Bhagavad Gita 12.14
सन्तुष्टः सततं योगी यतात्मा दृढनिश्चयः | मय्यर्पितमनोबुद्धिर्यो मद्भक्तः स मे प्रियः ||
santuṣṭaḥ satataṁ yogī yatātmā dṛḍha-niścayaḥ | mayy arpita-mano-buddhir yo mad-bhaktaḥ sa me priyaḥ ||
Translation
Ever content, the yogi self-controlled, of firm conviction, with mind and intellect dedicated to me, he who is thus my devotee is dear to me.
Reflection
When did you last feel content for a stretch without needing anything to change?
Read this verse in its chapter: Chapter Twelve
The portrait extends. Santushtah satatam, ever content. Yogi yatatma, the self-controlled yogi. Dridha-nishchayah, of firm conviction. Mayy arpita-mano-buddhih, with mind and intellect offered to me. Yo mad-bhaktah sa me priyah, the one who is thus my devotee is dear to me. The closing clause is the key turn. Sa me priyah. He is dear to me. The chapter has been giving instructions and now starts naming the affection of the teacher for the practitioner who lives this way. The portrait will return to this refrain. The same Krishna who has shown the cosmic form in chapter eleven is now describing, in plain words, what makes a person dear to Him. The standard is interior conduct, not religious attainment.