Arjuna inquired: Of those devotees who are constantly engaged in worshipping You (as Syamasundar, Your original humanlike form) with exclusive devotion, and those who worship the impersonal Brahman, who is the best knower of yoga?

The Supreme Lord said: In My opinion, those who with faith in the divine are absorbed in thought of Me, Syamasundar, and worship Me constantly with exclusive devotion, are the superior knowers of yoga.

However, those who fully control their senses, who are equal-minded towards everything, who are
dedicated to the welfare of all beings and thus worship My indefinable, impersonal, all-pervading, inconceivable, unchanging, immovable, eternal, attributeless aspect of Brahman — they, too, attain Me (as Brahman).

Persons whose minds are attached to the impersonal Brahman must undergo a greater struggle, as the path of attaining the impersonal Brahman is difficult for the embodied soul.

But those who offer all their actions to Me, take refuge in Me, their hearts absorbed in thought of Me in pure devotion and who thus worship and adore Me — O Partha, I swiftly deliver such dedicated souls from the deathly ocean of material suffering.

So fix your mind in Me always and repose your intelligence in Me, Syamasundar, and you will ultimately abide in Me. Of this there is no doubt.

O Dhananjaya, and if you are unable to firmly fix your mind in Me, try to attain Me by the repeated practice of remembering Me.

If you cannot do that either, concentrate on offering your actions to Me. You will attain perfection through actions performed for Me.

And if you cannot do that, then resolve to give up, for Me, the fruits of your actions.

For knowledge of Me is superior to mere practice, and meditation on Me is superior to knowledge alone; from meditation comes the selflessness of giving up, for Me, the fruits of action, following which peace ensues.

One who is without hatred, who is friendly and compassionate towards all, free from possessiveness and ego, equipoised in unhappy and happy circumstances, forgiving, always content, a self-controlled yogi of firm resolve who has given his mind and intelligence to Me — such a person is My devotee, and he is dear to Me.

One who causes no disturbance to anyone and who is not disturbed by anyone, who is free from elation, anger, fear, and grief — he is dear to Me.

One who is without expectation, clean hearted, able, impartial, fearless, and a renouncer of all selfish undertakings — he is My devotee, he is dear to Me.

One who is neither elated nor resentful, who neither laments nor hankers as he has renounced both auspicious and inauspicious endeavours, and who is endowed with devotion — he is dear to Me.

A person who sees with equality an enemy and friend; who is equipoised in honour and dishonour, and in the presence of cold, heat, pleasure, and pain; who has given up all attachment; who considers abuse and praise equally; who is contemplative; who is satisfied in all circumstances; who has no attachment to hearth and home; whose mind is peaceful, and who is endowed with devotion — he is dear to Me.

Those faithful devotees who, knowing Me as the supreme goal of life, wholeheartedly follow the nectarean path I have described, are very dear to Me.