Summary:

Chapter 12, Verse 16: A seasoned bhakta maintains independence (anapekṣaḥ) without making others their center, and maintains both external (bahiḥ) and internal (antaḥ) cleanliness (śuciḥ). They remain neutral (udāsīnaḥ) or objective in situations, without holding grudges towards unpleasant events, seeing all perspectives and people as manifestations of Ishvara. Their actions are initiated for purification and moksha rather than worldly gains (artha/kama).

Chapter 12, Verse 17: The evolved bhakta remains free from artificial elation (na hṛṣyati), hostility (na dveṣṭi), grief (na śocati), and binding desires (na kāṅkṣati). They act according to universal values (samanya-dharma) rather than personal agenda. They understand desires as tools for growth while avoiding binding-desires that contaminate the future-self.

VERSE 16:
Seasoned bhakta is neutral and internally clean

अनपेक्षः शुचिः दक्षः उदासीनः गत-व्यथः ।
सर्व-आरम्भ-परित्यागी यः मत्-भक्तः सः मे प्रियः ॥ १२-१६॥
anapekṣaḥ śuciḥ dakṣaḥ udāsīnaḥ gata-vyathaḥ ।
sarva-ārambha-parityāgī yaḥ mat-bhaktaḥ saḥ me priyaḥ ॥ 12-16॥

The one who has no dependence, is clean, able, and neutral, from whom fear has gone, who has completely given up all initiation (of actions), and who is My devotee is beloved to Me.

One who has no dependence:

When make someone else your center (by offloading duties just because it’s comfortable, esp. in a relationship) — you’ve overridden the natural program of you being at the center of life. Thus become weak and lose basic skills.

Objects lose capacity to hold you, recognizing they aren’t ultimate source of joy.

One who is clean:

1. Bahiḥ shaucam: External cleanliness.
2. Antaḥ shaucam: Mind isn’t bogged down by judgment, self-criticism (because you believe in yourself), anger, jealously.  Clean it up through meditation, prayer, reframing, pratipaksha-bhavana. 

Neutral (gatavyatha):

Not holding grudges, recognizing every perspective is one of many. Also every person is manifestation of Ishvara and is inherently a good person, only temporarily covered by distorted thinking and beliefs.

Given up initiation of action:

This isn't speaking of an enlightened person because this is chapter 12. Rather, initiating actions for sake of purifying the mind and moksha, rather then for artha/kama/artha.

Beloved to Me:

Person actively aligns one’s thinking and actions to the scriptural knowledge.

NEXT VERSE: More traits of accomplished bhakta…

VERSE 17:
Evolved bhakta does not carry hostility nor have binding-desires

यः न हृष्यति न द्वेष्टि न शोचति न काङ्क्षति ।
शुभ-अशुभ-परित्यागी भक्तिमान् यः सः मे प्रियः ॥ १२-१७॥
yaḥ na hṛṣyati na dveṣṭi na śocati na kāṅkṣati ।
śubha-aśubha-parityāgī bhaktimān yaḥ saḥ me priyaḥ ॥ 12-17॥

The one who does not get elated, is not hostile, does not grieve, does not desire, who has completely given up good and bad (karma), who has devotion, is beloved to Me.

The one who doesn’t get elated (na hṛṣyati):

Sometimes elation is result of our stories (superficial highs). Artificial stories gone away.

Solution: Think of better reasons to be elated (I’m never away from Ishvara, I can’t ever go out of existence, Bhagavan cares for me).

Is not hostile (na dveṣṭi):

If someone is crossing your boundaries, you can say something. Hostility is when you don’t say anything and keep ruminating on it, which contaminates your mind, then comes out in passive-aggressiveness, resentment.

Story how we ruminate due to associative nature of mind to add unrelated meanings: Man was invited to dinner, and served mashed potato/roti by host. He notices others got 2 scoops of potato. He only got 1. While everyone is enjoying, he’s thinking “I was served one!  This is insult! I have been badly treated”. All enjoyment gone. After going home, ruminating all night, couldn’t sleep. He thought “I will get the host back! I’m going to host dinner myself, call everyone and him, serve everyone 2 scoops, and him 1 scoop.  So I can see on his face his anger that I went through!”.   As he serves him 1 scoop, there’s no reaction on man’s face. After party is over, so much money spent, and wasted energy ruminating over it.

Solution to rid yourself of hostility towards others:

• 1. After doing your part, tell yourself “om tat sat”, move on! No carry forwards.
  2. Draw boundaries to protect yourself from ruminating on it. For example, Amba in Mahabharata, spent whole life in tapas, praying to get revenge on Bhishma. She was nursing hostility, which robed her happiness.

Does not grieve (na kāṅkṣati):

Sometimes small/big events lead to depression (seeing no hope of future). Personal narratives got added to a small thought.

How to recover from a trauma that's bringing up repetitive grief? No matter what happens, I have ability to turn it around.

Does not desire:

Desires of themselves are not bad, as they’re means by which you work out your stuff, and society thrives. EG: Doctor serves many. Capacity to desire is your privilege. Person has shaken off binding-impure desires.

Unhealthy or binding-desires contaminate the future-self. Protect your future self's well-being and confidence.

Who has given up good/bad karma (action):

Actions can’t totally give up. This means, criteria for action becomes samanya-dharma, rather then personal agenda or insistence things go my way.

NEXT VERSE: More traits of accomplished bhakta…

—

Recorded 15 Jan, 2025