Summary:

Chapter 12, Verse 18: An evolved bhakta maintains equanimity (samaḥ) towards enemies and friends, honor and dishonor, physical discomforts (cold/heat) and mental states (pleasure/pain). They understand that “enemies” are projecting their own pain and distortions, while maintaining titiksha (resilience) through recognition of the four possible outcomes in any result, and seeing everything as Ishvara's manifestation.

Chapter 12, Verse 19-20: A mature devotee remains balanced towards praise and censure, content with whatever comes (santuṣṭa), and free from possessiveness (aniketaḥ), converting ownership to trusteeship. Krishna describes four types of bhaktas: ārti (crisis-driven), arthārti (prayer as partnership), jijñāsu (seeker of knowledge), and jñāni (realized devotee). The chapter concludes by establishing that Brahman and Ishvara aren't separate goals – Ishvara is the foundation for reaching Brahman.

VERSE 18:
Evolved devotee is same towards enemy & friend, honor and dishonor.

समः शत्रौ च मित्रे च तथा मान-अपमानयोः ।
शीत-उष्ण-सुख-दुःखेषु समः सङ्ग-विवर्जितः ॥ १२-१८॥
samaḥ śatrau ca mitre ca tathā māna-apamānayoḥ ।
śīta-uṣṇa-sukha-duḥkheṣu samaḥ saṅga-vivarjitaḥ ॥ 12-18॥

The one who is the same with reference to an enemy and a friend, so too, honour and disgrace; the same with reference to cold, heat, pleasure and pain (and) free from attachment…

Same in reference to enemy/friend:

Dealing with different personalities without getting sucked in, nor taking it personally. As for “enemies” who don’t wish you well, recognize they’re in pain, loaded with their own distortions projected onto you.

Same In Honor And Disgrace:

When person thinks highly of you due to their own idealizing — a slight deviation from their expectations, causes negative superimposition on you (start finding defects about you).

Same in cold/heat (physical discomfort), pain/pleasure (mental discomfort):

Can’t total avoid physical/mental discomfort. Has titiksha (resilience), capacity to go through pain/pleasure with certain composure which comes from recognizing 4 possible outcomes in any result life throws at you, and everything being manifestation of Ishvara.

Story showing how without higher ideals/vision, minds finds anything to complain about: Husband complaining why wife didn’t bring water on train. More he talked, more thirsty he became. When station came, he got out and drank water. Returning to train, he continued to complain. Before he was complaining for a reason (but exaggerated by blame). After thirst was quenched (problem solved), he couldn’t come out of the initial story.

NEXT VERSE: More traits of accomplished bhakta…

VERSE 19:

तुल्य-निन्दा-स्तुतिः मौनी सन्तुष्टः येन केनचित् ।
अनिकेतः स्थिर-मतिः भक्तिमान् मे प्रियः नरः ॥ १२-१९॥
tulya-nindā-stutiḥ maunī santuṣṭaḥ yena kenacit ।
aniketaḥ sthira-matiḥ bhaktimān me priyaḥ naraḥ ॥ 12-19॥

…the one who is equal to censure and praise, disciplined in speech, satisfied by whatever (he gets), who has no place to call his own, whose knowledge is firm, and who has devotion is beloved to Me.

One who is equal to censure and praise (tulyanindāstutiḥ):

People’s praising/censure reflects where they’re at. So you’re not too concerned. Even Rama/Krishna were criticized. At the same time, it’s useful feedback.

Satisfied by whatever he gets (santuṣṭo yena kenacit):

Doesn’t lose equilibrium in unmet expectations or needs — knowing your needs will never be truly met by you nor anyone. 

Doesn't call anything as own (aniketaḥ):

Nobody totally owns anything. Material was already there. Convert ownership (due to insecurity) to trusteeship (I’m given this for a length of time — then responsibility comes naturally).

EG: In court, inflicting pain on own body is considered crime. Justice system is based on some understanding of Ishvara’s laws.

NEXT VERSE: Such devotee (V13-19) is beloved to Me…

VERSE 20:

ये तु धर्म्य-अमृतम् इदम् यथा उक्तम् पर्युपासते ।
श्रद्दधानाः मत्-परमाः भक्ताः ते अतीव मे प्रियाः ॥ १२-२०॥
ye tu dharmya-amṛtam idam yathā uktam paryupāsate ।
śraddadhānāḥ mat-paramāḥ bhaktāḥ te atīva me priyāḥ ॥ 12-20॥

However, those who follow this life that is in keeping with dharma leading to immortality, as was told, who are endowed with śraddhā and for whom I am the ultimate, those devotees are exceedingly beloved to Me.

Krishna says there are 4 types of bhaktas:

1. Arti:
   • When crises comes, person remembers God.
2. Artharti:
   • Recognizes unknown variables. Thus converts helplessness into prayer. The Lord becomes accomplice in pursuits of life.
3. Jijnasu (jnatum icchu – desiring to know):
   • Wants to know nature of God. Recognizes need to know what am I relating to, else it’s my own idea.
   • Recognizes God's job isn’t to fulfill all my fancies. EG: Farmer prays for rain. You’re praying for no rain.  If the Lord was obliged to everyone’s fancies, chaos would ensue.  Thus no matter how much you pray, it won’t change infallible laws.
   • Therefore prayers of jijnasu changes according to understanding. Doesn’t waste time asking for things that violate God's laws, unlike Arti/Artharti.
4. Jnani:
   • Also called a bhakta by Krishna. Made oneself so ready, that avarana-shakti was lifted. Thus jnani is grateful to Ishvara, thus becomes greatest devotee.

Conclusion:

1. CH12 started by Arjuna asking, should I think about Brahman or Ishvara?
2. Krishna answers: They’re not 2 separate goals. Reaching Ishvara is also reaching Brahman. But reaching Brahman without Ishvara is impossible, because Ishvara is foundation.
3. Chapter 12 encompasses what devotion (bhakti) means, how it's expressed and how it's practiced in 4 terms:
   1. Samanya-dharma: Universal ethical values.
   2. Svadharma: Your personal duties and responsibilities.
   3. Arpana-buddhi: All actions are an offering to altar of Ishvara. Another way saying is: What impact will this action/words have on me and/or my surroundings?
   4. Prasada buddhi / karma-phala-tyaga: Recognizing results aren't random. They're not trying to give you a good nor a hard time. They're simply responses, influenced by your past actions and millions of variables in the field. Deal with them responsibly.
4. Chapter 12 is also called ananya-bhakti (no otherness) because you're never outside Ishvara. There's no other. Another name for ananya-bhakti is karma-yoga (CH3 of BG). 

CLOSING VERSE:

ओम् तत् सत् इति श्रीमत् भगवत् गीतासु उपनिषत्सु
ब्रह्म-विद्यायाम् योग-शास्त्रे श्रीकृष्ण-अर्जुन-संवादे
भक्ति-योगः नाम द्वादशः अध्यायः
Om tat sat iti śrīmat bhagavat gītāsu upaniṣatsu
brahma-vidyāyām yoga-śāstre śrīkṛṣṇa-arjuna-saṃvāde
bhakti-yogaḥ nāma dvādaśaḥ adhyāyaḥ

Om, Brahman, is the only reality. Thus ends the twelfth chapter called bhakti-yoga—having the topic of devotion—in the Bhagavadgītā which is in the form of a dialogue between Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna, which is the essence of the Upaniṣads, whose subject matter is both the knowledge of Brahman and yoga.

— This completes our retreat. Om tat sat. —

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Recorded 16 Jan, 2025