Bhakti (Devotion)

In this sections we will try to understand the verses centered around bhakti (devotion).

Even a small amount of dharma (righteousness) will rescue you from great fear.

नेहाभिक्रमनाशोऽस्ति प्रत्यवायो न विद्यते ।
स्वल्पमप्यस्य धर्मस्य त्रायते महतो भयात् ॥२:४०॥

Lord Krishna says to Arjun:
Putting forth the effort here, there is no destruction, nor there is diminution. Even a little of this, of performing of the established duties, rescues one from great fear.

These kinds of people won't worship me.

न मां दुष्कृतिनो मूढाः प्रपद्यन्ते नराधमाः ।
माययापहृतज्ञाना आसुरं भावमाश्रिताः ॥७:१५॥

Lord Krishna says to Arjun:
The bewildered bad actors, the vilest men, the ones whose knowledge is carried away by illusion and those taking refuge in demonic instincts, will not step towards me.

Four kinds of people worship me.

चतुर्विधा भजन्ते मां जनाः सुकृतिनोऽर्जुन ।
आर्तो जिज्ञासुरर्थार्थी ज्ञानी च भरतर्षभ ॥७:१६॥

Lord Krishna says to Arjun:
O Arjun, four categories of people worship me doing good actions. Distressed, inquisitive, those seeking wealth and the wise; O superior of the descendants of Bharat!

I am easily available to those who always keep me in their thoughts.

अनन्यचेताः सततं यो मां स्मरति नित्यशः ।
तस्याहं सुलभः पार्थ नित्ययुक्तस्य योगिनः ॥८:१४॥

Lord Krishna says to Arjun:
For them who constantly think of me and have no other thoughts, always remain engaged in devotion, O Paartha (Arjun)! I am easily available to them.

Women, vaishyas, shudras, paraiah and lower species can reach the ultimate abode.

मां हि पार्थ व्यपाश्रित्य येऽपि स्युः पापयोनयः ।
स्त्रियो वैश्यास्तथा शूद्रास्तेऽपि यान्ति परां गतिम् ॥९:३२॥

Lord Krishna says to Arjun:
Anyone who takes refuge in me, O Paartha (Arjun), be they women, Vaishyas (people of farming and merchant class), Shudras (people of the helper class), and even the pariah (outcast) and lower species can enter the highest abode.

I give wisdom to those who always engage in worshipping.

तेषां सततयुक्तानां भजतां प्रीतिपूर्वकम् ।
ददामि बुद्धियोगं तं येन मामुपयान्ति ते ॥१०:१०॥

Lord Krishna says to Arjun:
To them who are continually engaged in worshipping me with affection, I give them the power of union with intelligence by which they can arrive at me.

Renunciation of fruits of actions is better than meditation, knowledge and practice.

श्रेयो हि ज्ञानमभ्यासाज्ज्ञानाद्ध्यानं विशिष्यते ।
ध्यानात्कर्मफलत्यागस्त्यागाच्छान्तिरनन्तरम् ॥१२:१२॥

Lord Krishna says to Arjun:
Knowledge is indeed better than the practice; meditation excels than knowledge; Renunciation of results of actions in better than meditation; the peace afterward is better than renunciation.

The supreme personality is only achievable through devotion.

पुरुषः स परः पार्थ भक्त्या लभ्यस्त्वनन्यया ।
यस्यान्तः स्थानि भूतानि येन सर्वमिदं ततम् ॥८:२२॥

Lord Krishna says to Arjun:
The supreme personality beyond that, O Paartha (Arjun), is but achievable only by devotion, not by other means. Inside of this all-pervading in this manner, abide all the created beings.

You can worship any form of god with faith.

यो यो यां यां तनुं भक्तः श्रद्धयार्चितुमिच्छति ।
तस्य तस्याचलां श्रद्धां तामेव विदधाम्यहम् ॥७:२१॥

Lord Krishna says to Arjun:
Whoever wishes to worship and becomes devotee of whichever form with faith, I just give steady faith to them of the respective form.

But the result you get will be temporary. But my devotees will enter me!

अन्तवत्तु फलं तेषां तद्भवत्यल्पमेधसाम्।
देवान्देवयजो यान्ति मद्भक्ता यान्ति मामपि ॥७:२३॥

Lord Krishna says to Arjun:
The result of them, for those with little knowledge, is but temporary. Worshippers of the gods goes to that god, but my worshipper enters me.