ye tu
dharmāmṛtam idaṁ
yathoktaṁ paryupāsate
śraddadhānā mat-paramā
bhaktās te ’tīva me priyāḥ
yathoktaṁ paryupāsate
śraddadhānā mat-paramā
bhaktās te ’tīva me priyāḥ
Word for word:
ye — those who; tu — but; dharma —
of religion; amṛtam —
nectar; idam —
this; yathā —
as; uktam —
said; paryupāsate
— completely engage; śraddadhānāḥ
— with faith; mat-paramāḥ —
taking Me, the Supreme Lord, as everything; bhaktāḥ —
devotees; te — they;
atīva —
very, very; me — to
Me; priyāḥ —
dear.
Translation:
Those who
follow this imperishable path of devotional service and who completely engage
themselves with faith, making Me the supreme goal, are very, very dear to Me.
Purport:
In this chapter, from verse 2 through
the end – from mayy āveśya mano ye mām (“fixing the
mind on Me”) through ye tu dharmāmṛtam idam (“this
religion of eternal engagement”) – the Supreme Lord has explained the processes
of transcendental service for approaching Him. Such processes are very dear to
the Lord, and He accepts a person engaged in them. The question of 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 Kṛṣṇa 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 Bhagavad-gītā, 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 Śrīmad
Bhagavad-gītā in the matter of Devotional Service.