NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS Text, Transliteration, Translation & Commentary by Sri Swami Sivananda Published by The Yoga-Vedanta Forest University P.O. Sivananda Nagar Rishikesh, Himalayas. Price] 1957 [Rs. 5

Published by Sri Swami Chidananda for The Yoga-Vedanta Forest University First Edition 1957 All rights reserved by The Divine Life Trust Society Printed at Sadbhakti Prakash Printing Press Private Ltd., Bombay 1.

PUBLISHERS' NOTE A "clairvoyant" claimed to have seen that Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj is a re-incarnation of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, that supreme Bhakta who lived recently in Bengal. However that might be, it is undoubtedly true that after Mahaprabhu, it is Sri Swamiji Maharaj who has given the greatest impetus to Sankirtan Bhakti Yoga, who has revived mass singing of the Maha Mantra and who has exalted Bhakti as Sadhana equal to, if not better than, Vedan- tic Nidhidhyasan or Raja Yogic meditation. Sri Swamiji's commentary on the Narada Bhakti Sutras, therefore, has in it the soul-force of a Para- Bhakta who echoes the Word of God. It is, therefore, hoped that this commentary on the Bhakti Sutras will inspire aspirants to practise Bhakti Yoga and reach the lotus-feet of the Lord. We are highly indebted to Sri P. M. N. Swamy of Bombay for his great help which alone has enabled this book to be published so early. P.O. Shivananda Nagar, 8th September, 1957. 71st Birthday of H.H. Sri Swami Sivananda. The Publishers

THE DONORS Srimati Preet Bai Hassaram (left), one of the donors for the publication of this volume, is the venerable mother of Sri Satramdas H. Sabnani (right) of the Crown Silk Stores, Colombo. Sri S. H. Sabnani is one of the devoutest and greatest of the disciples of Sri Gurudev H. H. Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj. His Guru-Bhakti is an inheritance from his parents and grandparents who have all been devoted to Sadhus and Sannyasins, saints and sages. His own past good Karmas, spiritual aspirations and God's Grace, manifested before him as Sri Gurudev's "Sure Ways for Success in Life" which attracted Sri Sabnani to Gurudev's lotus-feet, He has in his turn formed the connecting link between his mother, his sister and other members of his family, and Sri Gurudev. Glory to Sri Sabnani and family! May His Choicest blessings be upon them all! VENKATESA.

Sri SWAMI SIVANANDA & Sri L. B. MATHUR

The Donor SRI LAL BAHADUR MATHUR Born in a Kayastha family at Delhi in March, 1905, Sri L. B. Mathur got his B.Sc., specialising in Oil Technology; he also obtained a Post-Graduate Dip- loma. He is also a Gold Medalist. For the last twenty years he has been serving as Chief Chemist of Amrit Banaspati Co., Ltd., where he is now also the Factory Manager. Sri Mathur belongs to a family that has ever been devoted to saints and who were all seekers after Truth. His own parents revered all saints and eagerly availed themselves of every opportunity to serve saints. He imbibed from his parents the habit of doing regular worship of Lord Siva and of observing fast on Monday, from his early childhood. Sri Mathur came into contact with His Holiness Sri Jagat Guru Sivanandaji Maharaj in 1947, and received initiation from Him in 1953. Sri Mathur says: "Since then Sri Gurudev has been my Saviour and has performed miracles from time to time to save my family from utter destruction and extinction. To me he is Lord Siva incarnate. May all his disciples be as blessed as I am." Marvellous indeed is his devotion to Guru Bhagavan. Inestimable are the services that he has rendered to the holy cause of the Master. May God bless Sri Mathur and family! Venkatesa.

INTRODUCTION Narada's Bhakti Sutras is a very popular treatise in India on Bhakti Yoga. This treatise is very lucid and practical in its exposition of the birth, growth, development, unfoldment and expression of Bhakti. This is a very useful book for earnest and sincere aspirants who tread the path of devotion. This book is a great standard work on Bhakti Yoga. It contains laconic aphorisms ascribed to Devarishi Narada. The Holy Rishi Narada propounds the doctrine of love to God, a path which can easily be followed by the ordinary man. It does not demand either great knowledge of philosophy or total renunciation of the world. Research students will find great help in this book in the study of the psychology of Bhakti. The Sutras have an expressible charm and beauty. They make a direct appeal to the heart. Narada speaks to all alike. There is not even the slightest trace or tinge of sectarianism. The Narada Bhakti Sutras are the best authority on the Bhakti Marga. For sincere devotees who are in need of practical spiritual instructions in a very short compass in the path of devotion or divine love, there is no better book than Narada Bhakti Sutras. The language is very simple. This book is an authority on the philo- sophy of Bhakti.

2 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS The Bhakti Sutras of Narada number 84 in all. The first twenty-four of them deal with the nature of Bhakti. The next nine Sutras, i.e., 25 to 33 explain why and how the path of Bhakti is superior to Karma, Jnana and Yoga. Sutras 34 to 50 (seventeen in all) describe the methods by which Bhakti may be practised and developed. The next sixteen Sutras (51 to 66) give a des- cription of the external marks by which Bhakti can be detected in a true devotee. The last 18 Sutras (67 to 84) glorify the great realised souls who are full of devotion to the Lord. ORIGIN OF NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS Sri Veda Vyasa was staying in his hermitage of Badarikasrama. One day Narada went to the Ashram in the course of his wanderings. Sri Vyasa welcom- ed the Rishi with due rites and said, "Man seeks freedom etc. But without devotion it is dry. Devotion does not lead directly to the goal. Knowledge bestows freedom, etc. But without devotion, it is dry. Devotion is the only way for attaining salvation. All the others have importance only in so far as they are auxiliary to it. I humbly ask you to explain to me the virtue of devotion." Narada said, "Your disciple Jaimini has already discussed the problem of action in the Purva Mimamsa. You have yourself completed the enquiry of the problem of knowledge in the Uttara-Mimamsa.

INTRODUCTION 3 Now you have taken up the problem of devotion. Its full explanation will be given by you in your Srimad Bhagavatam. I shall explain Bhakti in the form of Sutras." So saying Narada delivered a discourse on devotion in 84 aphorisms. The collection of these Sutras forms a short treatise, known as Narada-Bhakti Sutras. (Vide Srimad Bhagavata I-4 and 5). DEVOTION The path of Bhakti consists of a gradation of steps. The desire for release from the evil of morta- lity and the sufferings is its starting point. Para Bhakti or Higher devotion is its goal. It is Para Bhakti that leads to Mukti. Subsidiary to Para Bhakti, Ekanta-bhava, whole hearted devotion, there are various forms of devotional states, 81 in number. Illiterates, females, outcastes-are all equally competent to follow the path of devotion. Desire for release or Mumukshutwa is the minimum qualifica- tion. An objector says, God is far above the power of comprehension of man. How, then, can one cultivate devotion to Him? Live in the company of saints. Hear the Lilas of God. Study the sacred scriptures. Worship Him first in His several forms as manifested in the world. Worship any image or picture of the Lord or Guru. Recite His name. Sing His glories. You will develop devotion.

4 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS According to some Jnana is instrumental in the cultivation of Bhakti, while others say that they are mutually dependent. But Narada says that Bhakti is the fruit or result of itself. Devotion is the highest sentiment. Narada has dealt with the subject from the point of view of sentiment alone. Whereas the Bhakti-Mimamsa of Sandilya is an enquiry into the philosophy of devotion. The two treatises are companions. They supplement each other. When the devotee grows in devotion there is absolute self-forgetfulness. This is called Bhava. Bhava then grows into Maha-Bhava wherein the devotee lives, moves and has his being in the Lord. This is parama-prema, the consummation of love or supreme love. The nine modes of Bhakti have each nine varie- ties. Therefore Saguna Bhakti becomes eightyone fold. By fixing the mind on the Lord through love, hate, fear, friendship many have attained God-realisa- tion, e.g., the Gopis through love, Kamsa through fear, Sisupala through hate, the Vrishnis through relationship. Devotion is indicated by Sanmana (honour) as in the case of Arjun, Bahumana (exaltation) as in the case of Ikshvaku, Prithi (love) as in the case of Vidura, Viraha (pangs of separation) as in the case of the Gopis, Itara-vichikitsa (disinclination to others) as in the case of Upamanyu, Mahima-Khyati (glorifica-

INTRODUCTION b tion) as in the case of Yama, Tadartha-prana-sthana, living for Him, as in the case of Hanuman, Tadiyata, the belief that everything belongs to Him, as in the case of Uparichara Vasu, Sarva-tad-bhava, the con- sciousness that the Lord is immanent in all things, as in the case of Prahlada, a-pratikula, non-opposition as in the case of Bhisma. Bhakti Yoga is the one Yoga which directly appeals to the feelings of man. Apara Bhakti is lower Bhakti. It is a premature stage in devotion. Mature stage of subjective experience is known as Para Bhakti. The devoteee has ineffable inner experience of unsurpassing bliss and illumination. He has God- realisation. There are two stages in Apara or lower Bhakti. 'The first stage is called Gauna or secondary; the second stage is Mukhya or primary. In Gauna Bhakti there is the influence of Rajo Guna; in Mukhya Bhakti there is influence of Sattva Guna. The mind is calm and serene. Meditation becomes firm and steady. The devotee is in the presence of God. He is conscious of duality. In Para Bhakti the devotee attains the full grace of the Lord, knowledge and full illumination. He merges in the Lord; he loses his identity. He becomes one with the Lord. Your happiness depends upon the nature of the object on which you set your heart. The only true object of love is the Lord who is omnipotent, omni- present and omniscient and all-merciful.

NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS Love of God or devotion is more a practice than a philosophy. Devotion dethrones the ego and enthrones the Lord in its place. The climax of love is the love of God. Service of the saints, association with the saints, study of Bhakti literature, charity, self-restraint, humility, Japa, Kirtan, prayer-this is the preparation for the love of God. Swami Sivananda.

NAMAPARAADHAS 7 NAMAPARAADHAS

(Offence against Divine Name)

The Glory of the Names of the Lord is indes- cribable. A devotee should try to avoid the sixty-four offences against Divine Name (Namaparaadhas). They are: 1. To recognise God as a deity or a principle, 2. to look upon the Vedas as a book or as having an author, 3. to discriminate between Bhaktas on ground of their caste, 4. to look upon one's preceptor as an ordinary human being, 5. to regard an image or picture of God as wood, stone, metal, paper or clay, 6. to treat Prasada (food offer- ed to the Lord) as ordinary food, 7. to treat Charana- mrita (water in which the sacred feet of an image of God have been washed) as ordinary water, 8. to regard Tulsi (the basil plant) as an ordinary plant, 9. to regard the cow as an ordinary beast, 10. to regard the Gita or the Bhagavata as an ordinary book, 11. to regard the Divine sports as human activities. 12. to compare the sports of the Lord with earthly love or sex-pleasure, 13. to regard the Gopis as others' wives (in relation to the Lord), 14. to regard the Rasa dance of Sri Krishna as an amorous sport 15. to discriminate (between touchables and untouch- ables) in festivities connected with the Lord, 16. to I have no faith in God and the Shastras and to turn an unbeliever, 17. to practise Dharma with a doubting mind, 18. to be slothful in discharging one's religious duties, 19. to judge devotees by external things, 20. to comment on the merits and demerits of saints, 21. to have a high opinion about one's own

8 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS self, 22. to revile a particular god or scripture, 23. to turn one's back on an image of God. 24. to approach an image of God with shoes on, 25. to wear a garland in the presence of an image,-of God, 26. to approach an image of God stick in hand, 27. to approach an image of God in a blue garment, 28. to approach an image of God, without washing one's mouth and cleaning one's teeth, 29. to enter a temple of God without changing one's clothes after evacuat- ing one's bowels or sexual intercourse, 30. to stretch one's arms or legs before an image of God. 31. to chew betel-leaves before an image of God, 32. to laugh loudly before an image of God, 33. to make undesirable gesture, 34. to hover about women, 35. to lose one's temper, 36. to salute anyone else in the presence of an image of God, 37. to visit a temple immediately after eating something which gives a foul odour, 38. to insult or assault anyone, 40. to make gestures expressive of lust or anger, 41. to fail in one's duty to a stranger or a holy man, 42. to regard oneself as a devotee, a pious soul, a learned man or a virtuous man, 43. to associate with un- believers, profligates, sanguinary persons, greedy men and liars, 44. to blame God in adversity, 45. to practise virtue with a sinful motive, 46. to regard oneself as pious even though oppressing anyone even slightly, 47. to refuse to maintain one's wife, children, family, dependents, the needy and holy men, 48. to offer something to God treating it as enjoyable by oneself or to enjoy it without offering it to God beforehand, 49. to swear by the name of one's Ishta Devata, 50. to sell Dharma and the Name of

NAMAPARAADHAS God, 51. to expect anything from anyone else than one's chosen deity, 52. to violate the injunctions of the Sastras, 53. to behave as a knower of Brahma, even though lacking such knowledge, 54. to dis- criminate between Vaishnavas belonging to different sects, 55. to behave as a god, 56. to revile particular Avataras by discriminating between their respective Lilas, 57. to call anyone as God, even by mistake, 58. to believe God, even by mistake, to be dependent on anyone else, 59. to give the Prasada or Charana- mrita of the Lord to anyone through greed, 60. to insult a picture, image or Name of God, 61. to oppress, intimidate or wrong anyone, 62. to renounce faith on losing in a controversy or on one's failure to establish a proposition, 63. to regard the birth and activities of the various Avataras as common- place, and 64. to regard the pair forms of the Deity, such as Sri Radha and Sri Krishna, as distinct or separate.

10 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS LIFE OF NARADA I Deva Rishi Narada moves about playing on his Veena, singing the praises of Sri Hari drawing the hearts of people towards God and thus radiates joy, love and peace throughout the afflicted world. Glory to Devarishi Narada ! Through the power of Yoga he can go wherever he likes in the twinkling of an eye. The misunder- standings and quarrels he creates are all intended for the good of the world. He inspired Valmiki, Vyasa, Sukadev, Prahlad, Dhruva and other great souls to practise devotion. Narada was the son of a female servant in his former birth. A large number of saints, sages and sannyasins came to his village during a certain rainy season to spend their four months of Chaturmas. Narada was a small child at that time. His mother engaged him in their service. He was not childish. He gave up all childish plays. He spoke a very few words. He served them beautifully and whole- heartedly. He served all his time quietly at their feet. The Mahatmas were very much pleased with the boy. They were extremely kind to him. As ordered by them he ate the leavings of their food left by them on the leaves. His sins were destroyed by this act. His heart became pure. He heard the beautiful stories of Sri Krishna recited by them. He gradually developed Bhakti. His mind became firm and steady. The Mahatmas gave him special instructions and revealed the secret of divine knowledge.

LIFE OF NARADA 11 The Mahatmas left the village. The boy continu- ed to practise Sadhana. He did Bhajan. One day a snake bit his mother and she died. The boy left the village and went to a dense forest. He sat underneath a Peepul tree on the bank of a river and meditated on Lord Hari. The Lord revealed Himself in his heart. The hairs of his body stood erect. He forgot all about the world and even the consciousness of his own existence. He was immersed in the ocean of bliss. Then suddenly the Form of Lord Hari disappear- ed. The boy was very much grieved. He again tried to have the vision of the Lord. He heard a voice from the sky. "O Child! you cannot again get My vision in the present birth. I revealed Myself to you now in order to increase and strengthen your love towards Me. You have cultivated strong devotion to Me through the influence of Satsangh even for a short time. When you leave your present body, you will be a devotee very near and dear to Me. You will be attached to Me and you will remember the incidents of your present birth even after the termination of this Kalpa through My grace." The boy left the place and moved about in the world singing the glories and Names of the Lord. He gave up association with the world. In course of time his body perished. He attained the pure, divine body of a companion of God. At the end of the Kalpa he entered the heart of Brahma through His breath when he lay down on

12 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS the ocean of dissolution, withdrawing the entire crea- tion within Himself. At the end of a thousand Yugas, he came out from His breath with Maricha and other Rishis, when Brahma began to re-create the world. Since then, Narada is moving throughout the three worlds playing on the Veena, a gift from God. Himself. Whenever Narada merges himself in divine love and sings His sport, that very moment appears before him. He II Narada is endowed with the knowledge of all the truths of the Vedas. He knows Dharma well. He has perfect knowledge of Itihasas and Puranas. He has knowledge of the facts of the previous Kalpa. He is a master of music. He is an eloquent speaker. He possesses a direct vision of all the regions through his power of Yoga. He creates quarrels for the good of the world. He is a great teacher of Devotion. He is the very embodiment of devotion. Narada is one of the wisest among the sages He is ever engaged in austerities. He is a divine minstrel. He is a great ascetic. He rose from a low position to the highest spiritual glory through divine grace and self effort. He is a Jnani, Yogi and Bhakta in one. He is a seer of He is a knower of Brahman. Vedic Mantras. He is a saviour. He is a reformer. He is honoured everywhere. He is a great master in the art of reconciling others. He is endowed with

LIFE OF NARADA 13 intellectual penetration, tact, humility, forbearance, tranquillity, self-control, truthfulness, compassion, firm love for God. He is ever doing what is auspi- cious. He is one of the ten spiritual sons of Brahma. He went to Sanatkumara for attaining wisdom. He admitted that his vast erudition could not remove the burden of sorrow. Therefore Sanatkumara illumined him about the Infinite Bliss; Bhuma, vide Chandogya Upanishad. Narada is the friend, philosopher, guide and consoler of all Gods, demons and men. Through the grace of Narada Dhruva was en- throned permanently in his celestial state. Narada takes into his care Hiranya's wife who was then carrying Prahlada. He advises the demon Andhaka to test the power of Siva's boon on himself. He advises Kamsa to slay the children of Devaki. entangled on Vali's tail. Indra from Sri Krishna to ing him of the Parijata. greatness of his character. He manages to get Ravana He goes as a messenger to remove his pride by depriv- These incidents reveal the Various scriptures name Devarishi Narada as the third Avatara of Lord Hari. In the third chapter of Srimad Bhagavatam which gives the list of 22 incarnations, he comes after Purusha and Varaha. Narada has been a source of noble and valuable inspiration to those who have sought him and found him.

14 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS May the blessings of Devarishi Narada be upon you all. NARADA INSPIRES SRI VYASA Maharishi Vyasa, divided the Vedas into four parts for the benefit of the people at large. He com- posed the Mahabharata. He wrote the 18 Puranas and yet he was not quite satisfied. He had no peace of mind. He went to the bank of the river Saraswati and sat there in a reflective mood. Narada appeared before him and said "O Maha- rishi In your books you have not sung the praise of God to the extent you described the other aspects of Dharma. You have failed to deal at length the Bhaga- vata Dharma. That is the reason why you are rest- less now. Now describe the Leelas of Sri Krishna for the good of the world. You will enjoy everlasting peace." Sri Vyasa at once began to write Bhagavat. DAKSHA'S CURSE ON NARADA At the beginning of creation, Daksha procreated 10,000 children through his wife Asikni, daughter of Pancajanya in order to populate the whole world. These children of Daksha called Haryasvas went on a pilgrimage to Narayanasaras. They wanted to carry out the orders of their father. Narada advised them to attain self-realisation, the highest goal of life. They became Sannyasins and never returned to the worldly life.

LIFE OF NARADA 15 Daksha became very angry. Brahma consoled him. He again procreated 10,000 children called Sabalasvas. They too went to Narayanasaras. They too became absorbed in God and never returned. Daksha cursed Narada. Narada is ever a wanderer without a permanent abode owing to the force of Daksha's curse. He wanders all over the world.

16 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS CONTENTS From Page Sutra No. No. 1. The Nature of Divine Love 17 2. Definition of Bhakti 3. Fruits of Bhakti 24 20 25 4. Renunciation 7 42 5. Different Definitions of Bhakti 15 67 6. Supremacy of Devotion 25 89 7. Knowledge and devotion 28 97 8. How to develop Bhakti 34 106 9. Glory of the company of the wise 39 121 10. Give up evil company 43 126 11. Who crosses Maya? 46 132 12. Nature of Prem 51 142 13. Secondary devotion 56 152 14. Bhakti Easy to Practise 58 156 15. Bhakti and Social Customs 62 163 16. Glory of Bhaktas 68 172 17. Bhaktas Above Caste and Creed 72 182 18. Instructions to devotees 74 187 19. Bhakti the best means 81 200 20. Conclusion 83 206

NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS

Om Sat Guru Paramatmane Namah. Om Sri Ganesaya Namah. Om Sarasvatyai Namah. Salutations to Deva Rishi Narada.

THE NATURE OF DIVINE LOVE

अथातो भक्तिं व्याख्यास्यामः ॥ १ ॥

Now, therefore, we shall expound Bhakti (devo- tion).

अथ Atha: now, अतः Athah: therefore, भक्तिम् Bhaktim: (the doctrine of) devotion, व्याख्यास्यामः Vyakhyasyaamah: (we) shall expound.

Sutra means an aphorism or terse saying im- pregnant with deep significance. Just as flowers or pearls are arranged or studded on a thread, so also philosophical ideas are studded or spread or arranged in the aphorism. Rishis always have expressed their ideas in the form of laconic Sutras. That is the beauty in the writings of Rishis or seers. That is the sign of God-realisation. The six Dharsans or schools of philosophy are embodied in the form of Sutras only. Without a commentary it is difficult for laymen to understand these Sutras.

Atha means now. It is sometimes used in the sense of sequence. It is a word that is used when a subject is begun to invoke the Divine blessing and for

the proper closing of the work undertaken. It also implies completion of the preliminary conditions. An aspirant cannot take to the deep study of philosophy and spiritual practice without preparation, without proper qualifications.

The aspirant must be endowed with aspiration, faith, devotion, tolerance, patience, perseverance, forgiveness, mercy, serenity, cheerfulness, courage, non-violence, truthfulness, purity or Brahmacharya, spirit of self-less service, dispassion, renunciation and one-pointed mind. This is the preparation for the love of God.

The aspirant should have faith in the grace of God. He must have intense desire to attain god- realisation. He must have deep interest in the study of scriptures. He must have faith in the scripture and in the capacity of the Teacher. He must have the capacity to understand. He must be free from dis- abilities and must have all possible opportunities and favourable circumstances. Then alone he is fit to practise Bhakti. Then alone he will be profited.

Ramanuja, the founder of the Visishtadwaita school of philosophy mentions seven qualifications as being indispensable for those who wish to follow the path of devotion. They are:--- 1. Viveka (discrimina- tion in food), 2. Vimukha (freedom from desires). 3. Abhyasa (practice), 4. Kriya or the habit of doing good to others, 5. Kalyana, purity in thought, word and deed, nonviolence, charity and other virtues, 6. Anavasada (cheerfulness) and 7. Anuddharsa or absence of excessive hilarity.

Atha: Now: indicates that Narada Rishi is now entering into the exposition of nature of Bhakti and the means of attaining it, after having already ex- pounded the other cults and disciplines of Karma, Jnana, etc.

Athah therefore, alludes to the reasons that prompted Narada to propound the Bhakti Sastra, viz., Bhakti itself leads to God-realisation and escape from samsara. It is the easiest path. It can be followed by any one. It is a help to those who aspire for Jnana. Even Jnanis like Sankara, Madu Sudhana, Suka Dev took to Bhakti after realisation to enjoy the sweetness and loving relationship with God. Narada himself likes Bhakti most and is eager to share his bliss of love with others.

The term BHAKTI comes from the root 'Bhaj', which means "to be attached to God." Bhajan, wor- ship, bhakti, anurag, prem, prithi are synonymous terms. Bhakti is love for love's sake. The devotee wants God and God alone. There is no selfish expec- tation here.

Vyakhyasyaamah: This means literally 'shall comment upon'. This work is not a commentary in the usual sense of the term. It is a commentary on the actual experiences of the devotees. It is not a mere speculative philosophical exposition, based on reason. Nor is it a second-hand knowledge based on other's experiences. It is the exposition based on the author's own personal experiences, supported by scriptures.

सा त्वस्मिन् परमप्रेमरूपा ॥ २ ॥

That (devotion), verily, is of the nature of supreme Love of God.

सा Sa: That (i.e., Bhakti); तु tu: But; अस्मिन् Asmin: in this; परम Parama: Supreme; प्रेम Prema: Love; रूपा Rupaa: Form.

Some read Tasmin or Kasmai in place of twasmin.

Sandilya's definition of Bhakti is सा परानुरक्तिरीश्वरे "absolute attachment to God".

The term Bhakti comes from the root "Bhaj", which means "to be attached to God". Bhajan, wor- ship, bhakti, anurag, prem, prithi are synonymous terms. Bhakti is love for love's sake. The devotee wants God and God alone. There is no selfish expecta- tion here. There is no fear also. Therefore it is call- ed "Parama Prem Rupa". Is the son afraid of his father, who is a Sessions Judge? Is the wife afraid of her husband? So also a devotee entertains the least fear of God. The fear of retribution vanishes in him. He feels, believes, conceives and imagines that his Ishtam is an Ocean of Love or Prem.

