sri-bhagavan uvaca
mayy avesya mano ye mam
nitya-yukta upasate
shraddhaya parayopetas
te me yuktatama matah


"The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Those who fix their minds on My personal form and are always engaged in worshiping Me with great and transcendental faith are considered by Me to be most perfect."
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Ye = [the devotee] who, upasate = meditates, nitya yukata = with the desire of being always with, mam =Me [Sri Krishna], avesya = focussed or concentrated, mano = mind, mayy = on Me [Sri Krishna], parayopeta shraddhaya = with very great dedication or commitment, te = [such a person] he, yukta tama = reach the objective easily and early, me mata = [this is] My [Sri Krishna's] opinion. We should have dedication or commitment in our Bhakti. Though the Lord says that this was His opinion, in fact, it is the considered view if all noble elders. Which devotee is better was replied in an earlier Chapter. To Arjuna's question on who reaches the objective earlier, the Lord emphatically says that the devotee practising Bhakti yoga reaches early. Why so, is in a way indicated by the Lord in the words 'mayy avesya mano' - with a concentrated mind in Him. When saying mayy [in Me -Sri Krishna], the Lord must have pointed His finger to Him, with the Divine image and with Divine qualities. It is easier to concentrate on the Lord as He has a Divine image. But imagine how to concentrate our mind on atman? It is very difficult. Because there are no stories connected with atman. Or, does it have any form? Are any festivals conducted for atman? Is atman ever being decorated? So, how can our mind concentrate on an abstract atman with no form or description? On the other hand, all inputs needed for the mind to concentrate, like image, history and form with qualities, are all abundant in the Lord. Therefore, he who desires to be always with Him is the choice. Is meditating on the Lord possible in this fast world we are in? Is it practical to have our mind always in Him? We can not remain in a temple or pooja room always. We have to run our family and look after the spouse and children. We have to attend to work to earn and maintain the family. All cannot be ascetics or sanyasis. Carefully if we examine, Sri Krishna has never told anyone to abandon one's prescribed duties and obligations. We have to see, for what purpose we are doing our routine work. In Chapter 11 [sloka 55], the Lord said that His devotee did every action with the dedication to and to reach Him. Vedas and Shastras have prescribed all our routines to maintain the family. But while doing every act, we have to dedicate the action to reach the Lord. Our actions should not be for achieving worldly pleasures. By saying that always we should dedicate ourselves to the Lord, it does not mean that we should avoid going to a workplace and remain in meditation in our pooja room or temple. While doing our work, we can have our mind in Him. Will that not mean not concentrating on the work we are doing? It does not mean that while doing work we go on chanting the Lord's Divine names. Once we dedicate our mind to Him, then our usual duties get completed thoroughly, easily and speedily. While doing our duties we can still dedicate our mind to Him. When we think of ourselves, thoughts should occur that we are not independent, but a servant of the Lord. Chanting His divine names need not be loud and as we do our routines, we think of those Divine names in our mind. Thus, involving our mind in Him, in no way will affect our regular domestic and official duties. By having our thoughts on Him, we get rid of all fears, real and imaginary. Such a person lives with a contented mind - nirbharo nirbhayosmi - no responsibilities and no fears. Being with Him always does not mean physically with the Lord. The Lord says that in thoughts one should be with the Lord always. After death, with a Divine body, the devotee will be with the Lord physically also, in Vaikuntam. Involvement, commitment and enthusiasm are needed for being with the Lord. We should be true in our Bhakti and should not adopt lip service or publicity. Mind, word and action should all be dedicated to Him. Such a devotee is the best and reaches the objective earlier. The devotee desiring to be with atman will find difficulties and will reach the objective much later, perhaps after many birth cycles. To concentrate on the Lord, His quality of neermai [mercy] is the attraction. He is readily available in Kshetrams like Tiruneermalai.
                                                                                                       (continued)