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Bhagavad Gita · 12.5 · The Yoga of Devotion·5 of 20

क्लेशोऽधिकतरस्तेषामव्यक्तासक्तचेतसाम्अव्यक्ता हि गतिर्दुःखं देहवद्भिरवाप्यते

kleśho ’dhikataras teṣhām

avyaktāsakta-chetasām avyaktā hi gatir duḥkhaṁ dehavadbhir avāpyate

Sanskrit recitation

Many paths, one devotion · 12.1–12.12 · Teaching

Translation

Greater is their trouble whose minds are set on the unmanifested, for the goal of the unmanifested is very hard for the embodied to reach.

Meaning

Worshippers of the Saguna (qualified) and the Nirguna (unqualified) Brahman reach the same goal. But the latter path is very hard and arduous, because the aspirant has to give up attachment to the body from the very beginning of his spiritual practice.The embodied Those who identify themselves with their bodies. Identification with the body is Dehabhimana. The imperishable Brahman is very hard to reach for those who are attached to their bodies. Further, it is extremely difficult to fix the resltess mind on the formless and attributeless Brahman. Contemplation on the imperishable, attributeless Brahman demands a very sharp, onepointed and subtle intellect. The Upanishad says Drisyate tu agraya buddhya sukshmaya sukshmadarsibhih -- It is seen by subtle seers through their subtle intellect.He who meditates on the unmanifested should possess the four means. Then he will have to approach a Guru who is well versed in the scriptures and who is also established in Brahman. He will have to hear the Truth from him, then reflect and meditate on It.He who realises the Nirguna (attributeless) Brahman attains eternal bliss or Selfrealisation or Kaivalya (Moksha) which is preceded by the destruction of ignorance with its effects. He who realises the Saguna Brahman (Brahman with attributes) goes to Brahmaloka and enjoys all the wealth and powers of the Lord

After Swami Sivananda

Many paths, one devotion· 12.1–12.12

Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.

Word-by-word
hi
indeed
avyakta
to the unmanifest
gatiḥ
path
āsakta
attached
avyaktā
the unmanifest
avāpyate
is reached
chetasām
whose minds
duḥkham
exceeding difficulty
teṣhām
of those
kleśhaḥ
tribulations
adhika-taraḥ
full of
deha-vadbhiḥ
for the embodied

Related verses

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