Devotion or Bhakti is exclusive love for GCod. The devotee wants God and God alone. He is com- pletely attached to God. He has no attraction or love for any object in this world. He is absolutely free from all mundane desires. He has no desire for the

enjoyment of the next world. He does not want even Mukti.

Supreme Love does not seek a return. It does not expect a reward. The lover wants his Beloved alone. The devotee is quite indifferent to the plea- sures of this world. He has no interest in the affairs of this world.

Mark how love develops. First arises faith. Then follows attraction and after that adoration. Adoration leads to suppression of mundane desires. The result is single-mindedness and satisfaction. Then grow attachment and supreme love towards God.

In this type of highest Bhakti all attraction and attachment which one has for objects of enjoyment are transferred to the only dearest object, viz., God. This leads the devotee to an eternal union with his Beloved and culminates in oneness.

Bhakti is divided into two kinds, viz., Apara Bhakti or Gauna Bhakti and Para Bhakti. Apara Bhakti is the lower or initial stage of devotion of an aspirant following the path of Bhakti, while Para Bhakti is the highest stage of Bhakti.

The relationship of the devotee with the Lord in various stages is beautifully described here. Sri Hanuman says to Lord Rama, देहबुध्द्याद्ध्या तु दासोऽहं जीवबुध्द्याद्ध्या त्वदंशकः । आत्मबुध्द्याद्ध्या त्वमेवाहमिति मे निश्चिता मति: ॥ "when I think of myself as an embodied being. I am your servant; when I think of myself as an individual soul, I am part of you; but when I realise 'I am

Atman' I am one with you. This is my firm convic- tion."

Love grows wildly in the ignorant man's heart. There is luscious fruit of love in a corner of the heart, but the entire heart is strewn with thorns of hatred. jealousy and so many other vicious qualities that the charm of love is marred. There are the bushes of lust, anger and greed which hide within them the wildest animals. Love lies hidden far beneath and far beyond reach. It is as good as non-existent. But, in the case of a true devotee of the Lord, this love has been cultured, and the garden of his heart is cleared of the thorns of vicious qualities, of the bushes of lust. anger and greed. Love of God which is the sweetest of fragrances wafts from such a heart.

तु, Tu, is used to differentiate the highest Bhakti which Maharshi Narada alludes to in this Sutra from the lower type of devotion which is actuated by ulterior motives and desires or fear of God, etc.

You should know the difference between ordinary love, the love between wife and husband, children and parents, friends and relations.

The word अस्मिन् (asmin) in this, is used in this Sutra to denote the object of love. Narada's teaching is non-sectarian. He did not use the word, Brahman, Ishwar, Rama, Krishna, Siva, etc.

Parama Prema Rupa: There is no trace of selfish- ness or egoism or any motive or fear in this kind of supreme love. Do not mistake emotion or fanaticism

for devotion or supreme love. It will pass away soon. Blind faith also is not supreme love.

The various objects which devotees worship according to their spiritual development are: 1. a personal God, Vishnu, Siva etc., 2. An idol or image of the personal God which will remind him of the Personal God, 3. An Avatara like Lord Rama or Lord Krishna, 4. Guru or one's spiritual guide, 5. Huma- nity in general, 6. The whole world (Viswarupa) con- ceived as the manifestation of the Supreme Being, 7. The Antaryamin or the inner Ruler or controller of all the objects in the world, 8. One's own Atman.

अमृतस्वरूपा च ॥ ३ ॥

And it is of the nature of Nectar.

अमृतस्वरूपा ; Amritaswaroopaa: Of the nature of nectar; च cha: and.

Devotion is real nectar. It secures freedom from the wheel of births and deaths. Lord Yama cannot come near a devotee. The devotee attains immorta- lity. He lives constantly in the presence of God.

Amrita: "A" means "not" and "Mrita" means death. Amrita is that which bestows immortality.

God, Immortality (Amrutham), peace (Santi), Absolute, Infinite (ananta), Intelligence, Conscious- ness (chit), Eternity, bliss (ananda), Nirvana, free- dom (Mukti), perfection (Siddhi), are synonymous terms.

Devotion gives Immortality. Bhakti is an embodi- ment of Amrita or nectar. Nitya Sukha (eternal bliss), Immortality, Param Santi (supreme peace), Nitya Tripti (eternal satisfaction), Akhanda Sukha (un- broken joy) can be had only in God. That is the reason why aspirants attempt for God-realisation. Worldly pleasure is not constant. He who smiles and laughs for five minutes weeps bitterly for hours to- gether. No man in this world is perfectly happy. A multi-millionaire is full of cares, worries, anxieties and fear. He is afraid of enemies. He is guarded by sepoys. He has to take injections for getting sleep, as he is always worried. He is worse than a prisoner. Rockfeller, the richest man in the world, who could pave a road of several miles with golden sheets, ex- pressed to a priest who went to behold his glory and opulence: "O revered priest! I am the most miserable man in the world. I cannot eat anything; my stomach, kidneys and liver are filled with germs and diseases. I am always restless." Maitreyi puts a question to her husband, Yajnavalkya, "O My Lord! can the wealth of the three worlds give me immortality?" Yajnavalkya replied, "Certainly not, my beloved." Yama also says to Nachiketas: "Wealthy people on account of delusion and pride lose their memory, in- tellect and understanding, and go round and round in this impermanent and unhappy world and come again and again in my clutches. Wealth and woman are the two snares to entrap the worldly-minded persons whose minds are filled with lust and greed. You are above these things. You have shunned all my temptations. You have selected the "Sreya Marga."

This is a world of diversity. Intellects are different. Faces are different. Religions are different. Sounds are different. Faiths are different. Tastes and temperaments are different. But one thing is common in all. Every one of us wants Nitya Sukha (eternal happiness), infinite knowledge, Immortality, freedom and independence. These things can be obtained by God-realisation alone.

3. FRUITS OF BHAKTI

यल्लब्ध्वा पुमान् सिद्धो भवति, अमृतो भवति तृप्तो भवति ॥ ४ ॥

On attaining it (this supreme love) man becomes perfect, immortal and (fully) satisfied.

यत् = Yat: which; लब्ध्वा = Labdhwa: having attained; पुमान् = Puman: man; सिद्धः = Siddhah: perfect; भवति Bhavati: becomes; अमृतः = Amrita: Immortal; भवति = Bhavati: becomes; तृप्तः = Triptah: satisfied; भवति = Bhavati: becomes.

Sutras 4, 5 and 6 describe the fruits of Bhakti.

Puman: The word Puman is specially significant. It means any man. The practice of Bhakti and the attainment of Mukti are not restricted by any con- siderations of caste, creed, colour, sex, or country. Every human being who has faith, devotion and aspiration can cultivate Bhakti and attain God-reali- sation through Bhakti. Even Nandan, Dharma Vyadha, Raidas, Kabir attained God-realisation.

Puranas speak of even animals getting the grace of the Lord. There is the account of Gajendra

Siddho Bhavati: The devotee becomes perfect through God-realisation. His object is attained. All his desires are gratified by God-realisation. He never feels the want of anything. He enjoys supreme peace, eternal and perfect satisfaction and ever-lasting bliss and so he becomes a siddha.

For a devotee Siddhis or powers are worthless. He does not care for them. These are nothing when compared to Divine Love. He rejects even the position of Indra or Brahma, even Mukti or liberation. His mind is filled with divine ecstasy. He has realised the whole.

He has realised the essence and totality of all. He has attained the source and fountain of all. And so he is perfect, immortal and thoroughly satisfied. He cannot be attracted towards external objects. which are incomplete, imperfect, defective and are only parts.

A Siddha is a perfect man. He has reached the goal. He has attained God-realisation. In common parlance the word Siddha denotes a man who is en- dowed with various superhuman powers or Siddhis. It is not in any such sense the word is used here. The sign of a perfect man or Siddha is not the pos- session of miraculous powers but the attainment of God-realisation or unity with the Supreme Being.

Amrito Bhavati: He who has attained God realisation becomes immortal. He ever lives in the

presence of God. He has his being in God. He has no more desires and so he will not take any more body or birth. Immortality, amritatwa constitutes the essential nature of Bhakti.

Tripto Bhavati: A devotee who is a Siddha or who is perfect, and who is immortal is absolutely satisfied.

Contentment here referred to is not the kind of satisfaction which one gets when some desire is ful- filled. It is absolute satisfaction that comes from the absence of all desires and the attainment of God- realisation. Only when one attains the highest per- fection he can be perfectly satisfied in his own Self. Only then, he can be contented with oneself. There is no other gain superior to that absolute satisfaction attained through God-realisation.

He who has the philosopher's stone cares not for little pieces of gold. Even so a devotee who has reached the fountain source of everything cares not for the little objects of this world.

The devotee loves God and serves Him and His creation. He does not strive consciously for Mukti but God confers Mukti on His devotee unsolicited.

All weakness and Doshas (faults) vanish. People put a question: "How can we love God whom we have not seen?" Remain in the company of Bhaktas; hear the Lila of Bhagavan, His Aiswarya (Divine Powers) or Vibhutis, His Madhurya (grace and beauty); serve Bhaktas; sing His names daily and do Japa of His Mantra; stay for one year in Ayodhya or Brindavan

or Chitrakute or Pandharpur, Banaras or Ananda Kutir. You will develop love for God.

यत्प्राप्य न किञ्चिद्वाञ्छति न शोचति न द्वेष्टि न रमते नोत्साही भवति ॥ ५ ॥

By attaining which (divine love) he does not desire anything else, neither grieves (over any loss or death of dear ones) nor hates anything, does not indulge in sensual plea- sures, nor does he feel any urge (for the acquisition of material things).

यत् - Yat: which (love of God); प्राप्य - Praapya: having obtained; पुमान् - puman: (a person); न - na: not: किञ्चित् kinchit: anything; - vaanchati: desires; न - na: not; शोचति - Sochati: grieves: न - Na: not; रमते - द्वेष्टि - Dweshti: feels enmity; न - na: not; रमते - Ramate: rejoices; उत्साही - Utsaahee: one who is active (in one's own interest); न भवति - Na Bhavati: does not become, or is not.

Labhdwa: in the previous Sutra (having gained) and Prapya (having attained) in the present one are apparently similar in meaning, yet, there is a subtle distinction. Attainment involves personal effort. Labha or gain on the contrary may come un- expectedly.

Now Rishi Narada describes the negative aspect of divine love.

Na Kinchit Vaanchati: A devotee rises above all earthly wants. His heart is full of supreme Peace and

perfect satisfaction. Therefore he does not desire anything else. He is conscious of the unreality and illusory nature of worldly objects. Hence he does not take any interest in them. His thirst for sensual plea- sure has been quenched for ever by the attainment of God-realisation. His heart is full now. Kingdom, wealth, power, etc., have no attraction for him.

Why does desire manifest? On account of Avidya or ignorance or imperfection or lack of bliss. When one gets darshan of God, all desires are burnt up. When the boy Dhruva had Darshan of Lord Hari, the desire to obtain kingdom that prompted him to wor- ship the Lord disappeared. Devotion is a fire like Gyanagni (fire of wisdom) that burns up all mundane desires.

Desires arise from a sense of imperfection or limitation. The feeling of imperfection is possible only when a man finds something outside himself. other than himself. When the devotee attains God- realisation he is not conscious of anything other than God. Therefore a devotee becomes absolutely desire- less.

Na Sochati: A devotee has no grief. He has no particular attachment to any object or person. He expects nothing, hopes nothing, fears nothing. He has no disappointment, frustration or failure or loss. Therefore he has no grief.

The devotee who realises God is freed from grief also. Can darkness remain in the presence of light? How can sorrow manifest when one is immers- ed in the Ocean of Bliss and Prem? Grief is a mental

creation. It manifests when the mind is attached to body and illusory connections. When the mind is obliterated, when there is self-absorption and self- effacement by merging in the bosom of God, how can grief approach the devotee? Absolutely impossible.

Na Dweshti: Freedom from hatred is the next sign of a perfect man or realised devotee. When the devotee is free from desire and pain, when he beholds God in all forms he cannot have hatred to any crea- ture. He feels that if he hates anybody, he hates God Himself.

A devotee hates none. He loves all, serves all and helps all. He is ever engaged in the good of all beings. He works for the enlightenment and uplift of the lesser, unfortunate infant souls.

He is not attached to any person, object or place. He tastes the honey of divine love and so he does not depend on any worldly object for his personal satisfaction.

The devotee does not hate anything. Hatred is due to ignorance. How can the devotee hate anybody when he sees Lord Hari in everything? He feels that the world is manifestation of the Lord and áll move- ments and actions are His Lila. He has no Ghrina or dislike, for faecal matter, dirt, Chandala, scavenger, cobbler, beggar, prostitute, thief etc. He says, "I see everywhere my sweet Lord. It is Hari who is playing the part of prostitute, thief; dacoit, scavenger." He has an all-embracing, all inclusive, exalted mental state. This cannot be adequately described in words. It has to be felt. Mira, Gouranga, Hafiz Tulsidas,

Kabir, Ramdas all enjoyed this state. Tulsidas says, "Sitaramamaya sab jaga jani, karɔu pranam jori juga pani"---Knowing the whole world to be the manifesta- tion of Sita and Rama, I prostrate to all with hands bowed in worship."

In Purusha Sukta you will find a description of the Purusha: "The Purusha has one thousand heads, one thousand eyes, one thousand feet." There is an echo of these ideas in the Gita, Cha XIII---13. "Every- where that hath hands and feet, everywhere eyes. heads and mouths; all-hearing. He dwelleth in the world enveloping all." Lord Krishna gives advice to Uddhava and prescribes an easy way for reaching Him. "Know, Uddhava, that Brahmin, Chandala, ass, dog, king, beggar are all my forms. When you meet any object, do prostration and feel My presence." Nam Dev said to the dog; "O Vittala, my dear, in the form of dog, do not run away with the dry bread. It will affect your soft throat. Pray, let me apply ghee to the bread." He ran with ghee in a cup to the dog. Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa prostrated be- fore an out-caste girl: "O Mother Kali! I see Thee in this girl". Pravahari Baba prostrated before a thief with a bag of utensils: "O thief Narayana! Pray, accept these things. I never knew that thief Narayana was in my cottage." Ekanath, a Maharashtra Bhakta, gave his ring voluntarily to the thief when he entered the house. "O thief! take this ring also. Your Kar- tavya (duty) is to steal the things. Thou art Krishna. Keep up this Lila." Have you understood the sublime state of these exalted Bhaktas who have a new angle

of vision? A day will come to you also. Exert, Struggle.

Na Utsaahi Bhavati: A devotee does not work to promote his own self-interest but works for the good of all without any sense of ego or of any feeling of external compulsion, in a spirit of service to God. As he is not prompted by ego, as he does not wish for fruits, his actions are no actions at all.

He does not work for his personal pleasure and profit. He has no enthusiasm for selfish or worldly pursuits. He is not affected by success and failure.

How can a devotee be enthusiastic about any- thing? A man undertakes a work on account of the pleasure in it or of the pleasure that it will bring. There is no more work to be done by a devotee of God-realisation. He enjoys the highest bliss.

When the devotee has the fountain of all bliss by his side, how can there be any desire for him for the enjoyment of worthless and trivial sensual plea- sure?

How can a trace of earthly desire remain when God, the embodiment of bliss is attained by the de- votee? Darshan of God comes in various ways, viz. in dreams in physical form as ordinary man, in physical form with four hands with conch, mace, discus and lotus-flower in the hands, in the form of cosmic consciousness which Arjuna had in the form of Hiranyagarbha consciousness or full Knowledge of Brahma Loka, etc. Note how Arjuna expresses his experiences of cosmic consciousness. "Nor source,

nor midst, nor end; infinite force, unnumbered arms, the Sun and Moon Thine eyes; I see Thy face, as sacri- ficial fire, blazing its splendour burneth up the worlds." God sometimes gives darshan to encourage His devotees by coming down in Viman (celestial car). Akasa Vani, dazzling lights in space or sky are some other encouragements which God gives to push His devotees on the path vigorously and rapidly. The devotee should not stop his Sadhana on account of false Tushti (satisfaction) when he gets His Dar- shan. He should ever rest in God. He should have perfect Nishta in God always (Swaroop-sthithi). He should not leave off his practices till he merges him- self in the Lord in Maha-Bhav or Tanmeya state.

Give up this unquenchable thirst for sensual pleasure, woman, money and worldly prosperity, which is the greatest obstacle in the path of devotion and turn your mind towards God. Here is an in- exhaustible and imperishable spiritual wealth which no dacoit can rob and a Divine Bliss which is not mixed with fear or pain.

Now everything becomes natural, effortless and automatic. Effort is necessary only as long as the ego or the feeling of separateness persists. When these are removed and when the Light of the Divine has descended into the devotee, he puts forth no more effort. This is confirmed by the Lord in the Bhagavad Gita (vide chapter II-59). "The objects of the sense turn away from the abstinent man leaving the long-

ing behind but his longing also turns away on seeing the Supreme."

He does not desire or crave for anything because he has no ego, he is filled with Divine Love and he feels therefore no want. Desire exists only so long as the ego or the sense of separateness with its con- comitant imperfection exists. When this state is tran- scended, in Para Bhakti, all desires come to an end, they find their fulfilment in the Lord. Compared to the invaluable treasure of divine love, the wealth of the three worlds appears to be a straw in the eyes of the Bhakta; what to speak of motor cars, bungalows, name, fame or other worldly possessions. The sum- total of all the pleasures of the universe is like a drop when compared to the ocean of Bliss; i.e., God, who is the source of all these pleasures. Nothing tempts the Bhakta who has attained His Love. As a man who gets nectar to drink will not be tempted to drink in a muddy pool of water, just as a man who gets a bagful of sugar-candy will not hanker after black- jaggery, so also a devotee who has got that Supreme Bhakti will not hanker after anything whatsoever.

Grief results from attachment and desire. When the devotee does not desire for anything, not even Liberation, will he grieve for the loss of any possession? On the other hand, he will willingly re- nounce everything, for the sake of attaining God and His Love.

When there is neither craving nor grief, there can exist neither elation nor hatred-for these two pairs follow each other. Hatred and sense-delight are

rooted in desire, its frustration or its fulfilment res- pectively. When the Bhakta is always immersed in the thought of his Beloved (God) and sees Him alone in everything and in every being, how can he hate any- body? And, when there is nothing greater than God, how can anything other than God cause elation in him?

When the devotee has attained Eternal Satisfac- tion in His Love, the impulse for attaining something else disappears and with it the desire to perform actions for the achievement of any personal gains. Only as long as there is a sense of imperfection can there be a motive for action. In Divine Love the Bhakta achieves Perfection. He sees the Lord in all, and all in God. Therefore he ceases to perform actions of his own volition. A similar idea is expressed in the Bhagavad Gita, "He who neither rejoices nor hates, nor grieves, nor desires, renouncing good and evil, full of devotion, he is dear to Me." (Chapter XII--17).

Thenceforward, he becomes the instrument of God; he performs actions without his own Sankalpa, without desire or attachment, in accordance with His Will for the well-being of the whole world.

Therefore, attain that Love of God in this very instant. All your sorrows, desires, cravings, fear and anxieties will come to an end. You will become per- fect and you will enjoy eternal satisfaction. You will be immersed in Perennial Bliss.

यज्ज्ञात्वा मत्तो भवति स्तब्धो भवत्यात्मारामो भवति ॥ ६॥

By knowing which man becomes intoxicated (or overjoyed) peaceful and completely immersed in the enjoyment of the Bliss of the Atman.

यत् :- Yat: which (God); ज्ञात्वा - jnaatva: hav- ing known; पुमान् : - Puman: (A person); मत्तः - Mattah: Intoxicated; overjoyed; भवति : Bhavati: Becomes; (Iva: as it were); स्तब्धः Sthabdha: quiet, peaceful; भवति : - bhavati: becomes; आत्मारामः - Aatmaraamah: one continually enjoying the bliss of the Atman; भवति : - Bhavati: becomes.

The description of a realised devotee is continued.

In this Sutra the author says "By knowing That" ---by "That" he means God. But in the previous Sutra he says "On obtaining That"---and there he means love.

Jnaatwa: Previous expressions were "Labdhwa" 'having gained' and 'Prapya' 'having attained'. Now it is "having known."

Matto Bhavati: The devotee gets thoroughly in- toxicated with the divine love. He spends his days and nights in singing the praises of the Lord and in hearing His glory. He remains merged in the Lord, also he is not conscious of the external world.

He now laughs, now weeps, now cries, now sings aloud and now begins to dance in divine ecstasy. Through excess of joy he gets horripulation. Some-

times he becomes silent and sits motionless like a statue.

This is the state of identity or union with the Lord. The devotee loses his separate existence. He has no will of his own as he has already surrendered it completely to the Lord. He is simply an instrument in the hands of the Lord.

One of the Nayanars burnt up his hair on the head when he was not able to get oil for burning the light in the temple.

Another cut off the nose of a queen who had plucked up a flower and smelt it when the devotee was making a garland of flowers to be offered to Siva. The queen's husband came and cut off her hand which he said had committed the first offence, because it had picked up the flowers.

A Nayanar or devotee rubbed his elbow on the sandal stone when he could not get any more sandal wood for the use of Lord Siva.

St. Francis of Assisi brought upon himself, through intense meditation on Lord Jesus Christ, the marks of Crucification and joyfully experienced the extreme pain to which Jesus himself had been sub- jected at the time of crucification.

In the Upanishads Atman is compared to Madhu or honey. The Sufis often compare it to wine; the Saktas compare it to liquor. In the Vedic Yagna it is Soma juice. All these symbolise the enjoyment of the sweetness of divine bliss.

A devotee who has drunk the wine of divine love cannot observe the conventional rules of propriety. He is not a slave of the conventional laws of society and scriptures. The God-intoxicated devotee is not conscious of himself.

Stabdha bhavati: When a devotee acts, it is God who acts through him. A devotee is inwardly quite peaceful and serene when he serves the world out of love and mercy.

Atmaaramo bhavati: The devotee grows into the likeness of the Lord and therefore shares with Him His perfection and partakes of His infinite bliss and joy. He realises the Atman within and beholds the Atman in every creature.

When one is happy in his own Self, then alone he becomes independent. If one depends for his happi- ness on perishable objects, he begins to weep when the centre of his pleasure is withdrawn. The husband weeps when his wife or son dies, when the bank in which he has deposited his money fails. Objects that are conditioned in time, space and causation are Vinasi, perishable. They cannot give therefore, eternal happiness to human beings. So in the Gita Bhagavan Sri Krishna says: "The delights that are contact-born, they are verily wombs of pain, for they have beginning and ending, O Kaunteya, not in them may rejoice the wise. Ch. V-22. That which from the union of the senses with their objects at first is as nectar, but in the end is like venom, he whose Self is unattached to external contacts and findeth joy in the Self, having the self harmonised with the Eternal

by Yoga, enjoys happiness exempt from decay (Ch. XVIII-38 and V. 21). "The man who rejoiceth in the Self, with the Self is satisfied, and is content in the Self, for him verily there is nothing to do." Ch. III-17. Nothing can shake a man who rejoices in the Self (Atmarati); who is satisfied in the Self (Atma tripta); and who is contented in the Self (Atma San- tushti); and who plays in the Self (Atma Kreeda).

TODO: worldly-minded should be hyphenated on publish It is Vasana (subtle desire) that draws a man outside towards external objects. Avidya (ignorance) has got two forces, the Avarana or veiling power, the shakti that screens the man from his real Satchit- ananda Swaroop behind and the Vikshepa Shakti that makes the mind and senses outgoing. The rest- lessness of the mind is due to desire and Vikshepa Sakti. Avidya clouds the understanding and produces intoxication, destroys the intellect and makes the intellect perverted, stony and barren. Therefore, man always thinks that he can get pleasure in externa! objects, mistakes the body, children and wife as Atma and takes the unreal world as real. When lust mani- fests the intellect becomes blind and the most intelli- gent man becomes an easy prey to passion. A worldly- minded man vainly searches for his happiness in out- side perishable objects. The idea that he should dive deep into the chambers of his heart by collecting all the dissipated rays of the mind, and withdrawing the out-going senses and meditate on God never strikes him. He never believes in devotion, concentration and meditation. He cannot imagine of a pure, un- alloyed happiness that is independent of external objects, although he enjoys the bliss of the Self daily

at night. He foolishly thinks: "If I have a son, if I have a garden, I will be happy." The tendency of the mind is such that it tries to seek happiness outside in perishable objects. This is due to the force of Avidya.

But the devotee gets the grace of the Lord. His intellect is calm and tranquil. All the outgoing energies become transmuted into spiritual energy. He gets help and strength from Mantra Shakti, Sadhana Shakti and Upasana Shakti. Sattva flows from the feet of the Lord towards his mind. All desires melt away. The Vikshepa Shakti is destroyed. He has the firm, unshakable conviction that the real happiness is in God. His mind is always inward. He has antarmukh vritti. The senses do not wander about. They get absorbed in the mind and the mind gets absorbed in God. He is ever peaceful. He enjoys the happiness within. He delights in the bliss of God. He, therefore, stands adamant even amidst grave troubles and calamities. So Rishi Narada uses the expressions "Stabdho bhavati". The devotee becomes serene and "Atmaaramo bhavati" (happy in the bliss of the Self).

