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Bhagavad-gītā 12.16

అనపేక్ష: శ‍ుచిర్దక్ష ఉదాసీనో గతవ్యథ: । సర్వారమ్భపరిత్యాగీ యో మద్భ‍క్త: స మే ప్రియ: ॥ ౧౬ ॥
anapekṣaḥ śucir dakṣa
[anapekshah shuchir daksha]
udāsīno gata-vyathaḥ
[udaaseeno gata-vyathah]
sarvārambha-parityāgī
[sarvaarambha-parityaagee]
yo mad-bhaktaḥ sa me priyaḥ
[yo mad-bhaktah sa me priyah]
Word-for-word
anapekṣaḥ — neutral śuciḥ — pure dakṣaḥ — expert udāsīnaḥ — free from care gata - vyathaḥ — freed from all distress sarva - ārambha — of all endeavors parityāgī — renouncer yaḥ — anyone who mat - bhaktaḥ — My devotee saḥ — he me — to Me priyaḥ — very dear .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
anapekṣaḥ śucir dakṣa
anapekṣaḥ
neutral
śuciḥ
pure
dakṣaḥ
expert
udāsīno gata-vyathaḥ
udāsīnaḥ
free from care
gata - vyathaḥ
freed from all distress
sarvārambha-parityāgī
sarva - ārambha
of all endeavors
parityāgī
renouncer
yo mad-bhaktaḥ sa me priyaḥ
yaḥ
anyone who
mat - bhaktaḥ
My devotee
saḥ
he
me
to Me
priyaḥ
very dear .
Important Words
  • anapekṣaḥ — not depending, neutral
    Negation of apekṣā, 'expectation, regard for.' The devotee does not depend on the usual social or material apparatus to feel secure. The hinge of the verse — without this, the rest is performance.
  • śuciḥ — pure
    Internal and external purity together. Same word used in śuci-smita (pure-smiling) for Lakṣmī. Not the asceticism of avoidance but the cleanness of one who has stopped collecting residues.
  • dakṣaḥ — expert, skilled
    From dakṣ, 'to be able, to be competent.' The bhakta is not vague or impractical — he is sharp. Kṛṣṇa pairs spiritual qualification with hard competence.
  • udāsīnaḥ — indifferent, sitting above
    From ud-ās, 'to sit aloft.' Not coldness — elevation. The devotee sits above the petty currents that drag others; he is not dragged because he has climbed up.
  • gata - vyathaḥ — free from distress
    Compound: gata (gone) + vyathā (pain). The pain has departed — not been suppressed. Past participle paints completion, not effort.
  • sarva - ārambha — of all endeavors
    Compound: sarva (all) + ārambha (initiation, undertaking). Paired in the verse with parityāgī. The bhakta starts no new enterprises for his own sake; the engine of self-driven projects has been switched off.
  • parityāgī — renouncer
    Agent-noun from pari-tyaj, 'to release completely.' Pari- gives totality. Whatever needs doing for Kṛṣṇa, he does — but no fresh ārambha for himself.
My devotee who is not dependent on the ordinary course of activities, who is pure, expert, without cares, free from all pains, and not striving for some result, is very dear to Me.
Purport

Money may be offered to a devotee, but he should not struggle to acquire it. If automatically, by the grace of the Supreme, money comes to him, he is not agitated. Naturally a devotee takes a bath at least twice in a day and rises early in the morning for devotional service. Thus he is naturally clean both inwardly and outwardly. A devotee is always expert because he fully knows the essence of all activities of life and he is convinced of the authoritative scriptures. A devotee never takes the part of a particular party; therefore he is carefree. He is never pained, because he is free from all designations; he knows that his body is a designation, so if there are some bodily pains, he is free. The pure devotee does not endeavor for anything which is against the principles of devotional service. For example, constructing a big building requires great energy, and a devotee does not take to such business if it does not benefit him by advancing his devotional service. He may construct a temple for the Lord, and for that he may take all kinds of anxiety, but he does not construct a big house for his personal relations.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
16. He who is devoid of expectations from his work, is clean, skilful in all situations, detached from other persons, without distress, and who rejects all undertakings, is dear to Me.
Commentary

Anapekṣaḥ means devoid of expectations from material work. Udāsīnaḥ means to be unattached to material persons. He has the quality of giving up all material endeavors in the present and future, and even some spiritual endeavors such as teaching scripture (sarvārambha-parityāgī).

Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa Gauḍīya
Translation
16. He who is devoid of expectations from his work, is clean, skilful in all situations, detached from other persons, without distress, and who rejects all undertakings, is dear to Me.
Commentary

He is without aspirations (niḥspṛhaḥ), enjoying what comes of its own accord, and is without expectations. He has internal and external purity (śuciḥ). He is skilful (dakṣaḥ), being able on his own to deliberate on the meaning of the scriptures. He is neutral (udāsīnaḥ), not taking sides. He is without distress (gata vyaṭhaḥ), even though wronged by others. He does not make any attempts which are contrary to his practice of devotion (sarvārambha parityāgī).

Bhūrijana Dāsa Gauḍīya
Translation
My devotee who is not dependent on the ordinary course of activities, who is pure, expert, without cares, free from all pains, and not striving for some result, is very dear to Me. (cn\DS) The devotee knows the essence of everything ‑ its connection with Krsna. The essential knowledge of everything is that everything is Krsna's energy. The devotee is expert because he knows the scriptures, he has knowledge. The devotee may be put in some kind of difficult situation, that situation may be there but by his reactions he doesn't become morose. One of the first twenty items of devotional service is that one should not read too many books, construct big temples and should not take too many disciples. What this means is that the tendency is to do these things for prestige. Generally the devotee doesn't endeavor for these things but by the will of Krsna, someone gives him a big donation than he may build a big temple.
Study Notes — Gauranga Priya Dāsa
Gauranga Priya Dāsa Study
Bhakti-śāstrī Notes, ISKCON Chowpatty (2009)
Theme

Detached from everything worldly

10. ‘Anapeksah’ (Neutral) – Not dependent on ordinary course of activities

Money may be offered to a devotee, but he does not struggle to acquire it
If it comes automatically by Lord’s grace he is not agitated

11. ‘Sucih’ (pure)

External: Bathing at least twice a day
Internal: Rising early for devotional acts

12. ‘Daksa’ (expert)

Fully knows the essence of all activities of life
Convinced of authoritative scriptures

13. ‘Udasina’ (without cares)

A devotee never takes the part of a particular party

14. ‘Gata-vyathah’ (painfree)

Because he is free from all bodily designations

15. ‘Sarvarambha Parityagi’ (free from all endeavors) – not striving for some fruit

Pure devotee doesn’t not endeavor for anything against the principles of devotional service
e.g. Constructing a big building requires great energy, a devotee takes such business only if it benefits him in devotional service e.g. constructing a big temple but not constructing a big personal house
Classical Ācāryas
Śrī Śaṅkarācārya Classical
Translation
12.16 Anapeksah, he who has no desires with regard to covetable things like body, organs, objects, (their inter-) relationship, etc.; sucih, who is pure, endowed with external and internal purity; daksah, who is dextrous, who is able to promptly understand in the right way the duties that present themselves; udasinah, who is impartial, the monk who does not side with anybody-friends and others; gatavyathah, who is free from fear; sarva-arambha-parityagi, who has renounced every undertaking-works under-taken are arambhah; sarva-arambhah means works undertaken out of desire for results to be enjoyed here or hereafter; he who is apt to give them up (pari-tyaga) is sarva-arambha-parityahi; he who is such a madbhaktah, devotee of Mine; he is priyah, dear; me, to Me. Further,
Śrī Rāmānujācārya Classical
Translation
12.16 He who is free from 'desires', i.e., who has no longing for anything except the self; who is 'pure', namely, whose body is nourished on the food prescribed by the Sastras; who is an 'expert' namely, who is an expert in performing actions prescribed by the Sastras; who is 'indifferent', i.e., not interested in matters other than those enjoined by the Sastras; who is free from 'agony', i.e., of pain caused by heat, cold, contact with coarse things etc., which are inevitably associated with the performance of rites prescribed by the Sastras; who renounces all 'undertakings,' i.e., who renounces all undertakings except those demanded by the Sastras - the devotee who is like this is dear to Me.
Śrī Abhinavagupta Classical
Translation
12.16 See Comment under 12.20
Swami Sivananda Classical
Translation
12.16 He who is free from wants, pure, expert, unconcerned, and free from pain, renouncing all undertakings or commencements he who is (thus) devoted to Me, is dear to Me.
Commentary

