Gita 12.13 Devotion manifests as action, even aggression, without mundane passion

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peace. Thank you.

Bhagavad Gita 12.13 From here onwards, Krishna is describing the qualities of those devotees who, whose devotion endears themselves to, who by their qualities endear themselves to him. Now this is a different section from the previous section. 13 to 20 is another section.

The Bhagavad Gita's 12th chapter basically can be divided into three sections. 12.1 to 7 talks about the centrality, about the superiority of worshipping the personal absolute as compared to the impersonal, impersonal absolute. And 8 to 12 talk about various levels at which bhakti can be practiced.

And 13 to 20 talk about the qualities in the devotee that endear the devotee to Krishna. So what this means is, Krishna is actually stating that it is not just devotion. Devotion is important, but it is not just devotion that is all-important.

That means, Krishna is pleased by devotees who have qualities, certain qualities. So devotion is not to be isolated from the development of character. Rather, devotion that accompanies the transformation of character, the manifestation of attractive qualities according to one's character.

That is the devotion that is most pleasing to Krishna. So devotion that actually helps a person to develop character, that is the devotion that Krishna is attracted to. That is the devotion that Krishna appreciates the most.

That is the devotion that Krishna wants to see manifested in his devotees. So most of these verses they end with some variant of, such devotees are dear to me. This means that Krishna wants devotees, Krishna wants devotees who are such devotees, that means devotees with qualities and they are dear to him.

And let's look at the qualities here. So this 13 and 14 is one combined thought. So the conclusion is common for both of them.

Yomad Bhakta say Priya will come at the end of the 14th text. Here it is stated that Advaita Sarvabhootanam. Advaita, one who is a non-envious, friend of all living beings.

Sarvabhootanam, Mitra, Karuna, compassionate. Now what this means is that normally we feel strongly sympathetic towards some people, empathic towards some people, and we may even feel apathetic or even antipathetic towards others. This kind of variation is natural within the growth that comprises bhakti, within the process that comprises growth in bhakti.

And dealing with such variation requires maturity. So we may not be close to everyone. That's just a matter of disposition.

We cannot be intimate with everyone. We are finite beings and we have certain likes and dislikes. So we cannot be intimate with everyone.

But just because we can't be intimate with everyone doesn't mean that we have to be averse to anyone. So it says Krishna is Sarvabhootanam. Then so is Sarvabhootanam.

It was said over here. 5.29 said that the devotees are the well-wishers of all living beings. Similarly, it is stated over here that actually Krishna is Advaita Sarvabhootanam.

Devotees of Krishna are also non-envious friends of all living beings. Advaita Sarvabhootanam, Maitra Karunaivacha, that they are the friends of all living beings, non-envious friends of all living beings. And Nirmama Nirahankara.

Now it's very significant that on a battlefield when Arjuna is going to fight a war, Arjuna is going to actually have to kill his enemies. And Krishna is urging Arjuna to take up the process of Bhakti. That's very clear from many verses.

9.34 said, manmana bhava mad-bhakto. And even the Chatur Shloki Bhagavad Gita talks about becoming a devotee. And the end of the verse, that has already come in the 9th and 10th chapters.

And mad-karma-karun mad-karma-paramo, 11.55 also it has come, mad-bhakta-sanga-varjitaha. And at the end of the Bhagavad Gita also, 18.65-66, it will come, manmana bhava mad-bhakto. And sarva-dharman parityajya.

So when all this has already come, the question may come, why is there so much concern? Why is there so much confusion? Why is there so much worry about not being averse towards anyone? You could say that fighting, doesn't it require, one has to be angry. In fact, so angry one has to be that one feels that there is no resolution other than aggression or violence. But Krishna is telling over here to fight without animosity.

So the first quality that Krishna talks about, advesha sarva-bhutana maitra karuna eva ca, this signifies that the Bhagavad Gita is definitely not recommending a mundane war of vengeance, wherein one is to settle past scores by fighting. Now Arjuna, as he has been told, had become an instrument of the Divine, tasmat tamutishtha yashola bhasva. And that means he should become godly.

So just as God is the well-wisher of all living beings, Arjuna as the devotee should also be the well-wisher of all living beings. And becoming a well-wisher of all living beings naturally implies being devoted. It naturally implies being sincere in one's practice.

And it means that one has to put aside one's personal emotions. And that same theme comes later also in the other half, in the latter half of the verse, nirmamo nirahankara. And this theme has been talked on earlier, the same phrase nirmamo nirahankara came in 2.71, yahaya kaman yah sarvan pomams charati nisproha nirmamo nirahankara sa shanti madhi gacchati.

And then samadukha sukha kshami. So be equipoised in happiness and distress, be tolerant. Now kshami, kshami can mean tolerant, it can mean forgiving.

So fight not in anger and vengeance, fight not with arrogance and possessiveness, fight with a dispassion, fight with devotion. So the significance of these qualities is universal. All devotees are expected to have these qualities.

Additionally, that a person on a war field is expected to have these qualities makes it even more extraordinary. It makes it especially significant for those who are sadhakas to recognize how glorious is the path.