The devotee gets divine intoxication. Lord Gouranga was so much intoxicated with the divine nectar of prem that sometimes he did not know when it was day-break and when it was night. Mira, though a young Rani, danced in the streets amidst males and men of inferior class on account of this intoxication of Krishna Prem.

Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa remained in the thick jungle for four days without taking any food

when he was under this divine intoxication. Words can hardly describe the nature of this divine intoxi- cation. One has to feel it himself. Even if there is a mild intoxication it will give immense strength to the devotee to face the difficulties in the battle of life. Therefore Narada says, "Matto Bhavati".

4. RENUNCIATION

सा न कामयमाना निरोधरूपत्वात् ॥ ७ ॥

Bhakti (supreme love) is not of the nature of lust (desire), because it is of the form of renunciation.

सा : Saa it; that (i.e., Bhakti described as Paramapremarupa in Sutra 2); न na : not; कामयमानः Kaamayamaana: of the nature of lust; निरोधरूपत्वात् : Nirodharoopatwat: being of the form of renunciation.

Bhakti is not led by desires, because it finds ex- pression in the inhibition of all desires. The inhi- bition of all desires is not a total annihilation or ex tinction of all activities.

Bhakti is no worldly desire. The moment Bhakti dawns all desires disappear. The devotee does not expect any reward from God. He loves Him for love's sake.

Devotion to the Lord is not certainly for one's own gain. The basis of Bhakti is self-restraint. Re- nunciation is the very essence of this devotional love. Divine love has no element of desire in it.

Devotion cannot co-exist with desire of any kind, not even the desire for liberation. The devotee wants God and God alone and His Service. He does not accept even when offered the five forms of Mukti.

Kaamayamaana: It means "of the nature of Kama". "Kama" is not only sexual lust but desire in

general. Bhakti Yoga is not practised for any selfish purpose whatsoever. The devotee does not want pros- perity, power or even release from pain and sufferings. The basis of devotion or divine love is self-denial.

Desire obstructs the growth of devotion. Devo- tion to the Lord increases in intensity when mundane desires are renounced.

The psychologists and psychiatrists foolishly imagine that spiritual experience is of a sexual origin. It is a terrible mistake. It is purely divine.

It is not a suppressed experience of sexuality.

Continence of a spiritual aspirant is not repres- sion or suppression. It is sublimation of sex-energy into ojas or spiritual energy which is utilised in divine contemplation.

Prahlada, Dhruva, Nachiketas showed signs of spiritual illumination even from boyhood.

Desire is an enemy of peace. Desire is an enemy of devotion. Without renunciation (tyaga) Bhakti can never be cultivated in the heart. Vishaya Asakti (attachment to sensual enjoyments) is the greatest obstacle in developing devotion. Energy leaks out. No improvement is seen in spiritual Sadhana. The devotee always complains: "I have not realised any- thing in the path of devotion. My mind remains in the same state. It always wanders about wildly in sensual grooves. I am restless. What is to be done?" Desire is very powerful. It assumes various subtle forms. Desire is Maya's weapon to hurl down the Jivas in the mire of Samsara. There is no end for

desires. It is unconquerable. Enjoyment does not bring satisfaction of a desire. Just as fire is increased by pouring ghee over so also desire is strengthened by Bhoga. Have you not studied the life of Raja Yayati in Mahabharata ? He borrowed the youthful state from his son and enjoyed for thousands of years and cried out in the end: "Alas! my passion has not gone. There is no satiety. My heart is still burning with lust." Bartrihari weeps bitterly: "I have re- nounced the world, wife and kingdom. I live on leaves and water. I do penance, yet lust is troubling me." Such is the potency of desire.

That is the reason why Lord Krishna says in the Gita "Enveloped is wisdom by this constant enemy of the wise in the form of desire, which is insatiable as a flame. The senses, the mind and the reason are said to be its seat; by these, enveloping wisdom, it bewilders the dweller in the body. Therefore, O best of the Bharatas, mastering first the senses do thou slay this thing of sin, destructive of wisdom and knowledge. Thus understanding Him as greater than the Reason, restraining the self by the self, slay thou, O mighty-armed, the enemy in the form of desire, difficult to overcome. When a man abandoneth, O Partha, all the desires of the heart, and is satisfied in the self, by the Self, then is he called stable in mind." Chapt. III --- 39, 40, 41, 43. Chapt. II --- 55.

First annihilate Asakti, then the Kamana (long- ing) will die by itself. Eventually preference also will be destroyed. When the attraction towards external objects ceases, then there yet remains Trishna (thirst- ing for objects). This is the most dangerous enemy

of devotion. When the attraction towards objects, external as well as internal, ceases without any veil, then it is termed Mukta (freed) Trishna. The mere thought of longing that such and such a thing should come to oneself is Trishna. It is this strong chain of trishna that you should unshake yourself from, if you want to grow in Bhakti. Cut off the Trishna-tantu (the thread of sense-hankering) by the sword of Vairagya. This is "Nirodha" or control of desire.

निरोधस्तु लोकवेदव्यापारन्यासः ॥ ८ ॥

On the contrary control of desires means the resignation to the Lord of all worldly and scriptural activities.

निरोधः - Nirodha inhibition of desires; तु : tu: on the contrary ; लोकवेदव्यापारस्य : Lokaveda- vyaapaarasya : of worldly and scriptural activities; न्यासः -- Nyaasah : resignation or consecration (to the Supreme).

Control of desires does not mean intense fight with desires. The more you fight with desires, the stronger and more intense they will become. Do not add further fuel to the fire of desire. Reduce your activities. Cultivate dispassion. Learn to discrimi- nate. Pray. Sing. Do Japa. The desires will gradu- ally lose very much of their force.

When divine love grows renunciation of action 'comes by itself. The devotee is God-intoxicated. He knows nothing but his beloved Lord. His mind is ever fixed on the form of his Lord. He is not capable

of doing any action enjoined by the Smritis or the Vedas. All activities leave him of their own accord.

He sees nothing else but God. He speaks of nothing else but God. He does not listen to anything. He has no craving or desire. Sometimes his voice is choked. He sits silently. How can he work at this stage?

Nirodha: The word Nirodha is not used here in the ordinary way as "restraint". It is used in a special sense viz., Nyasa or 'renunciation', or 'dedication'.

Loka Veda Vyaapaara: Renunciation of worldly activities and scriptural duties does not mean here the abandoning of such activities themselves, but the effacement of egoism, selfishness, attachment --- to fruits, craving, etc. The activities cannot be stopped. They can be consecrated or dedicated to the Lord by complete surrender of the individual soul to the Lord.

Even the distinction of sacred and secular (worldly) duty vanishes for a realised devotee. Every work is sacred to him. Every work is a sacred offering unto the Lord. Every work is an expression of his love for God.

Complete surrender of one's will to the Lord leads to Samadhi or union with the Lord.

A worldly-minded man cannot work without ex- pectation of fruits of his works. He reaps the fruits by going to heaven. He comes back again to this Mrityuloka when the virtuous works are exhausted. He again does good and evil Karmas. Thus he is caught up in the never ending wheel of samsara or

Avagamana-Chakra. Rishis, seers and the Vedas, therefore, advise that the works should be performed without expectation of fruits and should be consec- rated to the Lord as Iswararpana. Then the heart is purified and Bhakti develops. That is the reason why Lord Krishna advises Arjuna: "Whatever thou doest, whatever thou eatest, whatever thou offerest, whatso- ever thou givest, whatsoever thou doest of austerity, O Kaunteya! do thou that as an offering unto Me." Ch. IX 27. Patanjali Maharshi, the exponent of Raja Yoga philosophy, also says: "Iswaraprani- dhaanaadvaa". "Success is speedy in Yogic practice and attainment of Samadhi in Yogic practice and attainment of Samadhi by surrendering the fruits of works at the feet of the Lord as an offering." Ishwara Pranidhaana is an important item in his Kriya-Yoga and Niyama.

Egoism, ambition and Vasanas are obstacles in the way of self-surrender. Subtle hidden Vasanas will try to come to the surface of the mind. Desire which is suppressed for some time will again manifest with re-doubled force, if the aspirant is not careful, if there is some waning in his vairagya and spiritual practice, and if he mixes with worldly-minded people. Generally, the aspirant consciously or unconsciously, wittingly or unwittingly keeps up some desires for his gratification. He does not wish to part completely with his desires. Therefore, the self-surrender does not become perfect and unreserved. So the grace of the Lord does not descend. Even if there is an atom of desire or egoism, there is no possibility of Divine Grace. Mira says, "I have given up my mind, my

heart, my soul, my chitta, my intellect, my all to my beloved Giridhar Gopal." This is complete self-sur- render. Mark the words "my all." The Lord becomes a slave of a Bhakta only when he has made absolute. ungrudging self-surrender. He is very cruel and puts his devotee to severe tests and trials. Only when Surdas poked his eyes with the thorns and remained without food and water in the thick jungle, Lord Krishna appeared before him with sweetmeats and water. He did not hear the words of Draupadi so long as she kept up her own strength and traces of egoism. When she cried aloud with perfect sincerity and total resignation: "O Dwarakanath, my beloved! come to my rescue." Then he ran to the scene and she had abundant cloth and her modesty was saved. Nyasa means renunciation. This brings Nirodha (control) of mind. It is renunciation of the fruits of works. Renunciation of egoism is Sarva Tyaga (renunciation of all). All desires, selfishness, raga. dwesha, body-idea, deha-abhimana, are hanging on egoism. Egoism is the pivot on which all these are centred. Kill egoism. Then the surrender becomes complete. Even if there is a tinge or grain of egoism, the Lord will not reveal Himself.

तस्मिन्ननन्यता तद्विरोधिषूदासीनता च ॥ ९॥

(Nirodha also means) single-minded devotion to the Lord and indifference to all that is antagonistic to Him.

तस्मिन् : Tasmin in Him, in that ; अनन्यता : Ananyata : singleheartedness, identification, com- plete unification; तद्विरोधिषु : Tadvirodhishu: in respect of what is opposed to it; उदासीनता : Udaseenata indifference; च; cha; and.

Ananyata: Single-mindedness is an important factor in devotion.

Surrender everything to the Lord. Do every action as an offering unto the Lord. Practise absolute surrender to the Lord.

When you surrender your mind, ego, body to the Lord you will realise your oneness with the Lord.

A devotee realises that the Lord alone is acting through him, that the Lord alone has given him in- telligence and opportunities etc. He does not take any credit on himself. He attributes everything to Lord's grace.

A worldly man forgets all these and allows his ego to assert itself at every step.

Your real enemy is your ego. Slay this ego, the enemy of devotion and peace. Be indifferent to its persuasions and promptings. Place it as an offering at the lotus feet of the Lord. This is the real flower that can be offered to the Lord.

The child thinks of the mother and mother alone. A passionate husband thinks of his wife and wife alone. A greedy man thinks of his money and money alone. Even so the devotee should entertain in his heart the picture of his Ishtam and Ishtam alone.

Then he can have darshan of God easily. Lord Krishna says to Arjuna, "He who constantly thinketh upon Me, not thinking ever of another, of him I am easily reached, O Partha! of this ever harmonised Yogi." Chapt. VIII-14.

The single-minded devotion can only manifest by constant and protracted practice in a quiet room and vairagya. Whenever the wavering and unsteady mind runs out, curb it, draw it and fix it again and again at the face or lotus feet of the Lord. It takes some time for the collection of the scattered rays of the mind and for establishing new habits in the mind. One should not be discouraged in the beginning. Patience, per- severance, attention, faith, strong-will, fortitude, power of endurance are needed. These virtues should be cultivated. Satsangh, dietetic adjustment, milk and fruits, fasting, control of sleep, reduction in the hours of the sleep, sometimes seclusion, observance of Mouna, Brahmacharya should be resorted to. The mind is naturally prone to love of ease, gluttony, lazi- ness, seeking of comforts, gossiping, worldly talks, sight-seeing etc. It should be gradually trained, tamed and disciplined by suitable methods. It is like a spoiled, indulgent child. It must be sometimes coaxed, while at other times, if it is unruly and dis- obedient, it must be threatened and whipped. Fasting is whipping. Mouna is whipping.

Udaseenatha is indifference to sensual enjoy- ments and sensual objects. Objects are enemies of God. Sons, wife, property, cattle, house, friends, rela- tives, are the enemies of God. You must cherish per- fect indifference to these objects. You must destroy

ruthlessly Moha for these objects and develop the state of Nirabhimanata (without 'mine-ness'). Moha is infatuated love towards body, children, father. mother and wife. Attachment to the body is deep- rooted. You must not think of body, and its wants too much. Thoughts of body, thoughts of food, thoughts of wife and children make you forget God. You cannot have thoughts of God if you have thoughts of Anatma things (non-sentient objects).

There is supreme joy and bliss in Udaseenata. You will find in Mundaka Upanishad, "Two birds, in- separable companions dwell upon one and the same tree. One of them eats the sweet fruit, the other looks on without eating. On the same tree, the Jiva im- mersed in worldliness and bewildered grieves on account of helplessness. But when he sees the other, the Lord, who is adored by all and His glory, then his grief passes away." Here one bird is the Jiva, the other bird is the Lord. The tree is this body. Uda- seenata destroys all sorts of attachments and desires. Attachment is death. Udaseenata is eternal life. Lord Krishna says, "An Udaseen (indifferent man) is dear to me." Chapt. XII 16. Just as the spectators of a cricket or foot-ball match enjoy the game nicely, so also an udaseen who is quite unconcerned with the world enjoys as a witness of this world-drama and passes beyond grief. In the Gita you will find: "Unattachment, absence of self-identification with son, wife or home and constant balance of mind in wished for and unwished for events" --- This is declared to be the Wisdom. Chapt. XIII --- 11.

Remember dear readers! that Udaseenata is not physical nudity or inaction. It is not the living on neem leaves or cow's dung or groundnut. Perform- ance of foolish kinds of austerities (moodha tapas) does not constitute udaseenata. Lord Krishna says, "the men who perform severe austerities, unenjoined by the scripture, wedded to vanity and egoism, im- pelled by the force of their desires and passions, un- intelligent, tormenting the aggregated elements, forming the body and Me also, seated in the inner body, know these to be of demoniacal in their resolves." Chapt. XVIII - 5, 6.

Udaseenata is purely a mental state. Queen Chudalai was a perfect Udaseen, though she reigned a dominion but her husband Sikhidwaja was attached to his begging bowl and walking stick though he lived in a forest. A man may be attached to his kowpeen or a fountain-pen even, whereas a king like Janaka may be a perfect Udaseen though he is amidst luxuries and opulence. Worldly people attach much importance to external show only. This is a great pity. This is their horrible mistake. A man may be nude and yet his mind may be full of desires. Some hypocrites pretend to be Virakta Sadhus to exploit the householders. Householders should use their dis- crimination always. Udaseenata Vritti comes from Mithya Drishti and Dosha Drishti in objects and from discrimination between the real and the unreal.

अन्याश्रयाणां त्यागोऽनन्यता ॥ १० ॥

Unification or exclusive devotion or single- heartedness means the giving up of all supports.

अन्याश्रयाणाम् : Anyaasrayaanam: of all other supports; : त्यागः tyagaha: renunciation, giving up; अनन्यता : ananyata unification, single-heartedness.

The cultivation of devotion may be disturbed by various influences in the daily life. Desires and crav- ings will continue to trouble the aspirant. The devo- tee should not seek the help of other instruments than those employed in the cultivation of devotion, namely listening to talks about the Lord, singing His name, etc.

The devotee knows no one else than his Beloved Lord. The Lord is all in all for him. The Lord is the sole refuge for him. He lives for the Lord and Lord alone. He works for Him alone.

The Lord is his own support, his only strength, his only hope and his only object of faith. Just as the eyes of the chatak bird are fixed on the cloud, so also his eyes are fixed on his Beloved Lord alone.

The devotee does not conceive the existence of any object other than his Beloved Lord. How then will he seek the shelter of any other person or object He sees nothing else besides the Lord.

All objects in this world are perishable. Nothing other than God can protect one from the troubles of this world. Therefore, the devotee abandons every- thing in this world and depends upon God and God alone, who is eternal, who is omnipotent, and who is all merciful.

To the chaste and devoted wife, no male except her Lord exists even in dream. Even so for a sincere

devotee no object or person except his beloved Lord exists even in dream. He is absorbed in the Lord, the object of his love and devotion.

Here is a definition of ananyata : mind is clinging to persons, objects or places with leech-like tenacity. Wherever there is a little sensual pleasure, the mind is attached there, through Raga. All the pleasure- centres should be destroyed. Then alone the mind can be turned towards God with one-pointed concen- tration. The mind is always jumping like a monkey Now it thinks of sweetmeats or fruits. Then it thinks of cinema show for feasting the eyes. Then it wants to talk something with some friends. Just as a China- man is drawn hither and thither by his five wives, so also the mind is tossed hither and thither by the five Indriyas. It is always restless.

Through Vairagya and discrimination all these pleasure-centres should be destroyed. Then through constant, steady abhyasa of Japa-dhyana, it should be turned towards God. The struggle is doubtless, keen and hard. How difficult it will be to send up the waters of the Ganges above towards 'Badri-Narayan'! Still more difficult it will be for taking the mental energy towards God. It is easy to direct the mental energy towards sensual objects. It is but natural. It is the nature of the mind to run by itself towards objects without the least exertion. It is its Swabhava. Lord Krishna says:

how to mark this up? Abhyasa Yoga Yuktena chetasa nanya gaamina, Paramam purusham divyam yati partha- nuchintayan.

"With the mind not wandering after anything else, harmonised by continued practice, constantly medi tating, O partha, one goeth to the Spirit Supreme Divine." Ch. VIII --- 8. "Place thy mind in Me, into Me let thy reason enter; then without doubt thou shalt abide in Me hereafter. But if thou art not able firmly to fix thy mind on Me then by the Yoga of practice (Abhyasa Yoga) seek to reach Me, O Dhanan- jaya." Chapter XII --- 8, 9. In the practice of con- centration one should have the same patience and perseverance as that of the bird which tried to empty the ocean with its beak or blade of grass. Arjuna aimed at the bird above by seeing the reflection of the bird in the water. The arrow-maker was so much absorbed in his work that he did not notice the huge crowd of Raja and his retinue. Such must be the nature of concentration in God in the Adhyatmic battle-field. Just as the bird that is tied to a post flutters about hither and thither and eventually rests in the post, so also the mind that wanders about here and there in sensual objects finally rests in God, through the practice of one-pointed concentration and devotion.

लोकवेदेषु तदनुकूलाचरणं तद्विरोधिषूदासीनता ॥ ११ ॥

By "indifference to all which are hostile to Him" is understood the performance of these secular and religious activities which are congenial to Him.

लोकवेदेषु : Lokavedeshu : regarding secular and religious activities ; तदनुकूलाचरणं : Tadanukool acharanam : practices or performances which are congenial to Him: तद्विरोधिषूदासीनता : Tad- virodhishoodaaseenata: indifference to all which are hostile to Him.

In the eighth aphorism we have been taught to direct all our energies of thought and action towards God. Now we are again enjoined to respect to some extent the dictates of religion and morality. Here seems, therefore, to arise some confusion. This is only superficial. Only selfish activities must be given up. in order to get rid of desires. All works which can help to cultivate devotion must be regularly practised. There must be active co-operation with the divine plan. This Sutra explains the indifference to obstacles of Bhakti referred to in Sutra 9.

You must have faith in the existence of God when you perform sacrifices, penances and charity. You must do all actions for His sake. Then alone it is beneficial. Then alone it will endure.

The Gita, Bhagavatam, and all sacred scriptures are guides to the conduct of a devotee. The teacher will interpret the sacred scriptures and guide the devotees.

A devotee does not do any action which is not pleasing to God, which does not help in the growth of devotion, which goes against the will of his Lord.

Prahlad renounced his atheistic father, Vibhee- shana his asuric brother, Bharata his cruel mother,

Bali his preceptor even, the Gopis of Vraj their hus- bands. But they all contributed to the welfare of the world. They are all regarded as benefactors of the world.

The devotee does all actions which are pleasing to the Lord till he attains God-realisation. He abandons activities that are prohibited by the scrip- tures such as theft, adultry, taking animal food and liquor. He abandons all selfish actions. But he does Nitya (obligatory) and Naimittika (incidental) in strict conformity with the procedure laid down in the Vedas without any expectation of fruits.

Lord Krishna says: "If also thou art not equal to constant practice, be intent on My service; perform- ing actions for My sake, thou shalt attain perfection." Ch. XII --- 12. "Acts of sacrifice, gift and charity should not be relinquished, but should be performed: sacrifice, gift, and also austerity are the purifiers of the intelligent." Ch. XVIII --- 5.

These rituals purify the heart and prepare the ground of Antahkarana for the growth of devotion. These actions should be performed without attach- ment and without expectation of fruit. The sacrifice which is offered by men without desire for fruit as enjoined by the ordinances, under the firm belief that sacrifice is a duty, that is pure. The three kinds of austerity, viz., physical, verbal, and mental tapas prescribed in the seventeenth chapter of the Gita purify the heart rapidly. They are : ---

1. Physical:

Devadvijaguru prajna pujanam sauchamarjavam Brahmacharyamahimsa cha sareeram tapa uchyate.

Worship given to the Gods, to the twice-born, to the teachers and to the wise, purity, straight-forward- ness, continence and harmlessness, are called the austerity of the body.

2. Verbal:

Anudvegakaram vakyam satyam priyahitam cha yat svadhyayabhyasanam chaiva vangmayam tapa uchyate.

Speech causing no annoyance, truthful and bene- icial, the practice of the study of the scriptures are called the austerity of speech.

3. Mental:

Manah prasada saumyatvam maunamatmavi- nigrahah Bhavasamsuddivrityetat tapo manasam- uchyate.

Serenity of mind, good heartedness, silence, self- control, purity of nature, are called the austerity of the mind.

This threefold austerity, performed by men with the utmost faith, without desire for fruit, harmonised, is said to be pure.

Without purification of the mind, there is no hope of cultivating Bhakti in your heart.

Agnihotra, Vaishwadev, Brahma Yajna, Sandhya- vandanam in the three periods of time, Panch Maha Yajna-all are best calculated to purify the chitta.

They should be performed daily without any break. Observance of Chandrayana Vrita and Krichara Vrita destroy sins effectively. They serve the purpose of Prayaschitta for expiating sin. The more the mind- mirror is cleaned the better it is. Though these cere- monies are not necessary for an advanced Bhakta yet they are very essential for neophytes.

Sradha, tarpan, observances and gifts on the occasions of eclipses should not be neglected. Consult the code of Manu or Yajnavalkya Smriti and you will get abundant information on this subject. Various kinds of Prayaschitta destroy various kinds of sin. If you find it difficult to consult the scriptures, consult pundits and acharyas and they will guide you. If you do not observe these rituals, you will be subject to pratyavaya dosha, the sin of omission. Jaimini lays great stress on Karmas (Agnihotra, etc.).

Pradosha Vrita, Ekadasi Vrita are observances that propitiate Lord Siva, and Lord Hari respectively They should also be observed rigidly.

भवतु निश्चयदार्ड्यार्ध्यादूर्ध्वं शास्त्ररक्षणम् ॥ १२ ॥

Let a man protect the scriptural teachings even after his spiritual realisation becomes well established.

भवतु : Bhavatu: let there be; निश्चयदाढर्थात् ; Nischaya dardhyat; after realisation becomes firmly established; ऊर्ध्वम् Oordhwam: after ; शास्त्ररक्षणम् Sastrarakshanam: protection of scriptural teachings.

Let there be strict adherence to the injunctions of the Sastras till a firm conviction in God is attained. also till profound devotion is fully developed. Actions enjoined by the scriptures should be diligently per- formed, till that state of absolute forgetfulness of ex- ternal existence is reached.

Even after firm establishment in divine resolve the scriptures must be respected. The scriptures are the words of God. They are guiding lights for the aspirants. Swerving even an inch from the path chalked out by the Sastras will bring about a down- fall for the devotees.

Some aspirants foolishly imagine that they have attained perfection and that they are above the laws of scriptures. They do not observe the laws. They break them. They are deluded souls. They will get hopeless downfall.

The personal example of a devotee verily exercis- es a tremendous influence over others.

The devotee must be steady. He must have first intellectual conviction and then firmness in living up to the ideal. He must practise the principles. He must live up to the principles which he knows by conviction are essential for his happiness, spiritual evolution and God-realisation.

Sastra Rakshanam: When one is established in Dharma he is eligible to protect the Sastras. He is now able to defend the Sastras against attacks.

Others can protect the Sastras by living up to the ideas of the Sastras. This is also Sastra Rakshanam or protection of Sastras and Dharma.

Men of realisation should follow the scriptures in their actual life. They should set an example by their own life and teachings. Only then can the ordinary man adopt them for guidance in his life.

Lord Krishna says in the Gita, "But the ignorant, faithless, doubting self goeth to destruction, neither this world, nor that beyond, nor happiness, is there for the doubting self". (IV-40). "Therefore let the scriptures be thy authority, in determining what ought to be done or what ought not to be done. Know- ing what has been declared by the ordinances of the scriptures, thou oughtest to work in this world." (XVI-24).

