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7.
 
KNOWLEDGE AND DEVOTION
 
97
 
7. KNOWLEDGE AND DEVOTION
 
तस्य ज्ञानमेव साधनमित्येके ॥ २८ ॥
 
Sutra 28. Tasya jnanameva Saadhanamityeke.
 
In the view of some, knowledge (of the object
loved) alone is the means to attain (devotion).
 
Tasyah of that supreme Love;
knowledge; : eva alone;
 
त स्य :
 
-
 
- Jnanam
 
Sadhanam
 
means;
 
some (teachers think).
 
इति : iti: thus;
 
:
 
के :
 
Bhakti must be preceded by the knowledge that
the object of one's devotion and worship is the Lord,
who is Omnipotent, Omniscient, all-merciful, who pos-
sesses Infinite auspicious qualities, who is the sup-
port and substratum of all etc. Without this know-
ledge, there will be no faith in God, without faith
there will be no attachment to God, and without
attachment there will be no lasting and intense devo-
tion.
 
Jnana here is not Brahma Gyana. It is only an
ordinary understanding.
 
Some say "Even in the worldly parlance, know-
ledge comes first. Through knowledge of a thing, one
gets love for that object. A girl gets knowledge of
her would be husband: "He can sing well. He is
beautiful. He has passed his I.C.S. examination. He
is now a district magistrate and so on." A patient
gets knowledge of the virtuous qualities of barley.
Then he loves Barley and takes with delight bread
made of barley. He knows it is cooling and sattvic