
                                  CHAPTER XII
                           OF THE RELIGION OF FAITH
                                       
   _Arjuna._ Lord! of the men who serve Thee- true in heart-
   As God revealed; and of the men who serve,
   Worshipping Thee Unrevealed, Unbodied, Far,
   Which take the better way of faith and life?
   _Krishna._ Whoever serve Me- as I show Myself-
   Constantly true, in full devotion fixed,
   Those hold I very holy. But who serve-
   Worshipping Me The One, The Invisible,
   The Unrevealed, Unnamed, Unthinkable,
   Uttermost, All-pervading, Highest, Sure-
   Who thus adore Me, mastering their sense,
   Of one set mind to all, glad in all good,
   These blessed souls come unto Me.
   Yet, hard
   The travail is for such as bend their minds
   To reach th' Unmanifest. That viewless path
   Shall scarce be trod by man bearing the flesh!
   But whereso any doeth all his deeds
   Renouncing self for Me, full of Me, fixed
   To serve only the Highest, night and day
   Musing on Me- him will I swiftly lift
   Forth from life's ocean of distress and death,
   Whose soul clings fast to Me. Cling thou to Me!
   Clasp Me with heart and mind! so shalt thou dwell
   Surely with Me on high. But if thy thought
   Droops from such height; if thou be'st weak to set
   Body and soul upon Me constantly,
   Despair not! give Me lower service! I seek
   To reach Me, worshipping with steadfast will;
   And, if thou canst not worship steadfastly,
   Work for Me, toil in works pleasing to Me!
   For he that laboureth right for love of Me
   Shall finally attain! But, if in this
   Thy faint heart fails, bring Me thy failure! find
   Refuge in Me! let fruits of labour go,
   Renouncing hope for Me, with lowliest heart,
   So shalt thou come; for, though to know is more
   Than diligence, yet worship better is
   Than knowing, and renouncing better still.
   Near to renunciation- very near-
   Dwelleth Eternal Peace!
   
   Who hateth nought
   Of all which lives, living himself benign,
   Compassionate, from arrogance exempt,
   Exempt from love of self, unchangeable
   By good or ill; patient, contented, firm
   In faith, mastering himself, true to his word,
   Seeking Me, heart and soul; vowed unto Me,-
   That man I love! Who troubleth not his kind,
   And is not troubled by them; clear of wrath,
   Living too high for gladness, grief, or fear,
   That man I love! Who, dwelling quiet-eyed,
   Stainless, serene, well-balanced, unperplexed,
   Working with Me, yet from all works detached,
   That man I love! Who, fixed in faith on Me,
   Dotes upon none, scorns none; rejoices not,
   And grieves not, letting good or evil hap
   Light when it will, and when it will depart,
   That man I love! Who, unto friend and foe
   Keeping an equal heart, with equal mind
   Bears shame and glory; with an equal peace
   Takes heat and cold, pleasure and pain; abides
   Quit of desires, hears praise or calumny
   In passionless restraint, unmoved by each;
   Linked by no ties to earth, steadfast in Me,
   That man I love! But most of all I love
   Those happy ones to whom 'tis life to live
   In single fervid faith and love unseeing,
   Drinking the blessed Amrit of my Being!
   
   HERE ENDETH CHAPTER XII OF THE
   BHAGAVAD-GITA,
   Entitled "Bhaktiyog,"
   Or "The Book of the Religion of Faith."
