Chapter 12, Verse 16 (Bhagavad Gita 12.16)
Chapter 12: Bhakti Yog – The Yoga of Devotion
Sanskrit Shloka
अनपेक्षः शुचिर्दक्ष उदासीनो गतव्यथः।सर्वारम्भपरित्यागी यो मद्भक्तः स मे प्रियः
Transliteration
anapekṣhaḥ śhuchir dakṣha udāsīno gata-vyathaḥ sarvārambha-parityāgī yo mad-bhaktaḥ sa me priyaḥ
Word Meanings
anapekṣhaḥ—indifferent to worldly gain; śhuchiḥ—pure; dakṣhaḥ—skillful; udāsīnaḥ—without cares; gata-vyathaḥ—untroubled; sarva-ārambha—of all undertakings; parityāgī—renouncer; saḥ—who; mat-bhaktaḥ—my devotee; saḥ—he; me—to ne; priyaḥ—very dear
Translation
He who is free from wants, pure, expert, unconcerned, and free from pain, renouncing all undertakings and commencements, he who is devoted to Me is dear to Me.
Meaning & Commentary
In this profound verse, Bhagwan Shri Krishna defines the internal state of a perfected soul who has surrendered completely to His divine will. Such a devotee transcends the dualities of worldly life, remaining untouched by personal desires or the anxieties of material activity, as they have offered every endeavor unto the Supreme Lord. By becoming an instrument of Shri Krishna’s grace, the seeker achieves a state of constant purity and expert action without the binding weight of egoistic attachment. This renunciation is not of action itself, but of the false sense of doership, allowing the devotee to dwell perpetually in the eternal embrace of Lord Krishna. Ultimately, Shri Krishna reveals that the heart which has become a sanctuary for His love is the most precious treasure to Him.