Bhagavad Gita Verse 14, Chapter 9

satatam keertayanto maam yatantashcha dridhavrataahaa |
namasyantashcha maam bhaktyaa nityayuktaa upaasate || 14 ||
 
Always glorifying me with resolute effort, and venerating me devotedly, they are constantly engaged in my worship.
 
satatam : always
keertayantaha : glorifying
maam : me
yatantashcha : effort
dridhavrataahaa : resolute
namasyantaha : venerating me
cha : and
maam : me
bhaktyaa : devoted
nityayuktaahaa : constantly engaged
upaasate : worship
 
Shri Krishna begins to enumerate the qualities of those noble individuals that have gained knowledge of Ishvara’s infinite nature. We should try to bring as many qualities as we can into our lives, and not think that they are only for some select extraordinary people.
 
Firstly, Shri Krishna says that these noble individuals perform “keertan” and “bhajan”. Typically, we tend to think of keertan as singing songs in front of a deity. But here, the meaning is deeper. Keertan here means the three step process of hearing scriptures (shravanam), resolving doubts (mananam) and internalizing the knowledge (nidhidhyaasanam). It is only through this process that the true nature of Ishvara is understoood.
 
It is also imperative to perform keertan as frequently as possible. As we have seen so far, Prakriti needs no help in order to ensnare us daily with the temptation of name and form. Also, Prakriti is not just responsible for visible objects but also thoughts, feelings, emotions and memories that can lead to straying away from Ishvara. Repeated keertan is the only way to guard against such distractions.
 
Shri Krishna also emphasizes the power of “vrata” or resolution. Most spiritual traditions encourage practices like fasting or abstaining from pleasures during certain days. Observance of such vows strengthens our will power so that we can use that inner strength towards fending off Prakriti. Knowledge of Ishvara, without the will power to remain established in that knowledge, will not work. If someone cannot even remain without food for a day, it will be difficult for them to deal with the might of Prakriti.
 
Another aspect of the noble individuals is that they do “namaskaara” to Ishvara, which means that they offer themselves to Ishvara. When things are going well, it is easy to accept the will of Ishvara. However, many individuals begin to lose faith in Ishvara when they go through a rough period in their lives. True veneration happens when we realize that even the rough period in our life happens for a reason that we will understand in the course of time.
 
Broadly speaking, Shri Krishna wants the devotee to dedicate not just his intellect but also his mind. Unless we engage with anything at an emotional level, our pursuit will always be dry, academic and partial. It will be like a PhD student who forgets what he learned right after he receives his degree.
 
So therefore, Shri Krishna says that individuals with these qualities are the true devotees. They have understood the true method of “upanasanaa”, of worshipping Ishvara. That is why they remain “nitya yukta” or always united and connected with Ishvara, and also, Ishvara remains ever united with them.
 
Next, Shri Krishna enumerates the different ways in which these noble individuals worship Ishvara.