Verse 13.11
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
मयि चानन्ययोगेन भक्तिरव्यभिचारिणी | विविक्तदेशसेवित्वमरतिर्जनसंसदि ||११||
Transliteration (IAST)
mayi cānanya-yogena bhaktir avyabhicāriṇī | vivikta-deśa-sevitvam aratir jana-saṁsadi ||11||
Word-by-Word Meanings
mayi-in Me
ananya-yogena-with unswerving union
bhaktiḥ-devotion
avyabhicāriṇī-unfailing/unwavering
vivikta-deśa-sevitvam-resorting to solitary places
aratiḥ-absence of delight
jana-saṁsadi-in the company of people
Translation
Unswerving devotion to Me through exclusive yoga, resorting to solitary places, and distaste for the company of worldly people -
Commentary
Devotion (bhakti) is included among the qualities of knowledge, showing that jñāna and bhakti are not opposed but complementary. Ramanuja highlights this verse as evidence that devotion is the culmination of the knowledge-path. The preference for solitude reflects the need for an undistracted mind in contemplative practice.
Themes
bhaktijnanayoga