Bhagavad Gita BG 12.20
Chapter 12, Verse 20 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
ये तु धर्म्यामृतमिदं यथोक्तं पर्युपासते । श्रद्दधाना मत्परमा भक्तास्तेऽतीव मे प्रियाः ॥
ye tu dharmyamrtam idam yathoktam paryupasate shraddadhana mat-parama bhaktas te 'tiva me priyah
Meaning
But those who follow this immortal dharma as described, endowed with faith, regarding Me as the supreme — those devotees are exceedingly dear to Me.
Understanding
The closing verse of Ch12. Dharmyamrtam idam (this immortal dharma — the teaching of bhakti yoga described in this chapter). Yathoktam paryupasate (follow/worship as described). Shraddadhana (with shraddha — faith/heartfelt commitment). Mat-parama (regarding Me as the supreme). Bhaktas te atIva me priyah (those devotees are EXCEEDINGLY dear to Me — atIva, the emphatic superlative). The entire chapter of bhakti culminates in this: the devotee who follows this path is supremely dear (atIva priya) to the Divine. Priya — not just respected but DEAR — the language of love.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| धर्म्यामृतम् | dharmyamrtam | the immortal dharma, the nectar of dharma |
| यथोक्तम् | yathoktam | as described, as stated |
| श्रद्दधानाः | shraddadhanah | endowed with shraddha, with heartfelt faith |
| मत्परमाः | mat-paramah | regarding Me as supreme |
| अतीव | atIva | exceedingly, greatly, very much |
| ये | ye | those who |
| तु | tu | but |
| धर्म्य-अमृतम् | dharmya-amṛtam | the nectar of righteousness |
| इदम् | idam | this |
| यथा | yathā | as |
| उक्तम् | uktam | stated, described |
| पर्युपासते | paryupāsate | follow, practice |
| श्रद्दधानाः | śraddadhānāḥ | having faith |
| मत्-परमाः | mat-paramāḥ | having Me as the supreme goal |
| भक्ताः | bhaktāḥ | devotees |
| ते | te | they |
| अतीव | atīva | extremely |
| मे | me | to Me |
| प्रियाः | priyāḥ | dear |