The mind should not be allowed to have its own ways. He who follows the injunctions of the Sastras will evolve quickly. He will have no uneasiness in mind. He will be cheerful and fearless. He will have satisfaction. He will feel that he is in the right path and progressing rapidly in spirituality. He will feel the nearness of God. He will have peace of mind.

Scriptures are infallible. Vedas have come out from the mouth of God. They are revelations. They are traditionally handed down from Rishis and seers to their disciples in succession (Parampara). So long as there is world, there are scriptures and teachers to guide the people in the path of Truth and Righte- ousness. The number of teachers may be few in the

iron age but they do exist. Books are not eternal. But the ideas in the Vedas are eternal.

It does not require much wisdom and reasoning to have a firm conviction in the existence of God. I de not know why these rationalists, socialists and mate- rialistic scientists are unnecessarily racking their brains, fighting and doubting. It is really a great pity! It is their stiff egoism that makes them deny the existence of God whether they accept His existence or not. He is shining from eternity to eter- nity. The sun is always there whether the owls accept the existence of the sun or not. There are gross impurities in their minds which screen and cloud their understanding. There are sins in their Antah- karana which make their intellects perverted. They will have to wait for some time for grasping.

Just as a young plant is fenced in the beginning and protected, so also a neophyte in the path of devo- tion should be well protected. If he mixes with atheists, he will lose his faith in God quickly. He must be always in the company of Sadhus, Mahatmas and Bhaktas. Their company is an iron fortress for him. If the injunctions of the Sastras are rigidly fol- lowed nothing can shake one's convictions. Just as a nail is driven deep into a plank by frequent ham- mering so also the Samskaras and convictions be- come very deep by observing strictly the sacred laws of the scriptures. This is the meaning of this Sutra.

अन्यथा पातित्याशङ्कया ॥ १३ ॥

For, otherwise there is the risk of a fall.

अन्यथा : Anyatha: otherwise; पातित्याशङ्कया : Patiya Sankaya : risk of a fall.

If the devotee who has made some spiritual pro- gress is not careful, if he is not observing the rules of the scriptures, he may easily relapse into past habits.

He who deliberately violates the rules of good conduct prescribed by the scriptures will surely have a downfall. He will return to his previous state of worldliness and ignorance.

"He who ignores the injunctions of the scrip- tures and follows the promptness of desires can neither attain perfection, nor happiness, nor the supreme state." Gita XVI-23.

What may have been useful in the past may not be useful in course of time, under other circumstances and surroundings. There arises necessities for many readjustments in the scriptures. Realised persons should test the scriptures in the light of their own spiritual experiences. They should prune away super- fluities and excrescences and remould if necessary the rules to suit the capacity of the people. Then alone the scriptures will be protected (Sastra Rakshanam),.

Maya is very powerful. Mysterious is the power of Moha and desire! That is the reason why Lord Krishna says: "O son of Kunti, the excited senses of even a wise man, though he be striving, impetuously carry away his mind. Such of the roving senses as the mind yieldeth to, that hurries away the understand- ing, just as the gale hurries away a ship upon the waters." Chapt. II-60, 67.

You are all aware how the Rishi Viswamitra of great tapas became a victim to the influence of the celestial nymph. Even Lord Buddha had to face Mara. This world is full of temptations. There is fear of fall at every moment. A beginner, a Tyro is unable to resist temptations. He falls a prey to its influence quite readily. The Sadhak must be very, very care- ful. He should observe. the injunctions of the sastras. They pave a long way in keeping him from falling. He should not test his spiritual strength at the very outset when he had made a little progress only. Re- action may set in. The Indriyas will revolt. The mind will become furious. He will become a victim to passion. Even at the present moment, such instan- ces of Yoga-bhrashtas are not lacking. When one is put to test he fails. Jaimini was tried by his guru, Sri Vedavyasa. He failed in his Brahmacharya. Physical control alone will not suffice. No evil thoughts should arise in the mind. There must not be any unholy thrill or unholy vibration in the mind, even. This is the highest standard of purity. The Gita says, "Who sitteth, controlling the organs of action, but dwelling in his mind on the objects of the senses, that be- wildered man is called a hypocrite." Cha. III-6.

Some foolish young Sadhaks do some sadhana for four or five years in Himalayan caves, see some daz- zling lights during meditation, hear some anahat sounds in the ears and think they are realised souls. They enter the world quickly for preaching, and mix with the house-holders freely and get a hopeless downfall rapidly. What you have gained by rigid Sadhana in twelve years, will be lost in twelve

seconds if you mix promiscuously with house-holders and if you do not take proper precautions. You should never come out to the plains till you attain Brahma or Brahma-Sthiti, till you become a full-blown Yogi or Gyani.

Therefore adhere to the injunctions of the Sastras till you develop supreme devotion. The observances will drop by themselves when you are established in highest devotion.

लोकोऽपि तावदेव किन्तु भोजनादिव्यापारस्त्वाशरीरधारणा- वधि ॥ १४ ॥

Social customs and practices also may be followed in like manner, to the same extent only (as scriptural injunctions). But eating, drinking. dressing should be continued as long as one wears this body.

लोकः Lokah social practices, social customs and usages; अपि : Api: also; तावद् ; taavad: that much, to that extent; एव : Eva : only; भोजनादिव्यापारः Bhojanaadivyaapara: activities such as eating (drink- ing, dressing, sleep, exercise); तु : tu: but; on the other hand; आशरीरधारणावधि : a-sarira dharana- vadhi: as long as one wears this body.

Worldly duties such as one's occupation in life, and maintaining the family, etc., should also be care- fully and scrupulously performed along with religious duties according to the injunctions of the scriptures.

A time will come when all activities religious as well as mundane will drop by themselves.

Taavadeva (that much).

Sareera Dharana: This means not mere existence but preservation of health. One cannot serve God and humanity without good health.

The extent to which the devotee may take liber- ties with existing rules, as far as necessary for saving the society (Lokarakshanam).

He will have to conform to those social rules which are essential for the preservation of the safety of the Society.

The customary injunctions also should be follow- ed like the scriptural injunctions. They are also help- ful to the aspirant in the beginning. When he is fully established in supreme devotion and piety, he can safely dispense with the scriptural, as well as, customary injunctions. They will drop themselves when he advances in purity and devotion. But on the contrary, eating and drinking will continue as long as he lives.

तल्लक्षणानि वाच्यन्ते नानामतभेदात् ॥ १५ ॥

The characteristics of Bhakti are described vari- ously on account of difference in view-points (according to the different schools).

तलक्षणानि: Tallakshanaani: its characteristic marks or indications of devotion; वाच्यन्ते : Vaa- chyante : are being described or stated; नानामतभेदात् : Naanaamatabhedaat: according to diverse opinions or owing to difference in view points.

Thinkers agree as to the essential character of devotion; but they give prominence to one or other of its various manifestations in order to indicate its nature from their several points of view.

Different teachers have defined Bhakti in dif- ferent ways. After giving their views first, Devarishi Narada advances his own views in the matter.

Lakshanani: Marks.

The inner experiences of Bhakti is purely sub- jective. The mental condition of a devotee is known only to himself. But the devotees conduct themselves in different ways. We can recognise the characteris. tics or marks of devotion. Every change in the heart finds external manifestation in the behaviour as well as the appearance of the devotee.

In this and the succeeding nine Sutras Narada gives a description of Bhakti as given by some writers

who have preceded him and shows how his own view is more complete than that of any of his predecessors.

No two minds are constituted exactly alike and so there is room for difference of opinion and variety in the description of the same experiences. Differen-- ces in description do not point to differences in the experiences itself.

Now let us examine the experiences expressed about Bhakti by some well known saints. In the Sivanandalahari Sri Sankara speaks of Bhakti as the sticking of thoughts to the feet of the Lord perma- nently. Just as a needle sticks to the magnet, the seed to the Ankola tree, a virtuous wife to her hus- band or a creeper to a tree.

In Devi Bhagavatam, supreme love is compared to oil poured from one vessel to another (Tailadha- ravat). There should not be any break in the regular succession of thoughts about God.

In Bhagavatam Maitreya says that Bhakti is a natural settlement of the mind upon the highest truth from which all objects and senses have come out.

Kapila described it as a flow of uninterrupted thoughts towards God seated in the hearts of all beings like the flow of waters of the Ganges towards the sea.

Prahlad prays that the love which the worldly people have for the objects be turned into Bhakti by being directed towards God.

In the Narada Panchatantra Bhakti is spoken of as service rendered to the Lord of the senses through the

senses without being clouded by Upadhis and purified by being directed towards Him.

Sri Ramanujacharya identifies Bhakti with loving meditation.

Sandilya describes Bhakti as supreme love of God. Svapneswara comments on this Sutra and says that this love results from the realisation of the greatness of the Lord.

Thus there are different views. These views are different on account of the differences in which the divine love is experienced by devotees who are in different stages of development or evolution and also in different moods or states.

Lakshana means mark or characteristic or sign. All devotees unanimously agree in the essential cha- racteristics of devotion. But some give prominence to certain indications; while others to certain other marks. That is all. There cannot be any fundamental difference in the essence.

Nanamatabhedat means according to various opinions.

पूजादिष्वनुराग इति पाराशर्यः ॥ १६ ॥

Vyasa, the son of Paaraasara, is of opinion that Bhakti consists in attachment to worship of God and other similar acts.

पूजादिषु : Poojadishu: in worship and like per- formances; अनुरागः Anuraga: devotion, attach-

ment, ardour; इति : iti: thus; पाराशर्यः Paaraasarya : son of the sage Parasara.

Ardour in worship and similar performances is the chief characteristic of the love of God or the mark of devotion according to the sage, Sri Vyasa.

Worship ranges from the worship of an image as a symbol of God to the worship of Virat, Hiranya- garbha, etc.

Worship should be both external and internal or mental (Manasic Pooja).

When the devotee develops attachment for wor- ship of God, his mind will automatically withdraw it- self from the objects of the world.

Those who perform worship of God attain the Supreme, eternal and blissful abode of God.

The devotee establishes identity with the Abso- lute through rigorous and constant meditation. This is the highest form of worship.

The worship is offered to the Lord within us. This is also internal worship. Internal worship or Manasic Pooja is more powerful than the external worship with flowers, etc. Bheema did manasic pooja. It was more powerful than the external worship done by Arjuna.

Poosalan Nayanar, one of the Tamil saints out of the sixty-three Tamil Saints who are adored in all Siva temples, mentally constructed a temple for Siva in his village, Tiruninnravur. It took for him three years to construct the temple mentally. He

fixed also mentally the date on which the Kumbha- bhishekam ceremony was to be conducted. Lord Siva attended the ceremony.

External pooja consists of sixteen parts, viz., Avahanam, (invitation of the Lord); Asanam (offering of seat); Padyam (offering of water to wash the feet); Arghyam (offering of water as a mark of respect); Achamanam (water to be sipped); Madhuparkam (offering of milk and fruit); Snanam (bath); Vastram (offering of clothes); Yajnopaveetam (putting sacred thread); Gandham and Akshata (offering of sandal paste and rice); Pushpam (offering of flowers); Dhu- pam (offering of incence); Deepam (waving of lights); Neivedyam (offering of food); Tambulam (offering beetles) and Niranjanam (the waving of lighted can phor).

Poojadishu: This refers to celebration of festi- vals, building and renovation of temples, sacred dance, devotional works of art such as painting and sculpture, acts of charity, digging of tanks, making of images, Vahanams or vehicles, lamps, the daily supply of flowers, sandal paste, incence, scents, bhog or Nai- vedya, giving of silks and clothes for the images and for decoration, etc.

Worship may be continued even after realisation. Sankara, Ramanuja, Madhavan, Gauranga, engaged themselves in worship even after realisation.

Anuraga : Anuraga means 'intense attachment to the Lord'. The word 'anuraga' ordinarily means only mere love but in Bhakti scriptures it means the

love that arises out of the recognition of the divinity and splendour of God after realisation.

Prahlad says, "O Hari! May not the ceaseless flow of love and attachment leave my heart, while I am constantly meditating upon Thee." (Vishnu Purana---1.20.19). Devotion cometh and goeth in the beginning. When it is fully ripe, the devotee has in- tense attachment to the lotus feet of the Lord. Even for the infinitesimal part of a second his mind does not stir from the point or Lakshya. This is Anuraga.

कथादिष्विति गर्ग : ॥ १७ ॥

The sage Garga thinks that Bhakti consists in talks of His glory and greatness and the stories of His various sports and the like.

कथादिषु : Katha-adishu: in holy talks (of Lord's glory and greatness) and the like (anuraga: devotion); इति : iti: thus; गर्गः Garga sage Garga (manyati- thinks).

Garga, an apostle of Bhakti thinks that indul- gence in talks of Lord's glory and greatness, fondness for spiritual conversation and the like is the sign of devotion or the characteristic of divine love.

The stories of the incarnations of God are most elevating, inspiring and soul stirring. They instil de- votion in the hearts of the hearers. There is a mys- terious and marvellous charm in the stories pertaining to Avataras. A sincere devotee loses himself in the stories of Lord Rama or Lord Krishna.

Hearing the stories of the Lord removes the im- purities of the mind and leads to God-realisation ultimately.

Kathaadishu: Narration is Katha. "Adi" here includes also reading of the stories "Patha", Kirtan (individual), Sangkirtan (collective with musical in- struments), Japa, prayer, Harikathas (discourses on spiritual topics), hymns, Bhajans or songs, theological literature.

Lord Krishna says in Gita "With their hearts fixed on Me and their life absorbed in Me, constantly discoursing and conversing with one another about Me, they are contented, and they rejoice." (Chapter X.9.).

Narada always goes about singing the glories of the Lord in ecstasy. Gauranga immersed himself in Sankirtan.

Parikshit delighted himself in listening to the glories of the Lord by Sri Suka.

Sri Suka says in Bhagavat, "Enquiring about Lord Krishna's stories purifies him who describes him who enquires and him who listens."

Here is a difference of opinion. It is the hearing of praises and greatness of the Lord that inspires a man to take to the spiritual path. Parikshit realised God through hearing from the sacred mouth of Sri Suka dev. Man gets several knocks and blows in the daily battle of life. He gets failures and disappointments This world becomes a hot furnace to him. He ap-

proaches the Bhagavatas and hears the praises of God. Then the mind gradually is turned towards God. The mind of the rogue Ratnagar was turned towards God after meeting Narada.

आत्मरत्यविरोधेनेति शाण्डिल्यल्यः ॥ १८ ॥

The sage Sandilya thinks that it must be without hindrance to the enjoyment of bliss in the Atman.

आत्मरति अविरोधेन : Atmarati-avirodhena: without hindrance to the enjoyment of bliss in the Atman; इति : Iti : Thus ; शाडिल्य : Sandilya : sage Sandilya; (मन्यते : Manyate: thinks).

The sage Sandilya holds that it must be without being opposed to the delight in the Atman.

Sandilya is of opinion that "These are Bhakti in so far as they do not clash with the contemplation of the Self."

Whatever draws the mind away from God can never be favourable to the culture of devotion. On the contrary, everything which relates to God and holds Him constantly before your mind's eyes, streng- thens and deepens the flow of devotion.

Delight in the actions of the Lord is a mark of devotion, if it does not interfere with the delight in the Lord Himself. The hearing or study of the leelas or sports of the Avataras or divine incarnations pro- duces a profound feeling of devotion. This delight comes from the spirit in man. The soul is exalted

during divine ecstasy. It is a calm, subjective experi- ence of the devotee. Mistake not emotion for devotion.

Bhakti is supreme attachment to God, which is not opposed to love of self or Atma. God Himself exists as the soul in every being. Devotion to the soul is devotion to God. Devotion is quest for supreme Atman according to a Vedantin. Sandilya identifies God with Atman.

Remember that the enjoyment of the objects is not opposed to the enjoyment of the real bliss in the Atman and that sensual pleasure is a reflection or in- finitesimal part of the supreme bliss of Atma.

God is an embodiment of bliss. The devotee who always dwells in God must enjoy the bliss of God. There is always divine aura and bloom in his face The eyes sparkle and glitter with Divine effulgence. Those who surround the devotee experience the bliss, because he radiates joy all around (vide Sutra 6). If a devotee is always morose and unhappy, if his coun- tenance is cheerless, if he is peevish, there is surely some error in his Sadhana. He is not enjoying the bliss of the Self. Ananda is a very important sign of devotion. It is a fundamental sign of a Jivan- mukta too.

नारदस्तु तदर्पिताखिलाचारता तद्विस्मरणे परमव्याकुलतेति ॥ १९ ॥

But Narada is of opinion that the essential cha- racteristics of Bhakti are the consecration of

all observances and activities through com plete self-surrender to the Lord and extreme anguish in the event of forgetting Him.

नारद: Narada: Devarshi Narada; तु Tu: however, in distinction from others; तदर्पिता अखिलाचारता Tadarpitaakhilaachaarata: the state of one who has consecrated all observances and all activities to the Lord through Self-surrender; तद्विस्मरणे : Tad vismarane: In the event of forgetting Him; परम व्याकुलता : Param Vyakulata : extreme anguish; इति : iti: thus.

Is such a climax ever attainable? Yes; certainly. It is not at all an impracticable ideal, because there are instances.

Narada has in the above three Sutras given us the ideas of Vyasa, Garga, and Sandilya. In this Sutra he is giving his own opinion.

Sutra 16 refers to devotion in actions, 17 to devo- tion in speech, while 18 lays stress on devotion in mind. Devotion to God in thought, word and deed is very essential for a truly spiritual life. Narada says that there cannot be real devotion unless there is complete self-surrender in every aspect of our life.

When the devotee lives solely for his Lord ther he is a real Bhakta. The devotee becomes extremely restless jand miserable at the slightest lapse in the remembrance of God. This is the teaching of Narada.

It is this mental condition that truly represents supreme devotion or Para Bhakti. Complete self- surrender is the prime characteristic of Bhakti.

Narada has no quarrel with the definitions of Bhakti given by Vyasa, Garga and Sandilya. It is certainly proper and necessary to worship God, to sing His praises and to love God as the soul of all. Narada's definition of Bhakti covers the definitions of Bhakti given by Vyasa, Garga and Sandilya and is complete in every way. It is a comprehensive definition. It points out the very essence of Bhakti. Tu This is introduced to indicate the difference between the previous definition of Bhakti and what Narada says.

Pooja, narrations etc., are all inferior to that kind of devotion which Narada describes in this Sutra. In Pooja and narrations the devotee does not surren- der his all.

In self-surrender there is the effacement of the ego. Any selfless work performed without egoism, with the attitude of self-surrender has a real place in devotional or spiritual life. It is a real offering to the Lord. God is pleased immensely.

The devotee gets parama-vyakulata when he forgets his beloved. Lord Gouranga, Mira and the Gopis of Brindawan exhibited this sign. This is Viraha-agni (pain from separation of the Lord). This feeling can hardly be described in words. It has to be felt. It breaks the heart of the devotee. This Sutra does not in any way contradict Sutra 18. An advanced Bhakta who always rests in God has no Viraha. He is always in divine bliss.

अस्त्येवमेवम् ॥ २० ॥

There are such and such instances. (Examples do exist of such perfect expression of Bhakti. So it is. So it is.)

एवं एवम् : Evam evam : such and such, thus and thus ; ( उदाहरणम् Udaharanam : example); अस्ति Asti exists, there is.

The next Sutra will illustrate the view of Narada.

Bhakti is exactly as described in the foregoing aphorism.

यथा व्रजगोपिकानाम् ॥ २१ ॥

As for instance, in the case of the cow-maids of Vraja or Brindawan.

यथा Yatha: for instance; व्रजगोपीकानाम् Vrajagopikaanaam: in the case of the Gopis of Vraja; the cow-maids of Vraja or Brindawan.

In this context, read the chapters 29 and 30 of Srimad Bhagavatam.

Although there have been great devotees like Sri Suka, Uddhava, Valmiki and others, Narada men- tions the illiterate women of Vraja, as examples of the highest devotion. They played with Sri Krishna and identified themselves with Him in complete devotion.

They cared not for family tradition, reputation and personal comfort in order to live in perfect devo- tion to Lord Krishna. They said, "Wherever we look, we find Shyama in the dark rain cloud, in the black pupils of our eyes, in the dark Tamal tree leaves, in the blue waters of Jumna, in the blue sky etc."

Pure, divine love definitely exercises a levelling influence. It removes all inequalities and brings the lover and the Beloved on the same level. It results in the fusion of personalities.

The Gopis were the crest-jewels among the devo- tees of the Lord. The love of the Gopis to the Lord cannot be adequately described in words. They dedi- cated their bodies, minds, possessions, souls, and their all to the Lord. They always sang the Lord's glories with their voices choked with emotion.

Lord Krishna spoke to them, "You have cut all domestic ties for my sake. I cannot repay the debt of yours by serving you even for the life time of a celestial being. Please relieve Me from this liability out of your own generosity."

The Lord says, "The Gopis have given themselves up to me, their heart and soul. They think that I am their life. They have abandoned all their closest rela- tives for my sake. I ever support those who cast aside all worldly pleasures for my sake." Bhagavat X-46 chapter, verse 4.

The secret of Rasleela can only be understood by pure souls who are free from passion. Persons with a pure heart can understand the pure divine love of

Gopis. Gopis were exalted beings. Thev should not be judged by human standards.

The Vaishnava saints got their inspiration from this love of the Gopis. Nimbarka, Jayadeva, Gaoranga and Vallabha founded their theology on this Brinda- vana-Lila.

Nammalvar, Sri Chaitanya, Jayadeva also were the greatest devotees.

Th Gopis surrendered all their actions at the lotus feet of Lord Krishna. They experienced acute agony if they missed His presence even for a moment. When they heard the sweet, melodious flute of their beloved they left their houses while milking the cows. With minds absorbed in Krishna they rushed forth to where their lover was, without taking notice of each other. Some did not wait to see the boiling of the milk. Some did not take down boiled wheat from the oven. Some were serving their husbands and some were taking their own food. But they all left their work half-finished. They gave up their household duties, with clothes and ornaments all in disorder, they hurriedly went to Krishna. When Krishna dis- appeared they asked the trees if they had seen their lover. They enquired of the creepers, the earth and the deer.

तत्रापि न माहात्म्यज्ञानविस्मृत्यपवाद: ॥ २२ ॥

Even there (the love of the Gopis), there is no

particular reason for forgetting the glory and great- ness of the Lord.

todo: hyphen तत्र Tatra there, i.e., in respect of the example of the Gopis ; अपि Api : even; न na not; महात्म्यज्ञानविस्मृत्यपवाद: Mahatmya-gyana- vismriti-apavaadah: particular reason for forgetting the glory and greatness of the Lord.

A full and conscious realisation of the grandeur and majesty of God increases, all the more His sup- reme importance as an object of admiration and adora- tion in the eye of the devotee. Without a clear cons- ciousness of the majesty and grandeur of God, devo- tion cannot operate as a persistent factor of spiritual development.

The Gopis danced in the moonlight and played with Sri Krishna and yet they were not unconscious of His divinity, His Omniscience and Omnipotence even for a second. They recognised Him as the soul of the universe and also as their own Atma.

The gopis surrendered themselves to Sri Krishna knowing Him to be God Himself and the embodiment of Satchitananda. They said to Lord Krishna, "You are the primal Purusha or Purushottama, the pro- tector of the Devas. You are the witness of every- thing. You have taken an incarnation for the pro tection of the whole world."

The play of the Gopis is a lesson for the worldly minded persons whose hearts are filled with passion to rise above passion by listening to the divine and

holy stories of Lord Krishna and Gopis of Brindavan. These are allegories which contain profound spiritua! truths.

The author of the stories which depict the Leelas of Lord Krishna is the holy sage Vyasa and the narrator is his son, Sri Suka Deva, the greatest sage and seer. Lord Krishna was a child. So there cannot be any tinge of unholiness in the leelas, which is attributed by some ignorant, dull-witted, passionate foolish worldly-minded sensuous, worthless persons, who are on a level with animals with deep carnal brutal instincts.

The Rishis of Dandaka forest wanted to embrace Lord Rama. Lord Rama said, "You will be born as Gopis of Brindavan. You will embrace Lord Krishna who is no other than my own Self." This is the cause for Ras Leela.

"Tatra api. Even there." Even though the Gopis had physical attachment to Lord Krishna, the attach- ment was of the nature of supreme devotion. It was perfectly taintless too.

The Gopis were absolutely unselfish. They were not jealous. All the Gopis were united to please Lord Krishna by their service. If the love was of a selfish type, no Gopi would have tolerated Krishna's loving another Gopi.

The Gopis did not seek a human lover but the Lord Himself.

Why does a man undergo miseries and sufferings? Because he has forgotten God owing to the influence

of Avidya or Maya. That devotee in whom there is descent of His grace can never forget Him even for a second. Try to remember the Lord along with every breath, inspiratory and expiratory. Keep the Gita always in your pocket and a Japa Mala in your neck. Repeat His name always. Be in the company of Bhaktas. Study Bhagavata or Ramayana or the Gita daily. Then you cannot forget Him.

Reduce your activities. Do Satya-vyavahara. Reduce your wants. Destroy the desires as they spring up in the mind. Do not try to fulfil them. Increase your Japa on Sundays. Do Anushtan of 4 lakhs of Japa in Easter, summer and Christmas holi- days. Do Akhanda Japa or Akhanda path of Bhaga- vata or Akhanda Kirtan for seven days during Janm- ashtami. During these seven days live on milk and fruits and wear clothing washed by your own hands Observe perfect Mouna and celibacy. All the mem- bers of the house should follow these rules strictly. Then there is no possibility of forgetting Him. The Lord is quite close to you. Your house will be turned into Vaikuntha. The Lord says: "O Narada, I dwell not in Vaikuntha, nor in the hearts of Yogis, but I dwell there where my Bhaktas sing My name Na aham vasami vaikunthe yoginam hridaye nacha, mad bhakta yatra gayanti tatra tishthami Narada."

तद्विहीनं जाराणामिव ॥ २३ ॥

A love without it (the sense of greatness of the object loved "the Lord") is simply a passion of a woman towards her paramour.

तद्विहीनम् : Tad-viheenam deprived of that, bereft of the knowledge of that (glory of the Lord or divine greatness); जाराणाम् : Jaaraanam : of couples or paramours indulging in base, unlawful passion: इव: Iva like.

"Tat" or 'it' means love.

Deprived of the sense of divine greatness devotion is like the love of a woman towards her paramour which is constantly shifting from person to person in an indefinite manner, according as one appears more desirable than another.

The love of Gopis was saturated with the know- ledge of the Divine glory. It was of a very pure nature. It was Shuddha Prem.

The relation of the Gopis with Sri Krishna is liable to be misunderstood as something physical by the sensually-minded. Narada warns the students of Bhakti against mistaking the highest form of Divine Love for base passion.

The Gopis were in a drunken state. They were God-intoxicated. They were unconscious of their earthly existence. They were drowned in the ocean of Divine Bliss. The mind and senses ceased function- ing. The external objects did not produce any im- pression on their minds.

Divine Love is true and pure. All love other than that for God is unlawful. To love any creature as a creature and not as divinity embodied in it is

unlawful. Impure selfish love taints the heart of a man.

Passion is not love at all. It is an animal instinct. It is carnal love. It is of a beastly nature. It is shifting. If the wife loses her beauty on account of some incurable malady she gets a divorce and the husband marries a second wife. This state of affairs is going in the world. But Bhakti is Shuddha prem. It is divine love. It is unchanging. The devotee cherishes always the sense of majesty and magnani- mity of the Lord. His Ishtam is the Lord of his very breath (Prananath or pranavallabha). It is this idea that keeps up his devotion, nourishes and strengthens it. If this idea of the sense of greatness of the Lord is lacking then he has no devotion. His devotion tantamounts to the passion of a lustful husband and wife. There is no grandeur in his devotion. Re- membrance of the tenth chapter of the Gita where all the Vibhutis of God are described will keep up the idea of the sense of greatness of God. Devotion is a sublime sacred sentiment. It elevates the soul imme- diately to lofty heights of divinity. When a man comes to realise the Mahima of the Lord, all worldly desires die and all attachment and ties are broken and the man is keen and eager to have Darshan of the Lord.

नास्त्येव तस्मिंस्तत्सुखसुखित्वम् ॥ २४ ॥

There .i.e., in that illicit love there can certainly never be happiness of the other.

तस्मिन् : Tasmin in that (profane love), there- in, in illicit love; तत् सुखसुखित्वम् : Tat sukha. sukhitwam : happiness in the happiness of the other; न: na not; अस्ति : asti is, exists; एव : eva: certainly.

In that sort of love, there is no idea at all of one's feeling happy in the happiness of the other.

In the case of the Gopis, the Beloved was God Himself. There was no desire in them for physical contact. They tried to make Sri Krshna happy by offering their all to Him.

They derived immense happiness from this act of service. They had no idea of any sensual enjoyment. Sensuality is selfish passion. It seeks gratification through others, but pure, divine love seeks to make the Beloved happy and to derive happiness from the happiness of the later. The desire for gratification of one's own senses is kama or sensuality. The object of kama is self-gratification, while Prema or pure love has the happiness of Sri Krishna for its object. The Gopis did not care for their own happiness. The happiness of Sri Krishna, is the purpose of all their activities. They renounced all comforts, all worldly duties, etc., in order to wor- ship Sri Krishna and make Him happy. There was no trace of Kama or sensuality in the Gopis. Their love was exceedingly pure, divine and transcendent. They surrendered all their possessions to Sri Krishna. They offered their body, mind, intellect, wealth, youth and life itself. They were very restless

in forgetting Sri Kricshna even for a second. They understood the supreme greatness and glory of Sri Krishna. They rejoiced in the happiness of Krishna. Their happiness depended only on His happiness. The exalted state of the Gopis is indescribable !

There is no element of sacrifice in illicit love. There is physical passion in this love. There is deep selfishness. The love is mercenary.

In divine love the devotee sacrifices everything unto the Lord. There is a sense of self-forgetfulness. There is no trace of selfishness. The devotee does does not at all care for his own happiness. He is willing to court suffering in order to make his Beloved happy.

In mercenary love, there cannot be any real happiness between the two, the lover and the beloved. If the husband is in a dying condition, the wife takes the bank pass book and walks to her mother's house quietly. If the husband loses his job for some time, the wife shows wry faces, speaks harsh words and does not serve him properly with any love. This is selfish love. There is no real affection from the core of the heart. So there are always quarrels, fighting and Asanti in the house. Husbands and wives are not really united. There is always a tug of war. They pull on anyhow, dragging a dreary, cheerless existence.

Even our sisters of ill-fame show for some time abundant love, sweet smile, and honeyed words to- wards their customers, so long as they can extract money. Can you call this love and real happiness?

Just tell me frankly. There are cunningness, diplo- macy, crookedness and hypocrisy here.

सा तु कर्मज्ञानयोगेभ्योऽप्यधिकतरा ॥ २५ ॥

It (supreme devotion) is again higher than action knowledge and Yoga.

सा : Saa : it; devotion, that Para Bhakti ; तु : tu : again; in distinction from others; कर्म- ज्ञानयोगेभ्यः Karma-yoga-jnana-yogebhya: than action, knowledge and Yoga; अपि : --- api: even; अधिकतरा : --- Adhikatara superior, higher. greater.

In Sutras 25 to 33 Narada explains the greatness of Para Bhakti. He says that Karma, Jnana and Yoga are methods to achieve the result whereas Bhakti is the result itself.

Yogi is one who enters into a living communion with God and perfectly realises His immanence and activity everywhere in the world.

Unless one is blessed with love of the Lord, unless one's heart is purified by devotion, it is impossible to perform unselfish service.

Without real devotion one cannot know the nature of the Lord.

In the beginning you can do your duty to your own family or country. But your heart should ex- pand. You should consider all mankind as your family, the whole world as your country, the whole world as your home and body.

Bhakti or devotion is an end in itself. In Jnana and Yoga there is the risk of a fall. In the path of devotion there is no risk as the devotee receives full support and help from God. Moreover the path of devotion is open to all alike, irrespective of caste, creed, sex or spiritual capacity.

Karma is the performance of religious rites and the strict adherence to one's duties as enjoined by the Dharma Shastras. It is the performance of Var- nashrama Dharma. There are Nitya Karmas like Sandhyavandan etc., and Naimittika Karmas, occa- sional rites and periodical performances. The heart is purified by performing such Karmas unselfishly and divine light or wisdom dawns in a pure heart.

A Karma Yogi regards work as worship. It is duty for duty's sake. Selfless service through the renunciation of the fruits of one's acts is a means for attaining God. There is no bondage in selfless service.

A Karma Yogi should cultivate the virtues tolerance, adaptability, sympathy, mercy, equal vision, balance of mind, cosmic love, patience, humi. lity, generosity, nobility, self-restraint, control of anger, non-violence, truthfulness, moderation in eat- ing, drinking and sleeping, simple living and endu- rance. Then alone he will have perfect success in the practice of Karma Yoga.

Karma Yoga is the exercise of the will; Jnana Yoga is the exercise of the intellect and reason; Bhakti Yoga is the exercise of the emotion. Will con- secrates all activities through complete surrender to

God; the intellect realises the glory and majesty of the Lord; the emotion experiences the bliss of divine ecstacy.

Arjuna puts a question to the Lord: "Those devo- tees who ever harmonised worship Thee and those also who worship the indestructible, the Unmani- fested, of thesc who is the more learned in Yoga." Chapter XII-1. The Lord gives the answer: "They who with mind fixed on Me ever harmonised worship Me, with faith supreme endowed, they in my opinion are the best in Yoga." Then again He says: "The Yogi is greater than even the wise; the Yogi is greater than the men of action; therefore become thou a Yogi, O Arjuna." And among all Yogis, he who, full of faith, with the inner Self abiding in Me, adoreth Me, he is considered by Me to be the most completely harmonised." Chapt. VI---46-47. You will find in the eighth chapter, sloka 22 of the Gita : "He, the highest spirit, O Partha, may be reached by unswerving devotion to Me alone within whom all beings dwell, by whom all this is pervaded." And again in chapter XI-54 you will find "But by single- minded devotion, can I thus be perceived, O Arjuna, and known and seen in essence and entered, O, Parantapa."

There is the keynote of devotion and surrender throughout the Gita. Bhakti Marga is easy for the vast majority of persons. God takes a form for help- ing the devotees. There are no pitfalls or snares in the path. The Lord is ever ready to guide the devo- tee. He actually takes him by His hands and em- braces him in His sweet bosom of love. He showers

His grace on the devotees, as soon as He finds out that they are sincere and earnest. Success is sure in this path. Bhakti Marga is the easiest, safest, surest and quickest way for attaining highest bliss or God- realisation. That is the reason why Narada Rishi says, "Bhakti is greater than Karma, Gyana and Yoga."

"Those who mount dizzy heights by austere practices fancying themselves liberated but being really unenlightened, because lacking in devotion to Thee, O Lotus-eyed One! fall into a chasm not having loved Thy feet. Never so, however, Thy own, O Madhava, stray away from the path, being tied to Thee by bonds of affection and guarded by Thee, they walk fearlessly in the spiritual path.

फलरूपत्वात् ॥ २६ ॥

Because of its being of the nature of the result or fruit of all these.

फलरूपत्वात् : Phalarupatwat: because of its being of the nature of the result or fruit of all these.

Devotion is not a means to an end. It is both a means as well as an end. It is the end or culmination of all Sadhanas or disciplines. The hidden God is made manifest through devotion. Then man realises his own divine nature.

Various disciplines such as practice of Yoga, reli- gious rites, self-control, vows of various kinds, service of one's teacher, cultivation of divine virtues are

described in the sacred scriptures but devotion to the Lord is the end of them all.

Jnana is the fruit of the practice of Sadhana Chatushtaya, the four-fold Sadhana and meditation. Purity of heart and the effacement of the ego is the result of the practice of Karma Yoga.

Kaivalya is the fruit of the practice of Raja Yoga. But Bhakti is itself of the nature of result. In the case of Bhakti we begin with Bhakti and end with Bhakti Love or Bhakti has not come as a result of anything. It has not come to a devotee as a new thing. It is always there.

Jnana, Karma, Yoga are the paths which give you the result in the form of Bhakti or supreme devotion to the Lord.

Para Bhakti is the goal itself. It is the highest stage. It is not fruit but it is of the nature of fruit. It is superior to other Yogas. The other Yogas repre- sent a lower stage in spiritual development. Para Bhakti is not the effect of any action or effort or Sadhana done by the aspirant. If it is an effect, then it cannot be eternal.

Devotion is higher than the others, because it is its own reward. It is devotion for devotion's sake. It is love for love's sake. Therefore, Narada says Phala- rupatwat. That is the reason why it excels others. Those who follow other paths cherish some ulterior motives in view. So they fail to attain God.

ईश्वरस्याप्यभिमानद्वेषित्वाद् दैन्यप्रियत्वाच्च ॥ २७ ॥

(Devotion is higher than the others), because God hates egoism and loves humility.

ईश्वरस्य : Easwarasya: God's; अपि : api: also; अभिमानद्वेषित्वात्: Abhimanadweshitwaat: dislike or aversion for conceit or egoism ; दैन्यप्रियत्वात् : Dainya- priyattwaat: love of meekness; च cha: and.

A devotee absolutely depends upon God alone. He is in communion with the Lord. He is ever peace- ful and blissful. Others run after powers etc. They depend upon their self-effort. They fail and become miserable.

You should not think that God Himself is partial and subject to feeling of love and hatred. It simply means that egoism is a great obstacle to the realisa- tion of God-consciousness. The more you empty your egoism the more your heart will be filled with God. The grace of God is always there. Only the ego pre- vents man from taking advantage of it.

Those who are proud of their wealth or position or learning or birth, spiritual discipline cannot realise God. They are myopic or short-sighted. Wealth is more a barrier than an aid to spirituality.

Those who tread the path of Jnana and Yoga are liable to become proud of their powers and wisdom. Bhaktas are humble. Humility is the foundation of Bhakti Yoga.

God has no hatred or partiality for anyone. All are equal in His eyes. His heart is full of love even for the proud. He delivers the proud and the haughty

through punishment and the humble devotees through affectionate caresses.

The Lord does not allow pride to grow in His devotees. Pride is the root of all sorrows. It is the cause of worldly bondage. It brings sufferings of various kinds.

Bhakti is absolute self-surrender. In true devo- tion there is no room for the pride of one's own efforts or spiritual discipline. A devotee feels that he is an instrument in the hands of God and God does everything for him. There is not the slightest trace of ego. Therefore, the path of devotion is superior to all other paths.

In the practice of Jnana Yoga the aspirant has to depend upon himself alone. For a Bhakta the grace of God descends. God is Bhakta Vatsala, Deenanatha, Deenabandhu.

God dispenses according to the merit and demerit of the individual soul. So He is not partial and cruel.

It is not the fault of the fire if it warns a man who comes near it, but not one who is away from it.

This is another reason. Humility is the greatest of all virtues. All other virtues cling to the man who is endowed with humility. Gouranga Mahaprabhu was an embodiment of meekness. He sat in the place where shoes were kept, when he wanted to have an interview with a learned pundit. Pride is a thorn in bhakti marga. It destroys devotion and all other virtues. Pride is ignorance. One can win the hearts of all by humility. A Bhakta should be humbler than

the blade of grass which is trodden by the feet. That man only can sing always Hari's name. It is difficult to develop this virtue. One has to kill himself and remain like a block of stone. The stiff egoism asserts again and again.

In the Bible you wilwill find: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." Lord Jesus speaks very highly of this virtue humility in his sermon on the mount.

Just as fire removes the sensation of cold only of those who approach it, so also God removes the bond- age of those who worship Him with earnestness and approach Him through daily prayer, right conduct and meditation.

Krishna said to Radha: "There are those who think themselves separate from Me. I rob them of their all and then when they see Me, all the tie of the world disappears. There are those the worldly- minded who kill the Self in them. I am cruel to them, but even to them I am kind for I confer happiness upon them in their grief. All souls are my favourites: I play many games with them till they forget all that is selfish, till they love Me for the sake of love alone, as thou now doest, O Radha !"

तस्य ज्ञानमेव साधनमित्येके ॥ २८ ॥

In the view of some, knowledge (of the object loved) alone is the means to attain (devotion).

तस्य : --- Tasyah of that supreme Love; ज्ञानम् : --- Jnanam : knowledge; एवंएव : --- eva : alone; साधनम् : Sadhanam : means; इति : iti: thus; एके : --- some (teachers think).

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

and so on. So also one gets knowledge of God at first. Then he begins to love. Therefore, 'gyanam' is the 'Sadhanam' or means for devotion.

Devotion to God may be developed through mere faith and reverence. Jatayu, Gajendra, Dhruva, Sabari realised God through mere devotion. In the love of the child to the mother, there is no under- standing. So the view that Jnana is the Sadhana of devotion is only partially true.

अन्योन्याश्रयत्वमित्यन्ये ॥ २९ ॥

Others are of opinion that there is mutual de- pendence between knowledge and devotion.

अन्योन्याश्रयत्वम् : Annyonya-asreyatwam: Mutual depen- dence (of knowledge and devotion); इति : it : thus, so अन्ये : anye others.

Here knowledge does not mean God-vision.

One cannot know God without love and without exertion. It is not possible to love truly without know- ing the object of his love and without exerting to serve his beloved. It is not also possible to exert oneself for someone without knowing and loving him. All the faculties of the mind always co-operate with one another.

"Annyonya-asraya" is mutual dependence. The wife is depending upon the husband for her wants, clothing, food and attendance while she is sick. The husband is depending upon his wife for his food and other kinds of service. This is mutual dependence.

The king depends upon the subjects for his revenue. The subjects depend upon the king for their protec- tion, water supply, sanitation, lighting and medical aid. This is also a case of mutual dependence. Even so devotion depends upon knowledge and knowledge upon devotion.

In the Gita you will find: "Sradhavan labhyate gyanam the man who is full of faith obtained wis- dom." Ch. IV-39.

"Tesham satata yuktanam bhajatam preetipurvakam, Dadami buddhi yogam tam yena maamupayantite."

"To these, ever harmonious (worshipping in love) I give the Yoga of discrimination by which they come unto Me." Ch. X-10.

todo: preserve dash "By devotion he knoweth Me in essence, who and what I am; having thus known Me in essence he forthwith entereth into the Supreme."---Ch. XVIII- 55.

स्वयं फलरूपतेति ब्रह्मकुमारा ॥ ३० ॥

Bhakti is its own fruit-thus opines Brahma Kumara (Narada) the son of Brahma.

स्वयम् : Svayam of itself; फलरूपता : Phala- rupata (Bhakti): being its own fruit; इति : Iti:

100 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS thus; so; ब्रह्म कुमारा : Brahmakumara: Son thinks). of Brahma i.e., Narada (Manyate Narada holds that devotion is both the end and the means. Bhakti is both the root and fruit of the tree of spirituality. Bhakti is self-sufficient. It does not depend on any other Sadhana. There is nothing superior to Bhakti for the reali- sation of which it may be used as a means. A true devotee practises devotion for its own sake. Accord- ing to Bhakti Yoga school knowledge and wisdom are subordinate to devotion. From what has devotion resulted? From devotion itself. Bhakti is both the cause and the effect. Bhakti is not the fruit or result of any practice. All practices enjoined by the scriptures are only to remove the ego or the veil. Bhakti has no cause. It is not the effect of any- thing else also. राजगृहभोजनादिषु तथैव दृष्टत्वात् ॥ ३१ ॥ Sutra 31. Rajagrihabhojanaadishu drishtatwaat. tathaiva For it is seen to be just so in the case of the king. home and dinner. राज गृह भोज ना दि षु : Raja-griha-bhojanaa- dishu in the case of the king, home and dinner:

7. KNOWLEDGE AND DEVOTION 101 न था : only; tatha in similar manner; ए व : seen. eva: 2 drishtatwaat: because it has been Narada gives here three illustrations to explain his view that the experience of bliss by a Bhakta in the presence of the Lord is not the result of any practice. Once a king lost his son in a forest. The prince was found by a forester. He grew in the forest under the care of the forester. Neither the forester nor the child knew that the child was a prince. Later on the truth was known and the prince was taken to his kingdom. During the period that the prince stayed with the forester, he had not been any other than the prince. After he came into his kingdom also, he was not any other than the prince. When the boy, who was ignorant of his parent- age, and who considered himself a mere forester, heard of his parentage accidentally, nothing new is produced but he is only reminded of an existing fact. Even so, one is reminded of one's true status wher one realises the supreme Self. Just as the boy had been the prince all along. a devotee has devotion in him before the time when he begins his spiritual practices, during the period of his practices and even afterwards. A man goes on a long pilgrimage. For many days he wanders about and endures many hardships

102 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS He experiences severe kinds of troubles. He cannot enjoy during his journey, the conveniences which he enjoyed in his own home. The home continues to be his home even in his absence but the distance which stood in the way of his enjoyment is removed when he comes back. The pleasurable experiences are again revived as soon as he comes back. Nothing new is produced by his coming back. If the devotee goes away from the presence of the Lord as the pilgrim goes away from his own home, he denies himself the happiness for the time being. But if he practises devotion to the Lord he will reach his own home and commune with the Lord and enjoy the divine bliss. When a man is hungry, he is unhappy. The food does not produce any new satisfaction but only re- moves the disturbance caused by hunger. It removes hunger, the source of unhappiness. When the uneasiness is removed, the natural satisfaction re- mains undisturbed. These illustrations indicate how spiritual prac- tices really work. They remove only the obstructions to the natural experience of the Self which is external and never produced by any effort on the part of man. न तेन राजपरितोष क्षुधाशान्तिर्वा ॥ ३२ ॥ Sutra 32. Na Tena Rajaparitosha kshudhasaantirva. Not by that (by mere knowledge of things) does the king become king, nor does the hungry man become satisfied.

7. KNOWLEDGE AND DEVOTION 103 Raja: 7: Na not; : tena by that; : king; a: Paritosha: satisfaction; 2: Kshudhasaanti: appeasement of hunger; : vaa: or. Not as a result of the hearing of the news does the boy become a prince. He was a Prince already. No status was added to him by his mere hearing. The pilgrim's satisfaction is also there already. Nothing new was added to him by his return to his home. Mere knowledge of the food and its ingredients cannot satisfy your hunger. You must eat the food. Then alone satisfaction will come and hunger will be appeased. Even so mere verbal knowledge of God cannot develop devotion and give peace. The illustrations are intended to warn students against supposing that mere intellectual knowledge of God is quite sufficient. The followers of the path of devotion oppose those who hold the view that knowledge is means for attainment of devotion by the aid of the above illus- iration. They say: "Mere knowledge of food cannot appease hunger; so also mere knowledge cannot develop devotion." amàa noi gyyft : ॥ 33 ॥। Sutra 33. Tasmaatsaiva graahyaa mumukshubhihi. Therefore the path of devotion alone should be adopted by those who desire salvation. Tasmaat: therefore; hence; (since devo- tion is higher than the other paths); सा: Saa:

10-4 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS supreme devotion, that; exclusion of the others); एव : Eva alone (to the : Mumukshubhihi : by seekers of liberation; : Graahya worthy of being adopted (as the goal). In the foregoing 32 Sutras the nature of Para Bhakti has been described and explained. The royal road to liberation is devotion to God. Devotion is a sure, natural and easy means to libera- tion. There are few people who are really intellectual enough to grasp the subtleties of the metaphysics of Sri Sankara. The path of devotion alone is possible for the vast majority of us. The path of devotion ends at the same point as the path of knowledge. Para Bhakti and Jnana are one. Devotion cuts asunder the worldly bondage easily. It attracts God Himself who becomes the object of our love and adoration. Final emancipation is very difficult to attain but that very salvation forces itself upon the devotee unsolicited. Therefore aspirants should practise devotion and devotion alone. You must become a Mumukshu. You should pine for liberation. You should not desire anything else than the Lord. Then alone God will choose you. Then alone the Lord stretches out His hand to lift you up from the mire of this Samsara.

7. KNOWLEDGE AND DEVOTION 105 Attachment assumes various subtle forms even in aspirants. It lingers even in the mind of the great in the name of patriotism, institution, organisation, religion, service for humanity, etc. You must cut all sorts of attachment ruthlessly. Then alone you will develop Ananya Bhakti. 'Sadhana' means discipline Para Bhakti, Paramaprema or supreme love is the highest Realisation which is the nature of Moksha. For a devotee this is the summit of all values. With the 33rd Sutra, the part dealing with Para Bhakti comes to an end. All the remaining sutras of the book deal with the means for attaining Para- Bhakti and God-Realisation. In the next chapter consisting of Sutras 34 to 50, the Sadhanas are mentioned.

106 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS 8. HOW TO DEVELOP BHAKTI. तस्या साधनानि गायन्ति आचार्या ॥ ३४ ॥ Sutra 34. Tasyaa Saadhanaani Gaayanti Achaar- yaha. The Teachers have sung (as follows) about the means (for the culture) of devotion. तस्या : Tasyaa : its ; of that supreme love; साधनानि : Sadhanaani: means; गायन्ति : Gaayanti sings; : Achaaryaha: Teachers. : The means here described are only accessory, because Bhakti is its own means as has been shown already. It 'Achaarya' does not merely mean teachers. means those who are practising what they preach. "Char" is to move. They move along the path about which they speak. They live the life of the highest Bhaktas of the Lord. They alone are really fit to teach. Their teaching alone will be the most effec- tive. Achaaryas or teachers are those who have had first hand experience of the discipline and the con- sequent Realisation. Apara Bhakti (lower Bhakti) is the direct means to obtain Para Bhakti or supreme devotion which is Realisation itself. Renunciation, detachment for worldly objects and practice (Abhyasa) form the corner stone of all spiritual discipline.

