Arjun is representative of every welfare-seeking human being. This desire to know arises and can arise in anybody. The questions raised by Arjun shows his state of full awareness. There is no question mark regarding the nature and form of God; nor is there any attempt to belittle or to taunt any of the paths of devotion. The way of devotion should also be above these.

There is no difference in essence in either, of form with qualities and formless without qualities. The Supreme is in essence, nature, Unmanifest, Incomprehensible by the senses, Omnipresent, without qualities and Formless. The same Lord becomes in special circumstances and states, full of qualities. The water which is liquid becomes ice on being subject to low temperature and again the same ice becomes water. Therefore, there is no question mark on the form and nature of the Lord. The question is about the means/ways which inspire the seeker. Which method is easy and effortless and can be accepted for becoming a knower of yoga?

Look at the seriousness of the issue. Usually, external ways of devotion like visiting temples and beholding the Lord's idol, lighting incense sticks, lamp, aarti, reciting scriptures, etc. are considered as devotion. All these are ways or steps to devotion. They are proper and necessary. Arjun has used here these words Sattayukta and Paryu pasyate. The doubt raised by Arjun gives insight into the nature of devotion (Bhakti). The seeker who constantly is in union with you and others who meditate on the unmanifest and the immutable which of these are having better knowledge of yoga.

The goal in both cases is union/yoga. Whether it is attained by the Path of Devotion (Bhakti) i. e. worship of Lord with name/qualities and form or the Path of Knowledge, i. e. worship of the Qualityless and Formless Lord. Just mere devotion or paying lip service or plain intellectual knowledge will not work. These are means and not goals in themselves. The goal is to become the knower of Yoga. Therefore, the question raised by Arjun does relate to any doubt about the means or the goal. It is a well-comprehended and well-thought-out logical inspiration. To attain the state of the knower of Yoga this question raised by Arjun can act as a forceful guiding light for the seeker. Take it in this spirit and eagerness and keeping this question in mind and wait for the answer of the Blessed Lord.

The Blessed Lord said: