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Compiled by Jayaram V
In the Bhagavad-Gita we come across several references to the marks of
a true devotee and the qualities of a perfect karmayogi. For the
benefit of our readers, we have assembled here some of these verses
under the following headings. To read the verses please click on each
link.
The marks of God realized soul 
When a person gives up all the desires in his thoughtful state and
when his inner self is satisfied within itself, at that time he is
said to be a 'sthithapragna' ( established in the stability of mind).
Undisturbed amidst three fold miseries, immobile in happiness, free
from attraction, fear and anger, who is everywhere without affection,
who does not praise or loathe auspicious or inauspicious events, who
can withdraw his senses completely from the sense objects like a
tortoise withdraws its limbs, and he who establishes them in God, his
mind is stabilized.
The state which is considered as night (unknown) by all the beings
is a state of enlightenment for the awakened soul but the state in
which all beings think they are awake is the state of ignorance for
the practitioner of self-control.
As the ocean which is though full of water remains undisturbed when
the river waters continue to flow into it, the awakened soul remain
undisturbed to the stream of desires flowing into him. Not him who is
desirous of fulfilling his desires. He who gives up all his desires
and lives without the awareness of any need, without any sense of
ownership and egoism, he attains peace.
"This is the state of realization, after achieving which one is not
deluded. At the time of death if one remains in this state of
consciousness one achieves the state of Brahma nirvana (the state of
Supreme realization.) (Chapter 2.54-71).
The Perfect Karma Yogi
The karmayogi, who, regulating his senses by his mind, begins
karmayoga (yoga of action) without any attachment is the
best.(Chapter3)
The man of knowledge knowing well the difference between action and
qualities of nature and that qualities move amidst qualities is never
attached to actions.(Chapter3)
He who sees action in inaction and inaction in action, he is a man
with intelligence in human society and he is fit to engage in all
activities.(Chapter4)
He whose actions are devoid of desire and are burned by the fire of
knowledge, is declared as knowledgeable by the wise.(Chapter4)
"Renouncing all attachments to the fruit of actions, contended,
without seeking any one help he certainly does nothing though engaged
in all activities.(Chapter4)
"Without any explanations, with the mind stabilized in the self ,
giving up all possessions, using the body solely for doing ordained
work, he incurs no sin.(Chapter4)
Happy with whatever that is coming in his way, remaining above the
sense of duality, freed from jealousy, with equanimity in both success
and failure, he is not held responsible (for his actions) although he is
engaged in actions.(Chapter4)
He who is freed from attachment, whose mind is fixed firmly in the
Divine knowledge, who is engaged in the acts of sacrifice, his actions
are completely liberated from bondage.(Chapter4)
"The offering is Brahman, the oblation is Brahman, the sacrificial
fire is Brahman, the sacrificer is Brahman. He certainly attains
Brahman who finds Brahman situated in all activities.(Chapter4)
He who renounces all the fruits of his actions, whose doubts are
cleared by wisdom and who has turned inwardly into his self, is never
bound by any action. (Chapter4)
But those who destroy their ignorance by means of knowledge, their
knowledge illuminates and reveals the Supreme Lord like the rising sun
Aditya.(Chapter5)
Those whose intelligence and self are established in the Supreme,
who have taken the vows to attain the Supreme, who have taken shelter
in the Supreme, attain the liberation, cleansed of all impurities by
knowledge.(Chapter5)
"The knowledgeable ones see all the people with equal vision, be it
a well educated Brahman , a cow, an elephant, a dog or even an
outcaste.(Chapter5)
These people look upon the world with equanimity with flawless
minds and thus conquer birth and death in this very life. Since they
are established in equanimity like Brahman they are established in
Brahman also.(Chapter5)
The knower of Brahman, stable of mind, established in the Supreme
Brahman, shows no sign of rejoice when he achieves the objects of his
desire nor agitation when unpleasant things happen to him.(Chapter5)
Unattached to external sense objects, immersed in himself, he
remains blissful. Establishing his self in Brahman, such a Brahma yogi
enjoys unlimited happiness. (Chapter5)
He who succeeds in controlling instantly his desires and anger
before giving up his body, he is a happy human being.(Chapter5)
He who is inwardly happy , whose enjoyment is within, whose inner
light is lit up, he is a perfect mystic, who has become one with the
Supreme and is established in him.(Chapter5)
Those whose sins have diminished, who have overcome the sense of
duality, who are established in self-realization, and are engaged in
the welfare of all living beings in the world, achieve realization of
Supreme Brahman.(Chapter5)
Freed from lust and anger, practicing self-restraint they, who have
understood the true nature of their inner selves, soon attain grand
union with the Supreme.(Chapter5)
Shutting out all external objects, concentrating his inner gaze
between the two eye brows, controlling his inward and outward breaths,
restraining his mind, senses and intelligence, having shed desires,
fear and anger, the sage is for ever liberated.(Chapter5)
Knowing Me as the beneficiary of all sacrifices, penances and
austerities, the Supreme Lord of all the worlds and well wisher of all
living entities, he attains peace.(Chapter5)
The Yogi Who Transcends the Gunas
The Supreme Lord replied, "Illumination, activity and delusion, O
Pandava, who neither abhors when prevailing nor desires when absent.
(Chapter14)
Seated unconcerned, unmoved by the gunas, aware that gunas are
acting, he is stable and never shaken.(Chapter14)
Alike in pleasure and pain toward a piece of earth, a stone, a
piece of gold, alike and steady towards the desirable and the
undesirable, equal in defamation and self-adulation.(Chapter14)
Alike in honor and dishonor, equal to friends and foes, removing
all egoistic effort in the performance of actions - he is said to have
risen above the gunas.(Chapter14)
He who serves Me with undistracted devotion, he transcends all the
gunas and attains the state of Brahman. (Chapter14)
Certainly, I am the resting place of Brahman, of the immortal,
inexhaustible, everlasting, righteous, blissful and also the ultimate.
(Chapter14)
The Devotees Who earn the blessings of God
Without any hatred towards all beings, friendly and compassionate,
without any sense of possessiveness, without any egoism, equal in
pleasure and pain and forgiving. (Chapter12)
"The Yogi who is always contended, self-controlled, strongly
determined, his mind and intelligence offered to Me, that devotee is
dear to Me.(Chapter12)
He who nether disturbs the world nor is disturbed by it, who is
free from joy, envy, fear and excitement - he is dear to
me.(Chapter12)
He who is without expectations, pure, dexterous, impartial,
undisturbed, renouncing all effort in undertakings - that devotee is
dear to Me.(Chapter12)
He who neither likes nor dislikes, neither bemoans nor desires, who
has renounced both the auspicious and inauspicious and who is full of
devotion to me- he is dear to ME.(Chapter12)
Equal to friend and foe, in honor and dishonor, heat and cold ,
pleasure and pain and equally free from all attachment.(Chapter12)
Equal to being criticized or praised, silent, contended with
whatever he has, without a fixed abode, stable minded, engaged in
devotion- that devotee is dear to Me.(Chapter12)
But who follows completely the immortal dharma (righteousness) as
ordained, with faith, holding Me as the Supreme such devotees are
exceedingly dearer to Me.(Chapter12)
Suggested Further Reading
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