8. HOW TO DEVELOP BHAKTI 107 a-g faxazama Ánamo ॥ 34 ॥ Sutra 35. Tattu Vishaya Tyagat Sangatyagaatccha. Devotion to God is attained by abandoning all sensual pleasures and all attachment to sensual objects. तत् : Tat तु : Tu now; that; (Prema, supreme devotion); विषय त्यागात् : Vishayatyagaat : from abandonment of sensual objects; संग त्या गात् ः Sangatyagaat: from renunciation of attachment; : cha and. : The consciousness of 'I' and 'Mine' in everything you do and deal with is the strongest of all attach- ments. Sensual pleasures cause distraction of the mind. Sensual enjoyment weakens the will and renders the mind unfit for concentration and divine contempla- tion, generates cravings, destroys discrimination, dis- passion, devotion and the power of enquiry into the nature of the ultimate Truth. If there is craving when objects are renounced the renunciation is not true renunciation. Renounce the craving. This is real renunciation. There can be devotion in a mind only when the mind is freed from all cravings. One enjoys supreme bliss and peace through renunciation of objects of enjoyment. There are five Vishayas corresponding to the five sense organs. They are sabda (sound), sparsa (touch), Rupa (form), Rasa (taste) and Gandha (smell).

108 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS In Vishaya Tyaga you must destroy your liking for the objects by finding the doshas or defects in the objects. Objects are unreal. Objects are perishable. Pain is mixed with pleasure. If you keep the defects before your mind's eye, the mind will not run towards objects. Do not allow the mind to dwell on memories of pleasant objects. Do not allow the mind to think of objects. This is Sanga Tyaga or renunciation of asso- ciation of objects. Without Tyaga or renunciation no spiritual pro- gress is possible. One should practice internal and external renun- ciation. External renunciation is absolutely neces- sary in the early stages; while internal renunciation is essential at all times. Renunciation of egoism is the best kind of re- nunciation. Renunciation is not complete until ego is totally annihilated. In Kaivalya Upanishad: You will find "Na Kar- mana na prajaya dhanena, tyageneke amritatwam anasu-neither by actions nor by progeny nor by riches but by renunciation alone is immortality at- tained." Here are the nine means of cultivating Bhakti. Sri Rama says to Sabari: "Here (in the culture of de- votion) the first means, it has been taught, the com- pany of the good; the second is conversation about My achievements: the third is recital of My virtues : the fourth means will be occupation of expounding

8. HOW TO DEVELOP BHAKTI 109 my words; the fifth is, O gentle one, constant and sincere worship of the preceptor, thinking that I am he; the sixth means has been said to be virtuousness, self-restraint, observance, etc., and ever living attach- ment to My worship; the seventh is said to be reli- gious service with every detail, reciting the mantra specially applicable to Me; greater adoration to My votaries, consciousness of Me in all beings, indiffer- ence to external objects, together with internal peace. make up the eighth; and, O lady, the ninth is the consideration of My essence. O auspicious one, devo- tion in the form of love is produced in any and every one who employs this means in the shape of ninefold (secondary or instrumental) devotion, no matter whether one be a woman or a man or gone to the Inferior creation. And as soon as devotional love is produced, one feels My essence, as it were and one who becomes accomplished by the awareness of Me, attains Me. He attains liberation even in this birth Therefore it is sure that devotion is the Source of Salvation." "Mindful of Me, their life hidden in Me, illumin- ing, each other, ever conversing about Me, they are content and joyful." Chap. X-9. "Merge thy mind in Me, be My devotee, sacrifice to Me, prostrate thyself before Me, thou shalt come even to Me. I pledge thee My truth; thou art dear to Me." Ch. XVIII-65. "United to the Reason purified, controlling the self by firmness, having abandoned sound and the other objects of the senses, having laid aside passion and malice." Chap. XVIII-51.

110 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS "Dwelling in solitude, abstemious, speech, body and mind subdued, constantly fixed in meditation and Yoga, taking refuge in dispassion." Cha. XVIII-52. "Having caste aside egoism, violence, arrogance. desire, wrath, covetousness, selfless and peaceful he is fit to become the Eternal." Chapt. XVIII-53. "Becoming Brahman, serene in the Self, he neither grieveth nor desireth the same to all beings he obtaineth supreme devotion unto Me." Ch. XVIII-54. अव्यावृत भजनात् ॥ ३६ ॥ Sutra 26. Avyaavrita Bhajanaat. By uninterrupted worship (success is attained in the practice of devotion). अ व्या वृ त भ ज ना त् : uninterrupted worship. Avyavrita-bhajanaat: by This Sutra explains the foregoing one. In the previous Sutra it is said that devotion to God may be developed by abandoning objects of desire and attach- ment to objects. But how can one overcome this attraction? This answer is given in this Sutra. The attraction or temptation of worldly desires may be overcome by uninterrupted worship of God. There are many trials on the path of devotion viz., diseases, losses, frustrations, etc. The devotee should bear all these with great patience. Lord Krishna says in Gita, "O Arjuna! he who constantly thinks of Me, without anyother thought,

8. HOW TO DEVELOP BHAKTI 111 I am easily reached by that Yogi, who is thus cease- lessly attached to Me." VIII-14. Maharishi Patanjali says in his aphorism on Raja Yoga, "Practice becomes rooted when it is ceaselessly carried on with reverence and zeal for a long time." 1.14. You can make a rope out of sand. you can press oil out of sand, you can churn out butter from water but no one can cross over this formidable Samsara or ocean of births and deaths without ceaseless Bha- jana or worship of the Lord. Pooja, Seva are also Bhajan or worship. All kinds of service to the Lord in a spirit of devotion is Bhajan. Service of humanity with Divine Bhav is also worship or Bhajan. To hear of Vishnu or the Lord, to sing His names and glories, to remember Him, to do His service, to worship Him with flowers, etc., to resign to Him all the works done, to offer the body to His service and all these are to be included in Bhajan. care - Even sleeping, eating, etc., should be regarded as an act of service or worship to the Lord Yadyat Karma Karomi Tat Tadakhilam sambo tavaradha- nam. Feel that it is the Lord within you who eats, sleeps, etc. The ego will be completely effaced. That is absolutely surrender to the Lord." In Sutra 35 the spiritual practice is of a negative character. It is avoidance of evil. But in this Sutra it is an active spiritual practice. You must be a spiritual hero, an Adhyatmic undaunted soldier. You must not be afraid of obsta

112 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS cles and difficulties. You must surmount them. patiently and cross all the hurdles that stand in your spiritual path. Let the inner, spiritual fire and aspi- ration burn steadily. Plod on. Persevere, and come out victorious. Yield not to weakness and temptations. Be vigilant. Be on the alert. Kill wanton negligence, sloth and carelessness. Take rest. But rest is only a change of work. Do Kirtan. This will give you the needed rest. This will remove fatigue. Have reverence for the ideal. Create interest in the spiritual practices. Have variety such as Mantra writing, Japa, Kirtan, prayer. meditation, study, service etc. All these are Bhajan or worship. Worship by fits and starts will not do. It must be constant. It must be Tailadharavat (like flow of oil). If there is break, desires will try to enter the mind. Unholy thoughts and worldly temptations will ransack the Antahkarana. Rajas and Tamas will try to overcome you. There will be resurrection of old desires. The devotee will have to be very vigilant and cautious. That is the reason why Lord Krishna says: "sarveshu kaleshu mam anusmara At all times think of Me." Ch. VIII-7. - लोकेऽपि भगवद्गुण श्रवणकीर्तनात् ॥ ३७ ॥ Sutra 37. Lokeapi Bhagavat guna Sravana keertanaat. (Bhakti develops) from listening to and singing of the attributes and glories of the Lord, even while engaged in the ordinary activities of life in the world.

8. HOW TO DEVELOP BHAKTI 113 लोक : Loke in society; while engaged in the ordinary activities of life in the world; зfq: - api: also, even; श्रवणकीर्तनात् : - Bhagavad- guna-Sravana-kirtanaat: from listening to and sing- ing of the attributes and glories of the Lord. The Lord says, "I do not dwell in Vaikuntha (the abode of Vishnu, the highest heaven), nor in the hearts of Yogins, O Narada, I dwell there where my devotees sing." In this world there are found instances which indicate that devotion to God may be cultivated by listening and singing of the attributes of God. Divine Life and ordinary life should not be sepa rated. All activities may be turned into worship if only you do not forget the constant remembrance of the Lord and if you keep up the divine bhava or right mental attittude during work. The ears that do not hear the glories of the Lord are like holes in the earth where snakes dwell. The tongue that does not sing the praises of God is as useless as the tongue of a pig. The Name uttered knowingly or unknowingly burns up sins just as fire burns fuel. He who does the Kirtan and Japa of Lord's names derives the merit of all austerities, of all sacrifices of baths in all sacred waters and of study of the Vedas. Just as the sun removes the darkness of moun- tain caves, just as the powerful wind makes a heavy cloud to vanish, even so, the Kirtan and Japa of the

114 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS divine name enter the heart and brings all sorrows and miseries to an end. Therefore the constant practice of Kirtan, hearing and remembrance of the name and glory of God is surely the best and supreme method for the attain ment of devotion and God-realisation. Bhagavat says, "To a man tossed and distressed in the wild fire of Samsara, there is no boat other than constant listening to and drinking of the excellent essence of the leelas and glories of the Lord to cross this ocean of Samsara." XII-4-40. Japa and Kirtan form the highest help to medita- tion, self-purification and realisation. The aspirant reaches the highest by Japa and Kirtan. Japa is the most excellent sacrifice. It gives the best result. He who does Japa gets the fruit of all sacrifices. Japa and Kirtan can be practised by all irrespec- tive of age, sex, caste, and stages of life, at all times and in all places. Restraint of the mind, purity, silence, freedom from distraction, constitute to success in Japa. Japa must be accompanied by meditation on the meaning of the Mantra. Then one will attain God- realisation quickly. Sounds of Mantras generate special kind of vibra- tions in the body and mind and the atmosphere which are highly beneficial for spiritual practice. Om Nama Sivaya, Om Namo Narayanaya, Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya, Om Sri Ram Jaya Ram

8. HOW TO DEVELOP BHAKTI 115 Jaya Jaya Ram are Siddha Mantras. Siddha Mantras are special mantras which have been tested and found to be effective in actual use in the past. Those who recite these Siddhamantras attain God-realisation quickly. Bhagavan is free from all imperfections. He is perfect. Wisdom, dispassion, power, glory, dominion. splendour are the six attributes of God. Bhaga indi- cates the six attributes of God. Meditation on Bhaga- van will lead to the attainment of Bhagavan. - "Kalau Kesava Kirtanat" in the Kali Yuga, salvation is attained by Kirtan or singing the praises of God." People have not got good physique and unbroken Brahmacharya to practise Hatha Yogic Kriyas such as Pranayama kumbhaka, kechari, mudra etc. They lack in bold understanding, gigantic in- tellect and strong will to understand and practice Vedanta. The easy way is Kirtan only. मुख्यतस्तु महत्कृपयैव भगवत्कृपालेशाद्वा ॥ ३८ ॥ Sutra 38. Mukhyatastu Mahatkripayaiva bha- gavatkripaaleshaadwaa. But it (devotion) is obtained chiefly by the grace of great men or through a slight measure of Divine grace. महत्कृपया : tu: but; : Mukhyatah: chiefly; ༢་ Mahat-kripayah by the grace of great men; : Eva only; भगवत्कृपाले न Bhagavat- kripa-lesaat through a slight measure of the grace of the Lord; : Vaa or.

116 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS In the preceding three Sutras the devotees' exertion was emphasised, e.g. "Vishaya tyagat san- gatyagat cha": abandoning of objects and attach- ment; "Avyavrita Bhajanaat," ceaseless worship and "Bhagavat-Guna-Srava-kirtanaat" hearing of the glories of the Lord and Kirtan or singing the names and glories of the Lord. In this Sutra and the next three, the descent of the Lord's grace is referred to. When the great men are moved by compassion towards their mortal brothers, the Lord works through them. In Srimat Bhagavata it is said, "In the company of the great prevail talks which perfectly convey My majesty and which soothe the heart and the ear. From listening to these, faith, attachment and devo- tion will succeed one another towards Him who is the way to salvation." Self-effort is certainly necessary. The aspirant will soon realise that he can do nothing by himself and that he can attain God-realisation only through the grace of the great ones, through even a little grace of the Lord. Even a moment's contact or satsangh with saints and sages is highly beneficial. Satsangh destroys all worldly attachments and desires and cravings. Bhakti cannot be cultivated without associa- tion with saints. Divine grace can be obtained through the grace of Mahatmas or great souls.

8. HOW TO DEVELOP BHAKTI 117 Self-effort is possible only through Divine grace. Divine grace comes automatically as a result of good actions, devotion and self-surrender. When the ego is annihilated or effaced, the obstruction to the flow of divine grace is removed and the divine grace freely flows. The Guru will appear only through the grace of the Lord. He transmutes his power to the disciple through look, touch or Sankalpa. The Lord alone appears as a Guru. The Guru acts under the guidance of the Lord. The Vedantins are in favour of self-effort, while the followers of the path of devotion always advocate the doctrine of divine grace. The devotees say also that self-effort is also necessary for self-purification and for enabling grace to manifest itself. Extreme school of Bhakti says that even self-effort is made possible only by the Lord's grace. Why all men are not saved by Lord's grace? Lord has given through His grace free will to everyone to choose between good and evil. He must, therefore, wait till he of his own accord turns to the Lord. As man is endowed with a free will, God will wait to see man's predeliction for Him. The doctrine of free will and the doctrine of grace can be satisfactorily reconciled. Some explain that the law of Karma is an aspect of grace, as the Lord would otherwise be interfering with the individual's freedom. Lord does not want to free the individual soul to do anything against its own likes and dislikes.

118 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS Others say that grace is only one aspect of Karma. Good acts such as devotion and self-surrender produce their result, namely grace of God under the law of Karma. Lord Krishna says: "This divine illusion of Mine, caused by the qualities is hard to pierce; they who come to Me, they cross over this illusion." Ch. VII-14. In Mundaka Upanishad and Kathopanishad you will find, "This Atman cannot be attained by discourse. nor by intelligence nor by profound study. It can be realised by him only whom it favours; him this Atman favours with its manifestation." "Bhagavat Kripa lesaat" Even a drop of grace is quite sufficient to free oneself from the trammels of this Samsara. It is through the grace of the Lord alone that a man can stick to the spiritual path and can break all sorts of ties and attachments. "Though ever performing all actions, taking re- fuge in Me, by My grace he obtains the eternal indes- tructible abode." Ch. XVIII-56. "Thinking on Me, thou shalt overcome all obsta- cles by My grace; but if from egoism thou wilt not listen thou shalt be destroyed utterly." XVIII-58 "Out of pure compassion for them, dwelling within their Self, I destroy the ignorance-born dark- ness by the shining lamp of wisdom." Ch. X-11. - "Mahat-kripa" the grace of the great ones is also necessary. There is no difference between God and a realised Bhagavata. Both are identical. There is no hope of overhauling the old vicious Samskaras of

8. HOW TO DEVELOP BHAKTI 119 a worldly man without the help of Satsangh of Mahatmas. Satsangh is a safe boat to take the aspirant to the other shore of fearlessness, the shore which is beyond darkness. The glory of Satsangh is vividly eulogised in Bhagavata, Ramayana and all scriptures. Books written by realised persons constitute negative satsangh. When you study them you are in holy communion with the authors. Grace will descend on deserving aspirants only who are earnestly struggling in the path and who are thirsting for realisation. Nowadays people want to lead a life of ease and expect the grace of Mahatmas. They themselves do not want to do any kind of Tapas or Sadhana. They want a magic pill to put them in Samadhi at once. They want worldly comforts and realisation in one and the same cup. Kabir, Tulsidas, Sankara and Guru Nanak have all written volumes on the glory of Satsangh with Mahatmas. Faith in God, in scriptures, attachment and devotion to God slowly develop in those who are regular in Satsangh. There is a complaint by householders now-adays that there are no good Mahatmas. This is a lame ex- cuse. The company of Sadhus is a question of supply and demand. If there is a sincere demand the supply will come at once. This is the inexorable law of nature. If you are really thirsty you will find your Master at your very threshold. You lead a happy- go-lucky life, your mind is full of passion and unholy Vasanas. You do not care a bit for higher, divine life. You waste your time in idle gossiping and vain

120 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS worldly talks. You have become a hopeless slave of passion, greed and name and fame. And yet you complain: "I cannot get Satsangh". Blame yourself first. Admit your faults. Repent sincerely for your mistakes. Do Prayaschitta. Fast. Pray. Cry bitterly in solitude. Make yourself a deserving Adhikari first. Then come to me. I shall put you in the right path, guide you and elevate you to sublime heights. These 'oversouls' or high souls are waiting to get hold of right type of aspirants. Mahatmas are in plenty. Real seekers are few. If you bring a charge: "There are no good Mahatmas," Mahatmas also will bring a serious charge: "There are no real seekers after Truth."

9. GLORY OF THE COMPANY OF THE WISE तु : 9. GLORY OF THE COMPANY OF THE WISE महत्सङ्गस्तु दुर्लभो ऽगम्यो 5 मोध श्व 1138 11 121 Sutra 39. Mahatsangastu durlabho agamya amo- ghascha. The company of the great souls is again difficult of attainment, is unapproachable and is in- fallible or unfailing in its effect. महत्संग: Mahatsangah company of the great; Durlabhah: tu again; but, then; दुलभः difficult to obtain ; अगम्यः Agamya unapproach- able; subtle and incomprehensible, inscrutable; अमोघः Amogha unerringly effective; and. न्च : cha: Lord Krshna says in the Gita, "One in a thousand struggles for Self-realisation and even among such aspirants only one in a thousand attains Self-reallsa- tion." Be not duped by a false spiritual guide. You may not be able to recognise a really worthy spiritual preceptor even after coming into contact with him, because great souls generally hide their greatness. An aspirant who has earned great merits by his strenuous endeavour in the present life or pre- vious ones will be able to recognise the greatness of a Mahatma and obtain his grace. The lazy and indolent have no chance of obtaining the grace of a great soul. You should not accept any one and everyone as Guru. Teachers of real spiritual enlightenment are very rare.

122 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS To be a Guru one must have command from God. The effect of saintly contact is unerring or in- fallible. In ordinary aspirants the transformation may be slow and gradual. The spiritual waves set up by a saint travel a very long distance, reach the proper adhikarees and transform them. Good things are always rare in this world. Musk, saffron, radium, sandalwood, learned persons, virtuous persons, heroes, philanthrophists, etc., are rare. When such is the case, what to speak of saints, yogins, Gyanins, and Bhaktas! You will have to equip your- self first with the necessary qualifications of self- 1 estraint, celibacy, calmness of mind, keen desire for liberation, humility, obedience, spirit of service, etc., to make yourself fit for their company. If you get their company the question of your salvation is solved Sri Sankara says in his Vivekachudamani, "Three things are rare in this world. They are 1. Human birth, 2. Desire for liberation and 3. the care of a perfected sage." लभ्यते ऽपि तत्कृ पयैव 1180 11 Sutra 40. Labhyateapi tat kripayaiva. The company of the Great Ones is obtained by the grace of God alone. Labhyate: is obtained; arfg: Api: never- theless; and; at-kripaya: by His (God's) grace; ga: Eva: only. In the previous Sutra, it was stated that the com- pany of the great is "Durlabha" difficult, "Agamya"

9. GLORY OF THE COMPANY OF THE WISE 123 unapproachable, but "Amogha" infallible or unfailing in its effects. One is apt to be discouraged by such a statement. In this Sutra encouragement is given. It says, "api" even though it is difficult, etc., yet Labh- yate' it is obtained. - The company of the Guru or great one is obtain- ed. It is an act of divine grace "Tat kripaya eva." When the time is ripe Guru and the disciple are brought together by the Lord in a mysterious way. तस्मिन्स्तज्जने भेदाभावात् ॥ ४१ ॥ Sutra 41. Tasminsthajjane bhedabhaavaat. Because there is no difference between the Lord and His devotees. afega: Tasmin in Him; : Tatjane in His creatures; भेदाभावात् : Bheda abhavaat: be- cause of the absence of difference. The devotee is God Himself. He who serves a devotee serves God Himself. The devotee dwells in the heart of God and God dwells in the heart of the devotee. In the Bhagavat the Lord says, "Devotees are My heart, and I am the heart of the devotees. They know nobody else than I and I know nobody else than they." The Gopis imitated the various sports of Lord Krishna. They entirely lost themselves, and knew not who they were. When the individual soul surrenders himself to the Lord, he comes entirely under the influence and protection of the Lord. He is not affected by Maya All differences are wiped out.

124 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS "Tat-Jane". It means people devoted to Tat i.e., devotees. When the impurities in the mind are removed. the devotee recognises that there is no difference be- tween him and the Lord. Then the divine grace descends. The grace may appear as the Guru. The grace may come in the form of concentration. sere- nity, devotion, vision of the Lord. The Lord is not partial to anybody. His grace is available to all without any distinction It is Lord's grace that drives a man to seek a Guru and to attain perfection. God-realisation becomes natural and easy when a 'man willingly surrenders his whole being to the in- flow of the divine grace. The ignorant man impedes the path of grace by his conceit, arrogance and egoism. Just as a river loses its name and form after it has entered the ocean, so also a devotee loses his in- dividuality when he merges himself in the Lord. The mind that causes distinction is annihilated by devo- tion. तदेव साध्यतां तदेव साध्यनाम ॥ ४२ ॥ Sutra 42. Tadeva Saadhyataam Tadeva Saad- hyataam. Let that alone be practised, let that alone be prac- tised. तत् : Tat that (aids to love of God referred to in Sutra 35-37); : Eva only, alone; साध्य ता म्: Saadhyataam: let it be practised.

9. GLORY OF THE COMPANY OF THE WISE 125 Tat that, refers to renunciation and loving ser- vice described in Sutras 35-37 as well as the grace of God and Maha-purushas or great souls. Self-surrender must be complete. Then alone the divine grace will How. Self-surrender is Praptti. Strive after love of God alone, strive after love of God alone. Work for, strive after the grace of God. Make serious efforts to obtain the grace of God. The object of repeating the phrase is to stress its urgency and importance. Such practices as would enable us to obtain their grace alone should be adopted. Therefore cultivate this, cultivate this (contact with the lover of God, or Mahatma). If you wish to cultivate divine love, sincerely long for the company of saints. Through the grace of the Lord you will obtain the company of great souls or Mahatmas, Mahapurushas. Eva that alone. That alone is valuable. Other things are of no value. God's grace alone must be obtained. The methods have already been given detachment, service, kirtan, hearing of Lord's leelas, etc.

126 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS 10. GIVE UP EVIL COMPANY दुस्संगः सर्वथैव त्याज्य : 118311 Sutra 43. Dussanga Sarvathaiva Tyaajya. Evil company should be certainly given up by all means. दु:संग : Duh-sangah: evil company; : Sarvatha by all means; एव : eva only, certainly; Tyajya: to be given up. Everywhere, at all times, by all means avoid the company of the wicked. A neophyte who keeps company with the wicked people or worldlings, loses his devotion and develops evil qualities. He also comes to the level of a worldly man. Mind imitates. Evil company is the main obsta- cle to devotion. In the company of the wicked one develops immorality, licentiousness, vicious habits, voluptuous- ness, sensuality, hypocrisy, arrogance, etc. Evil com- pany destroys all virtues such as purity. truthfulness, compassion, etc. If the locality, food, surroundings, environment, vocation, form of worship, topics of discussion, books you read are sattvic you will grow in spirituality and virtue. If they are Rajasic or Tamasic you will deve- lop evil traits. Some people argue "Why should we shun evil company? Is not God there also? Why should we see evil anywhere? Shall we not see only the good? Should we not see only God in the evil also? A sage alone is above good and evil. He alone sees good in the evil too. For him there is neither good

10. GIVE UP EVIL COMPANY 127 raw nor evil. He alone will not be affected by evil. He sees God in evil also. Ordinary man and a aspirant will be easily affected by evil company. He cannot see good in evil. Evil is a solid reality for him. God is everywhere. God is in pure water, and in dirty water. But you cannot drink the dirty water. You cannot eat excreta. A young aspirant cannot take refuge in the Upanishadic saying, "All Indeed is Brahman" when he is in the midst of temptations Every object that stimulates lower passions must be ruthlessly avoided. If the great saying, "All is Brahman" is taught to a raw aspirant or half-baked neophyte or half- awakened student he will be ruined like Virochana who preached the philosophy of flesh to his disciples and followers. This sublime instruction should only be impart- ed to the aspirant who is endowed with absolute moral purity, discrimination, dispassion and who is free from cravings for sensual pleasures. Evil is a product of ignorance. Good is that which leads you to the attainment of God-realisation or eternal bliss. Evil is that which leads you to sorrow, unhappiness, misery, birth and death. Sattva is good- ness. Tamas and Rajas are evils. Sattva will give serenity, tranquility, composure, calmness. Rajas and Tamas will cause agitation, restlessness, anxiety, vexa- -tion, suffering and unhappiness. Bilvamangal once attended the nautch party of Chintamani. His whole antahkarana was poisoned. He was the virtuous son of a pious brahmin. All his good traits disappeared. He fell in love with her. He

128 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS ruined his life. There are thousands of such instances ike this. In the Andhra province Vemanna also was spoiled by evil company in the beginning. Novels, cinemas, sight of pairing of animals, cbscene scenery, vulgar music, nude pictures, any- thing that excites passion are all evil companies. There is nothing more dangerous than evil company. If the wife has no religious tendencies and is of worldly nature, her company also tantamounts to evil company. That is the reason why scriptures speak very highly of solitary places in Himalayas and on the banks of the Ganges. कामक्रोधमोहस्मृतिभ्रंशबुद्धिनाशसर्वनाशकारणत्वात् ॥ ४४ ॥ Sutra 44. Kamakrodhamoha smritibhramsa buddhinaasa sarvanaasakaaranatwaat. Because it is the cause of lust, anger, delusion, loss of memory, loss of intellect and total ruin. T: Kama desire, lust; Krodha anger; : मोह : Moha: delusion, infatuation, bewilderment; स्मृतिभ्रंश : smritibhramsa: loss of memory; : Buddhinaasa loss of intellect:: Sarvanaasa: total ruin ; कारण त्वात् : Kaaranatwaat: being the cause of. Memory and intellect spoken of in this Sutra refer to meditation and pure reason or discrimination respectively. Loss of memory is forgetfulness of the truth and forgetfulness of one's object in life as well as one's duty. Buddhinasa is death of discriminative reason.

