-phala-tyāgas tyāgāch chhāntir anantaram
Many people engage in mechanical religious rituals without involving their mind or heart, treating devotion as a ceremonial habit. While such practice is not harmful and is better than no devotion at all, Shree Krishna explains that spiritual knowledge is higher. Knowledge helps one understand that God-realization, not material success, is life's true goal.
However, knowledge alone cannot purify the heart. A higher practice is meditation, where the mind is actively engaged and gradually develops detachment from worldly pleasures. Once some detachment is achieved, the next step is renunciation of the fruits of actions, which helps remove material attachments and strengthens the intellect, preparing the seeker for more advanced stages of spiritual progress.
Summary: JKYog India Online Class- Bhagavad Gita [English]- 31.5.2025
