Verse 12.16

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 12.16:

अनपेक्षः शुचिर् दक्ष उदासीनो गत-व्यथः ।
सर्वारम्भ-परित्यागी यो मद्-भक्तः स मे प्रियः ॥ १६ ॥

anapekṣaḥ śucir dakṣa udāsīno gata-vyathaḥ |
sarvārambha-parityāgī yo mad-bhaktaḥ sa me priyaḥ || 16 ||

anapekṣaḥ–not attached to the results of mundane activities; śuciḥ–internally and externally pure; dakṣaḥ–expert; udāsīnaḥ–aloof in material dealings; gata-vyathaḥ–unaffected by agitation (due to being transcendentally situated); sarva-ārambha–all items unfavourable to bhakti; parityāgī–fully renounced; yaḥ–who; mat-bhaktaḥ–a devotee of Mine; saḥ–he; me–to Me; priyaḥ–dear.

Dear to Me is that devotee who is not dependent on mundane or social activities, who is pure, expert, detached, free from all agitation and careful to avoid any activity unfavourable to bhakti.

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Ṭīkā

(By Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura; the innermost intention of the commentary named ‘the shower of essential meanings’)

Anapekṣah means ‘My devotees are unconcerned for anything mundane’. Udāsinaḥ means that they remain indifferent in their dealings with society. It becomes a part of their nature to give up the observable fruits and also unobservable fruits of their mundane activities. This refers to the fruits they are conscious of and those they are not conscious of. If spiritual endeavours such as teaching scriptures become unfavourable to their bhakti, they automatically give them up.

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Prakāśikā-vṛtti

(By Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja; the explanation that illuminates the commentary named Sārārtha-varṣiṇī)

Furthermore it is said, “Dear to Me are My devotees, who are unattached to those objects that become available automatically, who are pure externally and internally, expert in grasping the essence of the Vedic literature, who are unbiased, indifferent, not agitated even when mistreated by others, and who do not make the slightest endeavour to perform any pious or impious work that is unfavourable to their bhakti to Śrī Bhagavān.”