10. GIVE UP EVIL COMPANY 129 Worldly minded people may talk of pleasurable worldly experiences and attractive objects seen by them. A novice in the spiritual path or even a spiri- tually advanced soul who has attained self-realisation, who is not rooted in the conviction of the utterly illusory nature of the world will be impressed by such experiences. He may feel a desire to enjoy them. Desire is born of Rajas. It generates both greed and anger. It is the cause for commission of sin. The opposite of evil company "dussanga" is "Sat- sanga". The natural tendency of the mind is to stick to something. It is normally sticking to Vishayas or objects. If this tendency is to be annihilated, it must be turned to God or Atma. "Buddhinasa" or loss of discrimination refers to the inability to distinguish between truth and false- hood, the permanent and the impermanent, good and bad, right and wrong, etc. If the mind deviates even a little bit from its aim through lack of dispassion and vigilance, it will fall down and down like a ball dropped on the first step of the stairs. Therefore be cautious, be vigilant. Lord Krishna says: "Man thinking on the objects of sense, develops an attachment to these; from at- tachment arises desire; from desire anger proceeds; from anger arises delusion; from delusion confused memory; from confused memory the destruction of reason; from destruction of reason he perishes." Gita Ch. II-62-63. "It is desire, it is wrath, begotten by the quality of mobility, all-consuming, all-polluting, know

130 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS thou this as our foe here on earth." Ch. III-37. "Triple is the gateway to hell, destructive of self-lust, wrath, and greed, therefore let man renounce these three." Ch. XVI-21. Tulsidasji says: "Wherever there is Kama there is no Rama and wherever there is Rama there is no Kama." तरङायिता अपीमे संगात्समुद्रायन्ति ॥ ४५ ॥ T Sutra 45. Tarangaayita apeeme sangaatsamu- draayanti. Though they (evil tendencies, lust. anger etc.) rise only in the form of ripples in the beginning, they hecome like an ocean as a result of evil company. तर ग्ङा यिता: Tarangaayitah: acting as ripples; अपि : api even though; : Ime these (lust, anger, etc.); Sangaat: by (evil) association; समुद्रायन्ति : Samudraayanti: become like an ocean. An aspirant should be afraid of even faint traces of evil till they are totally eradicated. Just as fire under the ashes may assume the form of a huge flame by the blowing of a strong wind, so also suppressed evil may assume a huge form through evil company. Therefore the aspirant should be ever vigilant and avoid evil company ruthlessly. In the beginning lust and anger may be checked when they are in the form of ripples; but it is very difficult to curb them when they assume the form of a big ocean owing to evil company. Drinking, meat-eating, hearing vulgar music, company of prostitutes, attendance of nautch party,

10. GIVE UP EVIL COMPANY 131 theatres and cinemas excite passion and throw the victim in the hell of fire. Cinema has become a curse even in India. An officer spends half of his salary in cinema and runs into debts. All have developed a bad habit for some kind of sight-seeing. They cannot re- main without it. The eyes want to see some kind of lights and sensational pictures. Cinema is a very good paying business nowadays. Various sorts of half- nude pictures and obscene sights are shown on the screen. College boys and young girls are unduly thrown into a state of mental excitement. Various sorts of evils are propagated. Cinema is an enemy of devotion. It is havocing the world. It should be en- tirely boycotted. It does immense harm to the people. It is a great drain on the resources of man. It is a great temptation. All bad films should be thoroughly investigated and censured. Films should be passed. by a religious body before they are brought on the screen. Only films which contain religious stories that are calculated to develop the moral and philoso- phical aspect of man may be allowed to come on the screen. A bill should be passed in the Parliament to this effect. This is a most important matter. All thoughtful men should direct their attention on this point. It is gratifying to note that highly educated males and females of India take part in the cinema. The college education alone will not do. If they want to impress the people and to do real spiritual good to the world they should lead a life of tapas and meditation and Brahmacharya.

132 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS 11. WHO CROSSES MAYA? कस्तरति कस्तरति मायाम् ? य संगं त्यजति यो महानुभावं सेवते, निर्ममो भवति ॥ ४६ ॥ Sutra 46. Kastarati kastarati maayaam? Ya sangam tyajati yo mahaanubhaavam sevate, nirmamo bhavati. Who crosses, who crosses the Maya? Only he who avoids all contact with such objects of senses as are likely to inflame passions, who resorts to a great spiritual soul and serves him and who is free from mineness or idea of possession. क : Kah : who ; तरति ; tarati : crosses ; क : who tarati: crosses; : kah: maayaam: the world of senses; ч%; Yah: he who; д: sangam: contact; tyajati: gives up; ч: Yah: who%; Mahanubhaavam: a great spiritual man; सेवते : Sevate: resorts to and serves; r: Nir- mamah free from mineness; Hafa: Bhavati: be- comes. A saint is the supreme refuge for those who are immersed in the formidable ocean of Samsara or worldly existence. Worldly attachments and sins are easily got rid of through service of saints. Just as fire removes cold, fear and darkness, so also service of saints removes cold in the form of sin, fear of rebirth and the darkness

11. WHO CROSSES MAYA ? 133 of ignorance. Service of saints enables a man to deve- lop devotion to God. Maya is that illusory power of God which takes you away from reality and attracts you to the fleeting, sensual pleasure. The working of Maya is very subtle. It is very difficult to detect her. The aspirant must be very very vigilant. Kastarati; kastarati: The question is asked twice. That shows the difficulty of getting rid of Maya. The phrase is repeated to add conviction to the answer. Sangam It is attachment for external objects. The real and strong attachment is the attachment to the ego. The latter attachment must be cut asunder first. Sri Sankara says: "Satsangatve nissangatwam, nissangatve nirmohatwam nirmohatve nischalatat- vam, nischalatatve Jivanmukti." By keeping company with the Mahatmas, one becomes dispassionate He gets Vairagya. He does not like the company of worldly men. Then he develops the state of "Nirmo- hatva". He becomes free from infatuation or delusion. Then his mind becomes steady and one-pointed and rests on the Swaroop or Essence. Then he attains liberation or freedom. यो विविक्तस्थानं सेवते, यो लोकबन्धमुन्मूलयति निस्त्रैगुण्यो भवति, योगक्षेमं त्यजति ॥ ४७ ॥ Sutra 47. Yo viviktasthaanam sevate, yo loka- bandhamunmoolayati nistraigunyo bhavati, yogakshemam tyajati.

134 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS He who resorts to a solitary and holy place, he who roots out worldly desires or bonds, transcends the three gunas and gives up all ideas of acquisition and preservation. य : Ya : who ; विविक्तस्थानम् : viviktasthaanam : a lonely and holy place; सेवते : sevate resorts to; य; ya who; desires or bonds; out; : लोकबन्धं : Lokabandham: worldly उन्मूलयति : Unmoolayati : roots nisthraigunya: free from the effects of the three Gunas; भवति : bhavati becomes; य: योगक्षेमम् ः Yogakshemam : acquisition and preservation; Tyajati: gives up. One's own heart itself is the most secret or lonely and sacred place for meditation. A solitary place is one where the din and noise of the talk of sensual desires and craving for sensual objects does not penetrate. Mere retirement to a forest is of little spiritual value. He who has cravings and desires meets temp- tations even in a forest. Inner solitude is essential It is an aid in rooting out the binding force of worldly attractions or temptations. When one lives in solitude social ties auto- matically get slackened. If the aspirant does enquiry and compares this world of misery, pain, disease, death and sorrow with the sublime, glorious and wonderful life in God, these ties are completely broken as under..

11. WHO CROSSES MAYA ? 135 A solitary place is favourable for the practise of detachment, dispassion or Vairagya. The aspirant can do whatever he likes. He is not disturbed by other people. He is forced to give up comforts and some objects which he likes best, because he cannot get them in a solitary place. Many will Loneliness is not advisable for all. become lazy and unclean if they live in seclusion. An aspirant can develop ethical virtues only if he remains in the world. World is the best teacher. Advanced Sadhaks alone can remain in seclusion. They alone will be benefited. - The poet who liked loneliness sang: "O solitude! where are thy charms?" Lord Krishna lays great stress on this solitude "Vivikta sevi". Gita Chap- ter XVIII-52. "Viviktadesa sevitwam" Chapter XIII-10. Solitude has immense advantages. The mind gets one pointedness by itself without any effort. In the world there are many distractions on all sides and a beginner finds it impossible to fix his mind on his Lakshya. One can reach a certain stage either in Yoga, Bhakti or Gyana in the world. For attaining advanced stages solitude is indispensably requisite. If you bring the examples of Raja Janaka and Eknath these are all solitary instances. Further they were all Yoga-Bhrastas, born with a lot of spiritual samskaras acquired through drastic Sadhana in their previous lives. There is bondage only in the earth plane, astral plane and mental plane (heaven). There is no bond- age in Maharloka, Janoloka, Tapoloka and Satyaloka.

136 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS Sattva is the enlightening quality; Rajas is the inflaming quality and Tamas is the enveloping or obscuring quality. Sattva is light, harmony; Rajas is passion, motion and Tamas is inertia, darkness. These are the forces that bind the soul to the world. Lokabandham: They are the binding forces of the world. They are Rajas and Tamas, desires, crav- ings, attachments, sensual pleasures. The whole Sadhana or practice is transcendence of the three Gunas. By discipline, worship, by cultivating virtues, study, kirtan, meditation, service of the preceptor and the grace of the Lord the devotee or the Yogi trans- cends all the three Gunas. The feeling of 'mine-ness' grows through constant association with sensual objects. It is very difficult to eradicate this feeling of 'mineness'. Yoga Kshema: Yoga means applying one's needs and Kshema means the preservation of what is already in our possession. In the spiritual sense Yoga means union with God or God-realisation or the practice of Yoga Sadhana or discipline through which God is realised. Kshema means maintaining one's progress on the path of God- realisation. As a devotee entirely depends upon God, as he has made total self-surrender to God, as he is ever united with the Lord, the Lord Himself looks after the Yoga and Kshema of the devotee.

11. WHO CROSSES MAYA? 137 Lord Krishna says in the Gita. "Those who are exclusively devoted to Me and worship Me in a dis- interested way, fixing their thought on Me, I Myself bear the burden of their Yoga and Kshema, as they are ever united with Me." Chapter IX-22. When the aspirant develops intense Bhakti he will be able to give up Yoga and Kshema. The ideas of this Sutra come in Gita, Chapter II-45. "The Vedas deal with the three Gunas; be thou above these three qualities, O Arjuna! beyond the pairs of opposites, ever steadfast in purity, careless of possession, full of the Self." यः कर्मफलं न्त्यजति कर्माणि संन्यस्यति ततो निर्द्वन्द्वो भवति ॥४८॥ Sutra 48. Yah Karmaphalam tyajati, karmani sannyasyati tato nirdwandwo bhavati. He who renounces the fruits of his actions, and who renounces all actions goes beyond the pairs of opposites (such as pleasure and pain, good and bad, heat and cold). the fruits of actions; य : Yah: who; क र्म फलम् : Karmaphalam: त्यजति : Tyajati gives Karmani: actions; संन्यस्यति : tatah then, there- Sannyasyati renounces; तत: up; af for by; निद्वंद्व : Nirdwandwah: free from pairs of oppo- sites (such as pleasure and pain, good and bad, heat and cold); : Bhavati: becomes. Whatever the devotee does, does for the sake of the Lord. He does not expect any reward for his

138 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS actions. Further he has no attachment either for Karma or for its fruits. When the devotee feels that he is an instrument in the hands of God, he renounces doership and agency. When the devotee does total self-surrender, God destroys his ego and begins to act through his organs. Now the devotee is freed from the pairs of opposites. "All actions" mean here selfish actions (Kamya Karmas). One should renounce selfish actions. Life is not possible without some kind of activity. Selfless activities must be continued. When the devotee dedicates the fruits of all his actions and the actions themselves to the Lord, he is freed from the effects of virtuous and vicious deeds. He is not affected in the least by pleasure and pain resulting from the pain or loss of the results of actions. Such a devotee is beyond the effects of the Gunas. He is ever immersed in the remembrance of God. Selfish actions have no attraction for him. What you call world is not this wall or stone or tree. The world is a play kept up by these pairs of opposites which affect the mind through the two mental currents - Raga-Dwesha, attraction and re pulsion or like and dislike. He who conquers these pairs of opposites really conquers the whole world Heat and cold affect the body; and pleasure and pain affect the mind. He who transcends the Dwandwas always keeps a balanced mind. This is an important sign or linga of a Jivanmukta.

11. WHO CROSSES MAYA? 139 यो वेदानपि संन्यस्यति केवलमविच्छिन्नानुरागं लभते ॥ ४९ ॥ Sutra 49. Yo vedaanapi sannyasyati, kevala- mavichchinnaanuragam labhate. He who abandons even the Vedas, even the rites and ceremonies prescribed by the Vedas and obtains undivided and undiluted and un- interrupted flow of love towards God. य : केवलं : Yah who; : Vedaan the sacred books, the Vedas; fu; api even;: Sann- yasyati renounces; Kevalam Undivided: unalloyed; अविच्छिन्नानुरागं : Avichchinaanuragam : uninterrupted flow of love: : labhate: attains. By 'Veda' it is meant here the ritualistic portion of the Vedas. The man of realisation does not stand in need of the rituals prescribed by the Vedas but they may be performed in earlier stages as a means for God-realisation. Kevalam Love for God is not diluted with de- sires of any other kind such as pleasures of earth and heaven. The love that arises at this stage is never satisfied till God is realised. This love is the Mukhya Bhakti that directly leads to Para Bhakti. Renunciation of Vedas really means renunciation of desires. When the devotee advances in his devotion he gets merged in the Lord. He is not capable of per- forming any Vedic rite or worldly action. The devotee has realised the ultimate aim of all Vedas. The de-

140 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS votee does not deliberately renounce the Vedas. The Vedas themselves withdraw their control over him as he has realised the goal of his life. He is now above the injunctions and interdictions imposed by the Vedas. Continuous flow of love without any break even for a second is Avichchinna-anurag. Vedas can afford no interest for a man who has got this kind of in- cessant flow of prem. That is the reason why the Gita says "All true Vedas are as useful to an enlightened Brahmin, as is a tank in a place covered all over with water." Ch. II. 46. स तरति स तरति स लोकांस्तारयति ॥ ५० ॥ Sutra 50. Sa tarati, sa tarati sa lokaamstaa- rayati. He (verily) crosses (Maya), he crosses (this ocean of Samsara, all limitations), he helps man- kind to cross (also). : स : Sah he; fa: tarati crosses (Maya, or ocean of Samsara), H: sah: he; a tarati: he crosses; स : sah He; लोकान् : Lakan: all the world, mankind; : Taarayati: helps to cross. He overcomes all limitations. He goes beyond Maya and helps others also to go beyond the sea of sufferings or the ocean of Samsara. He becomes a true saviour of the world. He sanctifies the entire universe.

11. WHO CROSSES MAYA? 141 The question raised in the 46th aphorism as to who crosses Maya has been answered in the succeed.. ing aphorisms. A saint of God-realisation can lift others to the divine status in an instant. A weak swimmer cannot help a drowning man. He who is immersed in world- liness cannot elevate others to the status of divinity. He cannot give a God-consciousness to others. Anurag referred to in the previous aphorism is the highest rung in the ladder of devotion. It is the only means that will help the aspirant to cross Maya and overcome all limitations. It will enable him after realisation to help others also in reaching the goal and crossing this formidable Samsara. The means of attaining devotion and the marks of those who have attained such devotion have been described in all the above aphorisms. In the next chapter the Devarishi Narada pro- ceeds to delineate the nature of divine love, attaining which, devotees are easily able to reach the pinnacle of divine glory. This world is compared to an ocean (Bhava- sagar). Trishnas are the crocodiles. Vasanas are the whales or sharks. Indriyas are the rivers. The three gunas are the waves. Raga Dwesha are the ripples. Ignorance is the substratum. Egoism is the essence. Lord Krishna says: "Those verily who, renouncing all actions in Me, and intent on Me, worship meditat- ing on Me, with whole-hearted Yoga, these I speedi- ly lift up from the ocean of death and existence, O Partha; their minds being fixed on Me." Ch.XII-6.7.

142 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS 12. NATURE OF PREM अनिर्वचनीयं प्रेमस्वरूपम् ॥ ५१ ॥ Sutra 51. Anirvachaneeyam Premaswarupam. The nature of love towards God is inexpressible in words. अनिर्वचनीय म्: able of being described precisely, not capable of be- Anirvachaneeyam: (is) incap- प्र म स्वरूप म्: Premaswa- ing expressed in words; rupam the nature of love. The intrinsic nature of divine love defies precise definition or description. Bhakti or divine love is a realisation so profound that it is not possible to des cribe it adequately and exactly. It is possible to describe the means to devotion, but not the sweetness of devotion itself. When it is impossible to describe the taste of apple to one who has never tasted it, how can the joy of supreme love be communicated by words? Love is a feeling felt within the heart. When one is underneath the water he cannot speak. Similarly when one is drowned in the ocean of divine love, he is unable to speak. The sixteen sutras of the fourth chapter speak about the marks of devotion. Nouns and pronouns, etc., are useful only for giving names to external objects or their qualities or expressing the actions or the relations of those quali ties. Adjectives express the quality of an object. The

12. NATURE OF PREMA 143 verb expresses an action, the adverb the mode or time etc., in relation to such action. Speech deals with external objects, Prem or Bhakti or divine love is an internal emotion which does not originate from an external impulse coming from any external object. Therefore speech or word is not capable of expressing it. The language of tears or sighs can express to some extent the inner state of the devotee. This is to be felt by the devotee himself. Even in the worldly parlance it is impossible to describe the taste of sugar-candy to one who has not eaten sugar- candy, the nature of sexual happiness to one who has not enjoyed it, and the nature of sun and sun-light to a blind man. Hence the term 'Anirvachaneeyam' is used here. मूकास्वादमवत ॥ ५२ ॥ Sutra 52. Mookaaswaadanavat. Just as the taste of a dumb man. मू का स्वाद न व त् : Mooka-aswaadanavat: Like the taste of a dumb-man, like the dumb man's expe- rience of a tasty thing. The nature of love is as indescribable as the taste of a dumb person. It is like the dainty dish tasted by a dumb person. Direct experience of divine love is something which is produced without the help of any external

144 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS stimulus. It is a vision of truth or God which trans- forms the being of the devotee. It is not a thrill. It is not ordinary self-forgetfulness The devotee feels the Lord's touch within the heart. The dumb man will reveal his experience through smile. He may dance and jump with joy. Saints try to describe the experience of divine love. They say, "It tastes like a palatable dish, a de- licious fruit, sweet syrup, celestial manna, sugar- candy, powdered sugarcandy, honey, panchamritam, sweet jam." प्रकाशते क्वापि पात्रे ॥ ५३ ॥ Sutra 53. Prakaasate kvaapi paatre. But (that love or devotion) manifests itself in a fit recepticle (in a qualified person only) at some place or time. That love; क्वापि : ( ततूं : Kvaapi some; at any place and time, where everything is favourable to its appearance, fit; ч): Paatre: recepticle in a fit recipient; : Prakasate is manifested, is re- vealed. What then association with the saints will avail, if the devotion or love is inexpressible in words and consequently incommunicable from person to per- sons? To this the answer is that the operation of de- votion or love is telepathic and not through any grosser medium. To some who are deserving, it can be revealed.

12. NATURE OF PREMA 145 Rays of divine love radiate through the eyes of a saint at every pore of his body. The methods to be adopted for acquiring such fit- ness have been explained before namely, Vishayatyag, sangatyag, avyavritabhajan, bhagavat gunasravana kirtan, etc. "Kwapi" somewhere, at some time. The ex- treme rarity of such individuals is here indicated. Out of many millions one will be fit to receive the Lord's grace. A saint also comes to the earth only very very rarely. Many generations may pass before one such person takes his birth. The current of Prem or spiritual aura passes by itself from the teacher to the fit disciple. There is telepathic transference or communication between the teacher and disciple. The disciple should be a fit subject to receive the light. The seed will sprout only in a well prepared ground. There is Shakti- sanchar through Sankalpa or sight by the teacher in the student. गुणरहितं कामनारहितं प्रतिक्षणवर्धमानमविच्छिन्नम् सूक्ष्मतरमनुभवरूपम् ॥ ५५ ॥ Sutra 54. Gunarahitam kaamanaarahitam pra- tikashanavardhamaanamavichchinnam Sookshmamataramanubhavaroopam. It (divine love) is devoid of all attributes, devoid of all desires, expanding every moment, con- tinuous, most subtle and of the nature of inner experience.

146 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS गुणरहितम् : Gunarahitam devoid of all attri- butes ; काम नारहितम् : Kaamanaarahitam : bereft of desire; प्रतिक्षण वर्धमान म् Pratikshana-var- dhamaanam expanding every moment; & for fø Avichchinnam: of ceaseless flow: सूक्ष्मतरम् : Sookshmataram extremely subtle; अनुभवरूप म्: Anubhavaroopam of the form of feeling, of the nature of inner experiences. The divine love grows in volume and intensity at every moment. It has a ceaseless flow. It is of the form of subtler feeling. Even Sattvic Bhakti is far below the true Bhakti when one loves God for love's sake. Bhakti practised in order to get away from ills or to attain certain desire is not genuine Bhakti. It is impossible for the ordinary human mind to have any conception of this exalted divine love. It is different from the grosser love for things of this world. Bhakti is realisable by intuition alone. Though Bhakti is beyond speech and intellect, it can be di- rectly intuited when you contact with God in your innermost being. Attributes reside in matter and describe one or other aspect of relativity, while divine love is beyond matter and relativity.

12. NATURE OF PREMA 147 You can grasp with the mind and describe in language an object only through its properties. Devo- tion is devoid of these and so it cannot be described in words. Divine love is infinite. Worldly love is often cut short. It is broken. It decreases or wanes or declines like the waning moon. Newer interests, fresher attractions have to be resorted to, in order to keep earthly love alone. A girl loves her parents first. This love gets decreased when she gets married. She loves more her husband. When she begets a son, she loves her son more than her husband. This is mun- dane love. But divine love grows deeper and deeper every moment. It expands like the waxing moon. It ascends higher and higher like the Himalayan range. Worldly love is divisible. A man who has six children distributes his love among all the six. devotion to the Lord is not divisible. But Divine Love seeks no return, grows from more to more every moment, knows no break, is subtler than the subtlest and is of the nature pure, inner experi- ence. It is beyond the pale of the three Gunas. It is a spontaneous outpouring of the heart. Divine love is not dependent on youth, beauty. wealth, or virtue. It is not tainted by self-interest. There is no thought of personal gain here. It is very It is subtle, very soft, very slender, very remote. the fountain of all sweetness. It is unvaried in sweet- ness. It is constant. It is the hardest of all. It is brimful or full. It is unwavering and sublime. It

148 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS unites the devotee with the Lord and makes him an embodiment of bliss. The divine current of love begins to flow only when one goes beyond the influence of the three Gunas. At first there is a glimpse of the Lord. Gradually the devotee becomes identified with the Lord. "Anu" is a prefix expressing nearness, participa- tion, conformity. Love or Ananda exists. It is bhava. The individual soul participates in it. His nearness to it, his conforming himself to its nature, his participa- tion of it is indicated by the prefix "Anu". There is God's love. The individual soul partici- pates this love. That is the Anubhava. So divine love is Anubhavarupam. Ordinary emotions depend on certain external causes and objects and are therefore transitory. The emotion vanishes when the cause or object is remov- ed. One also becomes satisfied in a short time by sense enjoyments. One can never become satiated with devotion or divine love. It can be experienced for all times. Devotion is independent of causes. Its content is a perennial fountain of eternal bliss. Therefore it becomes more and more enjoyable as it deepens, strengthens in course of time. It (love) is of the form of a very, very subtle, unbroken feeling or experience that develops in volume and intensity at every moment, that is free from the three gunas and desires.

