Verse 12.1

अर्जुन उवाचएवं सततयुक्ता ये भक्तास्त्वां पर्युपासते।येचाप्यक्षरमव्यक्तं तेषां के योगवित्तमाः।।12.1।।

arjuna uvācha evaṁ satata-yuktā ye bhaktās tvāṁ paryupāsate ye chāpy akṣharam avyaktaṁ teṣhāṁ ke yoga-vittamāḥ

Meaning

Arjuna said, "Yo, who's more legit at Yoga—the peeps who are always worshipping you, or the ones who worship the unmanifested, the ultimate mystery?"

Commentary

Okay, so this chapter is all about proving that Bhakti Yoga, which is like, totally devoted worship, is way easier than Jnana Yoga, which is all about knowledge. With Bhakti Yoga, you're vibing with the Lord, building a super close relationship. You're cultivating these five different vibes, depending on what you're feeling: Santa Bhava (peaceful chill), Dasya Bhava (servant mode), Sakhya Bhava (BFFs), Vatsalya Bhava (parent-child love), and Madhurya Bhava (romantic love). The ultimate goal is Madhurya Bhava—total merging with the Lord. You're showing love by remembering them, singing their praises, spreading the word, chanting mantras, praying, doing prostrations, listening to their stories, and basically surrendering your whole life. You start with idols or symbols, then you move to internal worship, and finally, you reach the ultimate worship of Brahman. Avyaktam, the unmanifested, is like, the ultimate mystery, beyond our senses. Devotees are all about the Lord, worshipping them with their whole hearts. Then there are the peeps who worship the unmanifested Brahman—the wise sages. So, who's better at Yoga? The devotees or the knowledge peeps?