12.16 अनपेक्षः (he who is) free from wants? शुचिः pure? दक्षः expert? उदासीनः unconcerned? गतव्यथः free from pain? सर्वारम्भपरित्यागी renouncing all undertakings or commencements? यः who? मद्भक्तः My,devotee? सः he? मे to Me? प्रियः dear.CommentarY He is free from dependence. He is indifferent to the body? the senses? the objects of the senses and their mutual connections. He has external and internal purity. External purity is attained through earth and water (washing and bathing). Inner purity is attained by the eradication of likes and dislikes? lust? anger? jealousy? etc.? and through the cultivation of the virtues -- friendship (towards eals)? compassion (towards those who are inferior) and complacency (towards superiors).Daksha Prompt? swift and skilful in all actions expert. He is able to decide rightly and immediately in matters that demand prompt attention and action.Udasina He who does not take up the side of a friend and the like (in a controversy) he who is indifferent to whatever happens.Gatavyathah He who is free from pain. He is not troubled even if he is beaten by a wicked man. He is not pained or afflicted by any result of any action or any happening.Sarvarambhaparityagi He habitually renounces all actions calculated to secure the objects of enjoyment? whether of this world or of the next. He has abandoned all egoistic? personal and mental initiative in all actions? mental and physical. He has merged his will in the cosmic will. He allows the divine will to work through him. He has neither preference nor personal desire and so he is swift? prompt and skilful in all actions. The divine will works through him in a dynamic manner.Such a devotee is My own Self and so he is very dear to Me.

Swami Gambhīrānanda Classical
Translation
12.16 He who has no desires, who is pure, who is dextrous, who is impartial, who is free from fear, who has renounced every undertaking-he who is (such) a devotee of Mine is dear to Me.
Shri Purohit Swami Classical
Translation
12.16 He who expects nothing, who is pure, watchful, indifferent, unruffled, and who renounces all initiative, such a one is My beloved.
Related values & verses
Related values
Tyaga (Renunciation / Letting Go)Karuna (Kindness / Compassion)Ahimsa (Non-violence / Compassion)Tapas (Austerity / Discipline)Guru Bhakti (Reverence for Teacher)Atma Nigraha (Self-control)Maitri (Friendship / Goodwill)Daksya (Resourcefulness / Skill)Abhaya (Fearlessness)
Related verses
BG 2.71 BG 3.22 BG 6.18 SB 2.2.3 SB 7.15.16 SB 11.19.36 CC Madhya 22.79 CC Madhya 23.112 CC Antya 6.224 Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad 3.1.2BRS 1.2.255
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
He who is impartial, pure, expert, unconcerned with worldly matters, free from worry, who has renounced personal undertakings — is dear to Me.
Practical Applications
  • Cultivate impartiality and renunciation of personal undertakings.
  • Reduce the number of self-initiated projects; serve Kṛṣṇa's projects instead.
  • Treat unconcern with worldly matters as a freedom, not aloofness.
Reflection Questions
  • What 'personal undertaking' could I lay down?
  • What would Kṛṣṇa's project for me be?
Analogy

A skilled lamp-trimmer does his work in the temple expertly, takes no commission, expects no notice, and feels no sting when his name is omitted from the day's records. The lamps burn; he is content. Kṛṣṇa says: such a one — pure, expert, undisturbed, not striving for any return — is dear to Me.

Stories
Sanātana Gosvāmī at Vṛndāvana

Once a high minister of the Bengal sultanate, Sanātana Gosvāmī fled to Vṛndāvana on Caitanya Mahāprabhu's order and lived under trees, begging mādhukarī each day. He was anapekṣa — needing nothing from the ordinary order; dakṣa — supremely expert (his Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta and Hari-bhakti-vilāsa testify); udāsīna — without care for himself; sarva-ārambha-parityāgī — refusing every fresh enterprise, even his own former lordship.

When the Lord wished to embrace him, Sanātana shrank back, afraid the Lord's pure body would touch his diseased skin. The Lord embraced him anyway. This verse names what Mahāprabhu held in His arms.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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