अर्जुन उवाच | एवं सततयुक्ता ये भक्तास्त्वां पर्युपासते | ये चाप्यक्षरमव्यक्तं तेषां के योगवित्तमा: || 1 || |
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“Those devotees who are constantly engaged in your worship in a form, and those who worship the imperishable and the unmanifested, which of them are more accomplished in yoga?”
Commentary
Arjuna poses a question regarding the different types of devotees. He acknowledges that there are two categories of devotees mentioned here: those who engage in constant worship of Lord Krishna and those who worship the unmanifested formless aspect of the divine.
The term “satatayukta” refers to those who are continuously and unwaveringly connected to the Lord through their worship and devotion. These devotees maintain a constant awareness and connection with the divine, keeping their minds and hearts focused on the object of their devotion.
The phrase “ye chāpi akṣharam avyaktaṁ” refers to those who worship the imperishable and unmanifested aspect of the divine. Here, “aksharam” denotes the imperishable or eternal aspect, while “avyaktam” refers to the unmanifested or formless nature of the divine. These devotees direct their worship towards the transcendental and formless aspect of the divine, recognizing its eternal existence beyond the realm of material manifestations.
Arjuna seeks clarification from Lord Krishna about which group of devotees is considered superior in terms of their spiritual attainment. He wants to know who among these two categories possesses a deeper understanding and mastery of yoga, the path of spiritual union and self-realization.