12. NATURE OF PREMA 149 It is very, very subtle. So the term 'Sukshma- taram' is used. It always grows and increases. There is always waxing. The play of gunas has no place here. Sensual desires cannot exist when this un- broken love operates. Whatever the mind wants can be had in God. His one attribute ananta (infinite) embraces everything. The next Sutra speaks about the effects of such Anubhava or inner experience. तत्प्राप्य तदेवावलोकयति तदेव शृणोति तदेव भाषयति तदेव चिन्तयति ॥ ५५ ॥ Sutra 55. Tatpraapya tadevaavalokayati tadeva srinoti tadeva bhaashayati tadeva chintayati. Having once attained that, (the devotee) sees only his object of devotion, hears only about Him, speaks only about Him, thinks only of Him. तत् : Tat that, love, devotion, inner experience, object of love ; प्राप्य : Praapya : having attained ; तत् : Tat: that; एव : Eva alone; अवलीकयति : kayati sees; tat: that; : Eva Avalo- alone: श्रृणोति : Srinoti : hears ; तत् : Tat that; : Eva: alone ; भाषयति : Bhaashayati That; एव : Eva alone; ponders over. speaks; तत् : Tat: चिन्तयति : Chintayati : Attaining this love, the devotee sees nothing but love, hears only about love, speaks only of love and thinks of love alone.

150 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS Man first loves God with an object. Then by a transference of interest he loves God without any object for love's sake, for the sake of God who is an embodiment of love. Just as a river loses its individuality when it joins the ocean, the devotee loses his egoism or indivi- duality when he becomes one with the Lord. Then he sees himself and all the rest of the world as the Lord Himself, as an inseparable part of that universal love. This divine love is all-possessing. The devotee has no other interest in life. To him the entire universe is a mirror which reflects the Lord and the Lord alone. He has neither friends, nor enemies, no country. no nationality, no caste, no special states. The whole world is his home. The whole world is the body of the Lord. He is dumb to any talk other than the praises of the Lord. His ears are deaf for anything other than the Leelas of the Lord. His mind is ever absorbed in the Lord and oblivious to the world. A Gopi expresses her experience thus: "In whichever direction I look, I find the landscape full of Shyama, dark blue. The water of the Jumna is dark. The bowers and groves are dark. The letters of the Vedas are dark." He sees only the Lord in everything. The devotee looks only at the Lord. He hears only the Lord. He thinks only of the Lord. How then can he be con- scious of the external universe?

12. NATURE OF PREMA 151 A devotee who undergoes the discipline men- tioned above (Sutras 46-49) sees the whole world as a manifestation of God. Every one of his activities, phy- sical and mental, will be an expression of his devotion to the Lord. In the next Sutra, Narada speaks of devotees who are still under the influence of Gunas.

152 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS 13. SECONDARY DEVOTION गौणी विधा गुणभेदादार्तादि भेदाद्व ॥ ५६ ॥ Sutra 56. Gaunee tridha gunabhedaadaartaa- dibhedaadwaa. Secondary devotion is of three kinds according to the qualities, Sattva, Rajas and Tamas and according to the distinction of the aspirants, the afflicted, the seeker after knowledge. the self-interested. Gaunee secondary (Bhakti): Tridha threefold; गुण 77 Guna-bhedat: according to the difference of the qualities, viz., Sattva, Rajas and Tamas; आर्तादिभेदात् : Aartaadi bhedaat: according to the distinction of the worshippers as the afflicted. the seeker after knowledge, the self-interested; Va or. T: The primary type of devotion (Ahaituki or un- motivated) through which the devotee attains his be- loved Lord has been discussed in the previous Sutras. Now the secondary Bhakti is being discussed. Worship done without selfishness is Sattvic devo- tion. Worship done for getting power and wealth is Rajasic devotion. Worship done to injure others is Tamasic devotion. Sattva is stainless like the crystal (Sphatikamani). Sattva lays for one the trap of happiness and know- ledge. Sattva is a golden fetter. A Sattvic man com-

13. SECONDARY DEVOTION 153 pares himself with others and rejoices in his excel- lence. He is puffed up with his knowledge. His heart is filled with pride when he thinks that he has more comforts or more pleasant experiences. He thinks "I am happy. I am wise" and so he also is bound. This attachment to happiness is an illusion. If you trust in God there is no need for asking anything from Him. He gives you anything you want without asking. Gauna-bhakti or secondary devotion culminates in Mukhyabhakti, primary devotion, which is one con- tinuous, unbroken stream of love for God and which is devoid of all taints. The second classification is based on the differ- ence in the motives that impel the devotee. Of the four varieties of devotees mentioned in Gita, chapter VII-6, the first three are varieties of Gauna Bhakti. The fourth denotes Mukhyabhakti in which the de- votee loves God and God alone. It is love for love's sake. Draupadi and Gajendra were aarta bhaktas. They were in distress. Uddhava was a Jignasu bhakta. Dhruva was an artaarta bhakta. He wanted dominion. उत्तरस्मादुत्तरस्मात् पूर्वपूर्वा श्रेयाय भवति ॥ ५७ ॥ Sutra 57. Uttarasmaaduttarasmaat Poorvapoor- vaa sreyaaya bhavati. Each preceding one (kind of devotion) is more conducive to the highest good than the one succeeding it.

154 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS उत्तरस्मादुत र स्मा त् : than each succeeding one ; each preceding one; Uttarasmaaduttarasmaat: Poorva poorva : पूर्वपूर्वा : Sreyaaya: for the better, for the sake of the highest good; : Bhavati: 1s, works. The first is better and more fruitful than the second and the second is better and more fruitful than the third in both the divisions. The first of these conditions produces higher spi- ritual good than the second, and the second is superior to the third. Rajasic Bhakti practised in order to obtain power and wealth is better than Tamasic Bhakti which in- voles divine help to injure others. Sattvic Bhakti is still higher, for it only aspires to know God. Sattva is harmony, peace, light. It is the highest state. The desire for pleasure and power (Rajas) is better than inertia (Tamas) which is equivalent to spiritual death. A devotee should carefully watch his mind and note which of these conditions prevails in his mind. He should strive to increase Sattva by Sat- sangh Japa, Kirtan, meditation, worship, etc. According to the second classification Aarta Bhakti (Bhakti of affliction) is higher. Here afflic- tion does not refer to any misery due to worldly evil, but to distress due to the conscious separation from God. (See aphorism 19.) The devotion practised by the seeker of truth (Jignasu) is better than that practised by the seeker

13. SECONDARY DEVOTION 155 of wealth (Arthaarthi) and better and more fruitful than both the types is the devotion of the afflicted and the distressed (aarta). An aarta alone make a pas- sionate, sincere and intense appeal to the Lord and gets help immediately. He wants relief at once. Drau- padi and Gajendra are the examples. An aarta wants God and nothing else, because no one else can give relief to him. A jignasu wants knowledge, not God. The Arthaarthi does not want even knowledge. He wants wealth. Therefore the Aarta is the best of the whole lot. The Gopis were extremely miserable on account of separation from Lord Krishna. They were also Aartas. They prayed and sang. Then the Lord gave them His presence. A devotee who has intense Vairagya or dispas- sion never rests satisfied with anything less than the supreme God-realisation. Mukhya Bhakti is superior to Sattvic Bhakti and Para Bhakti is superior to Mukhya Bhakti.

156 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS 14. BHAKTI EASY TO PRACTISE अन्यस्मात् सौलभ्यं भक्तौ ॥ ५८ ॥ Sutra 58. Anyasmaat saulabhyam bhaktau. The practice of devotion is easier than other methods (in the attainment of salvation). : Bhaktau: in devotion, with respect to di- vine love; Anyasmaat: than others, than any other ; सौलभ्यम् Saulabhyam: easy recogniza- bility, cheapness, the nature of being easily obtained. Bhakti is easier than any other way of approach to God. Karma, Yoga, Jnana are the three other paths. Bhakti is the direct approach to the ideal through the heart. Love is natural to everybody. The practice of devotion is the easiest of all forms of spiritual practice. Karma, Yoga, Jnana are the three other paths. It is only a help to knowledge and devotion. It puri- fies the heart of the aspirants. Vedic rites can be per- formed only by wealthy people. Yoga is beset with difficulties and dangers. The Yogi gets powers and misuses and gets downfall. It is very difficult to practise Pratyahara, Pranayama, etc. The pursuit of knowledge is dry for some, while that of devotion is sweet and enjoyable. Jnana Yoga demands vast study, sharp and subtle intellect, bold understanding and gigantic will.

14. BHAKTI EASY TO PRACTISE 157 Bhakti can be practised under all conditions and by all alike, irrespective of age and sex. Learning, austere penance, study of the Vedas, brilliant intellect are not needed for the attainment of Bhakti or devotion. What is wanted is constant and living remembrance of God, coupled with faith. That is the reason why the path of Bhakti is (Saulabhyam) available for every one. Many people think very low of Bhakti Yoga and resort to Hatha Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Raja Yoga without any qualification at all. They do not practise Yama and Niyama. They practise Kechari Mudras etc., and Pranayama because they think they can move along the sky and perform miracles. Maya clouds their vision. A Bhakta gets everything. He gets siddhis, the grace of the Lord and His wonderful vision. Thus Bhakti Yoga is the most accessible for all sorts of people. प्रमाणान्तरस्यानपेक्षत्वात् स्वयं प्रमाणत्वात् ॥ ५९ ॥ Sutra 59. Pramaanaantarasyaanapekshatwaat swayam pramaanatwaat. Because it (devotion, love) does not depend on any other proof, as it is proof of itself. प्रमा णा न्त र स्य : Pramaanaantarasya: of any proof other than itself; अनपेक्षत्वात् : Anapekshat- waat because of non-dependence; : Swayam: itself, in itself; प्रमाणत्वात् : Pramaanatwaat: heing of the nature of a proof, being evidence.

158 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS Because there is no need of any other evidence, as it is self-evident. The proof of devotion is devotion itself. It re- quires no other proof. The devotee has direct experi- ence of divine bliss when he is in communion with the Lord. There is no need of any external proof. It is not a thing to be verbally explained. A woman who experiences the joy of the marital state alone knows what it is like. She cannot explain it to an unmar- ried girl. Proof is an instrument of correct knowledge. When one is enjoying a sweet mango fruit, he is not in need of additional proof of the sweetness of mango He does not ask himself for a proof of that state. Even so there is no need of any proof for a devotee who is enjoying the divine bliss directly. He does not enter into logical discussions or intellectual gymnas- tics like a dry logician. "Pramaana" is proof. "Antara" is 'external'. "Pramaanaantara" is "external proof'. According to the Mimamsakas there are six kinds of Pramaanas viz., Pratyaksham, Anumaanam, Upamaanam, Sab- dam, Anupalabdhi and Arthapatti. Pratyaksham is perception or direct apprehension by the senses. Anumaanam is inference or the conclusion from given premises. Upamaanam is the standard of comparison, that to which anything is compared. Sabdam is verbal authority (Vedas). Anupalabdhi is non-per- ception as proof of the non-existence of a thing. Arthaapatti is a conclusion, inference, presumption that results from a fact that is known to be true or that has been accepted.

14. BHAKTI EASY TO PRACTISE 159 The Naiyayikas recognise only the first four. The Sankhyas accept only Pratyaksha, Anumaana and Sabda. 3 All these other than the first, i.e., Pratyaksha are dependent upon something other than one's own direct experience. They may be taken to be external evidence or Pramaanaantaram. The Bhakti Marga does not want them. It deals with the direct recogni- tion of the emotion of love. When you feel hungry, you know it at once. You have direct experience. You do not listen to intellec- tual arguments about hunger to feel hungry. If some one says, "No, you are not hungry," you say, "I am hungry. I am an authority to say whether I am hun. gry or not. No one else can be the authority on this matter." When you love your mother, wife, or child, you do not argue, you are not in need of any external proof. You are yourself the authority for this direct experience. That is why the Sutra says, "Swayam Pramaanaraupatwaatcha." It does not require a second person to prove to one whether he is happy or miserable It is not neces- sary to apply any inference to know it. Any amount of argument cannot convince one against one's own experience. Direct experience is the primary and in- fallible means of all valid knowledge. शान्तिरूपात् परमानन्दरूपाश्च ॥ ६० ॥ Sutra 60. Saantiroopaat paramaanandaroopaachcha.

160 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS (The path of devotion is easy) because it (de- votion) is of the nature of peace and supreme bliss. शान्तिरूपात् : Saantiroopaat: because of its being of the form of peace of mind; तू परमा न न्द रूपा : Paramaanandaroopaat: because of its being of the form of supreme bliss; : cha: and. The devotee forgets everything, even himself. He truly lives only for God. He lives in God. Honey gives sweetness at once to anyone who tastes it. Even so devotion bestows perfect peace and supreme bliss. This fact is self-evident. It admits of no further proof. Love of God is experienced as Saanti (peace) and Paramaananda (supreme bliss). लोकहानौ चिन्ता न कार्या निवेदितात्मलोक वेदत्वात् ॥ ६१ ॥ Sutra 61. Lokahaanau chintaa na kaaryaa niveditaatmalokavedatwaat. The Bhakta should feel no anxiety about worldly concerns, as he has consecrated himself, the world as well as the Vedas to the Lord. लोक हा नौ : Loka-haanau: with regard to the miseries of the world, in respect of social disorganisa- tion ; चिन्ता : Chintaa: anxiety, thought; a na: not; Kaaryaa: should be cherished, is to be निवेदिता त्म लो क वे दत्वा त् : Nivedita- atma-loka-vedatvaat: on account of his having sur- entertained;

14. BHAKTI EASY TO PRACTISE 161 rendered to the Lord his own Self, the worlds and the Vedas. The devotee should not entertain any anxious thought in respect of social disorganisation, as he has dedicated his self and customary and scriptural mora- lity to the Lord. The devotee need not worry if his affairs go wrong, because his self, worldly affairs and even the Vedas have been surrendered to the Lord. The devotee should have a complete trust in God, even when they go the wrong way apparently. Really neither loss nor evil can touch him, because he is under the care and protection of a loving and Omni- potent Lord. He must take no notice of worldly gain or loss. He is not concerned with what he achieves in the world or what he loses. Just as a drop of curd decomposes a large quantity of milk, so also does the love of the world stand in the way of attaining the highest devotion. The devotee has surrendered himself as well as his temporal and spiritual concerns to the Lord. Therefore he should not worry about worldly losses. What need has he to worry about things of the world? When the devotee surrenders himself and his all to the Lord, the Lord removes all his anxieties. He takes away the mind of his devotee. How can he worry about the loss in the absence of the mind? This Sutra does not advocate hardness of heart or indifference to human suffering. It does not con-

162 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS demn the charitable acts and philanthropic work of large-hearted people. It emphasises only one point. Chintaa-na-kaarya No anxiety or worry is to be entertained. - The devotee has surrendered his Atma (intellect. mind and body), attachment to the world and also his reverence to the Vedas (discipline, rules etc.) as Nive- danam to the Lord.

15. BHAKTI & SOCIAL CUSTOMS 163 15. BHAKTI & SOCIAL CUSTOMS न तत् सिद्धौ लोकव्यवहारो हेयः किन्तु फल त्यागस्तत् साधनञ्च कार्यमेव ॥ ६२ ॥ Sutra 62. Na tat Siddhau lokavyavahaaro heya kintu phalatyagastat saadhanancha kaaryameva. Till Bhakti is developed one must not neglect to observe social customs and ceremonies. One should surely perform them but only the fruits of all social activities are to be surrendered to the Lord. तत् सिद्धौ Tat Siddhau: for attaining it, in the Lokavya- development of devotion; लोक व्यवहार : vahaarah: social life, social custom and usage; न : Na: not; किन्तु : Kintu: but; Heyah: to be neglected; फल त्या ग : Phala-tyaaga: re- nunciation of the fruits of actions; saadhanam means helpful to it, its performance; तत्साधनम् : Tat- च: Cha and; कार्यम् : Kaaryam must be per- formed; ga: Eva: certainly. So long as this Bhakti is not achieved the ordi- nary way of life should not be given up but renun- ciation of the desire for reward of actions and discip- line preparatory to it should be persistently practised. Conscious efforts must be made steadily in the form of selfless work and discipline of the mind. On the attainment of Bhakti, or even for the attainment of it, life in Society should not be given up. All righteous activities must be continued. Only

164 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS the fruits of such actions must be relinquished. Sri Vasishtha, Vyaasa, Sankara, Lord Jesus, Lord Buddha and others, have been the most active benefactors of mankind. breathe. "Loka-vyavahaara", You eat and drink. You You are doing something. Therefore you have no excuse to give up the duties entrusted to you. This is the meaning of "Loka-Vyavahaara." स्त्रीधननास्तिकवैरिचरित्रं न श्रवणीयम् ॥ ६३॥ Sutra 63. Stree Dhana Naastika Vairi charitram na sravaneeyam. Stories or description of women, wealth, atheists or enemy should not be listened to. - स्त्रीधन नास्तिक वैरि चरित्रम् : Stree Dhana Naastika Vairi charitram descriptions or the beha- viour or conduct of women, wealth and ungodly per- sons (who deny the authority of the Vedas and the existence of God) and of enemies: न : na not; Sravaneeyam жshould be listened to. : In this and the following as well as in the 73rd and 74th and in the 43rd, 44th and 45th aphorisms, the obstacles to the development of devotion have been enumerated. Such occasions decrease spirituality in the devo- tee and render him incapable of further progress. He whose mind is engrossed in thoughts of women can never meditate on God. The thought of woman arouses passion. Passion is the greatest obstacle in the path of God-realisation.

15. BHAKTI & SOCIAL CUSTOMS 165 The thought of wealth generates greed. Thought of an atheist and company with an atheist causes disbelief in God. Thought of the enemy generates anger. Therefore stories of these four should never be heard. Talks about women disturb the mind and excite passion. In the Narada Parivrajak Upanishad it is said that the seeker should not look even at the pic- ture of a woman. Talks of wealthy persons will in- duce luxury in the aspirant. The acts of atheists will destroy the conviction of God. अभिमानदंभादिकं त्याज्यम् ॥ ६४ ॥ Sutra 64. Abhimaanadambhaadikam tyaajyam. Egoism, hypocrisy and other vices should be given up. अभिमान दंभादिकम् : Abhimaanadambhaadikam: egoism, hypocrisy and other vices; त्याज्यम् : Tyaaj- yam: should be given up. Egoism, hypocrisy etc., are the enemies of devo- tion. They should be totally annihilated. It is difficult to give up these evil traits by effort. The proper remedy is to divert their courses. Culti- vation of the opposite virtues viz., humility, modesty, simplicity will easily remove them. Egoism creates a barrier between man and man. An egoistic man separates himself from others. Hypocrisy is pretending to be what one is really not. A hypocrite feigns or pretends. He pretends to be a pious devotee. He pretends to possess virtues

166 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS which he does not actually possess. He puts on a false appearance. "Aadikam" etc. By adding etc., after Abhimaana and Dambha, Devarishi Narada has made an indirect reference to the other evils coming under the head of the demoniacal qualities. Therefore all the demoniacal traits should be given up by the devotee. तदर्पिताखिलाचार : सन् कामक्रोधाभिमानादि तस्मिन्नव करणीयम ॥ ६५ ॥ Sutra 65. Tadarpitaakhilaachaarah san kaama- krodhaabhinmaanaadi Tasminneva karaneeyam. Having once dedicated all activities to God, he (the devotee) should show (if at all) his desire, anger, egoism, etc., only to Him. तदर्पिता खिला चार : Tadarpita-akhila-aachaarah : one who has dedicated all activities to Him; सन् : San: being; काम क्रोधाभिमाना दि : Kaama-krodha- abhimaana-adikam: desire, anger, egoism etc.; af: - tasmin: with reference to Him; एव : eva: alone करणीयम् : Karaneeyam: should be employed or shown or cherished. This refers to the process of sublimating every one of our emotions and directing it towards God. All our actions internal and external should become a sacred offering unto the Lord. Then alone they will be transmuted and welded into pure devotion or Bhakti.

15. BHAKTI & SOCIAL CUSTOMS 167 If the devotee is angry, he is angry with his be- loved; if he is proud, he is proud of the Lord; if he has a desire, Lord alone is the object of that desire. The persistent thought of the Lord, whether in love or even hate, transforms the heart into a sacred shrine. Ravana hated Lord Rama. He attained a high state after his death because his mind dwelt constantly on the Lord. Just as the Lord is the object of love of his devotee even so He is the object of the latter's desire, anger etc. As no one else exists in the eyes of the devotee except the Lord, who else will become the object of these last emotions or impulses ? Emotions which stand as obstacles in the spiritual path are changed into helps when directed towards God. Passion, anger, etc. get absorbed in the Lord. The devotee who entirely depends on God can make Him the object of his passion, anger and pride. On one occasion Sri Radha got angry with Sri Krishna on account of some mischievous pranks played by Him. She said to her companions, "Do not mention His Name to me. I shall spurn everything that possesses a dark hue. I shall never meet Him again, so long as I live. Let not Sri Krishna come in my presence. Do not allow Him to enter the gate. How can people who indulge in hypocrisy like Him be trusted?" Anger may be directed towards the obstacles to devotion. It will then take the form of dispassion and renunciation. When one directs his anger against his own evil qualities, he is only purifying himself.

168 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS The evil impressions will vanish. The Sattvic nature will fully manifest. त्रिरूपमंगपूर्वकं नित्यदास्यनित्यकान्ताभजनात्मकं प्रेमकार्य प्रेभैव कार्यम् ॥ ६६ ॥ Sutra 66. Triroopabhangapoorvakam nityadaasya- nityakaantaabhajanaatmakam premakaar- yam premaiva kaaryam. Love and love alone such as that of a devoted servant or a wife, which transcends the three forms mentioned before (in Sutra 56) should be practised. Triroopa-bhanga-purva- त्रिरूप भंग पूर्वकम् : kam: transcending the triple form, having broken through the three forms (vide Sutra 56) of secondary devotion modified by the three qualities Sattva, Rajas and Tamas; नित्य दा स्य नि त्य का न्ता भ ज ना त्मकम् : Nityadaasya-nityakaantaabhajanaatmakam: - consist- ing of constant loving service such as that of a devoted servant or wife; Prema: love; कार्यम् : Kaaryam should be practised; 44: prema: love; एव : Eva: alone; practised. : प्रेम : कार्यम् : Kaaryam: should be Devotion or Bhakti which seeks to serve and love without any motive whatsoever, which has risen above the triad of lover, love and the loved, should always be the ideal of a devotee. The highest form of divine love or devotion is the feeling of the lover, the art of loving and the object of love merged into one.

15. BHAKTI & SOCIAL CUSTOMS 169 Dissolve the triple consciousness, namely, the worshipper, the object of worship and the act of wor- ship. Cultivate that love alone in the forms of con- stant service of the Lord (Daasya Bhaav) or constant devotion to the Lord like that of devoted wife (Kantabhav). A loyal servant or devoted wife does not expect any return or even gratitude from the master or the husband for all the services that are rendered as a mere offering of love. Even so the devotee sees only God in every creature. All his activities will there- fore take the form of an offering of pure love to the Lord without any selfish motive or even recognition from Him. He loves because he cannot help loving God. Tirutonda Nayanar had Nitya Dasya bhav. The Gopis of Brindavan, Andal and Mira had Nitya Kanta Bhav. Sutra 67. भक्ता एकान्तिनो मुख्या: ॥ ६७ ॥ Bhaktaa ekaantino mukhyaaha. Those who have one-pointed devotion to God for His own sake are primary: : Ekaantinah :. single-hearted, those who possess one-pointed devotion to the Lord for His own sake, those whose only object of love is God; भक्ता : Bhaktaa devotees; : Mukhyaah are primary. Bhaktas who are exclusively attached or devot- ed to the Lord are the best of His devotees. The body, mind, wealth and everything else be- come the property of God. He lives in the world as

170 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS His instrument. His mind is absorbed in God. His eyes see everywhere and at every time the Lord. The Lord has settled in the eyes of the devotee. No one can enter his eyes now. Even sleep has no access there. The fifth and the last chapter begins with this Sutra. In this chapter a description of one who has attained to this stage of devotion known as Mukhya bhakti or primary devotion is given. The word Mukhya distinguishes the devotion of this supreme stage from the Gauna or secondary devotion mention- ed in the Sutra 56. He who has attained this primary Bhakti or absolute stage of devotion is called a Bhagavata or Sant (Saint). This primary devotion is not tinged with any worldliness or selfishness. The devotee does not long even for Mukti. He does not love God as a means to an end. A description of the nature of a true Bhakta is given in Bhagavat (XI.14.14), "He who has resigned his mind to me, does not seek after the position of Brahma or that of Indra, or an emperor's throne or lordship over Patala, or the attainment of Yoga powers, or even Moksha from which there is no re. turning; for he desires nothing but Myself." Such a one was Uddhava. Of him the Lord says, "Neither Brahma, nor Sankara, nor Samkarshana, nor Sri Devi, nor my own self is so very dear to me as you are. "Just as fire growing into a flame turns all fuel to ashes, so devotion to Me, O Uddhava, burns out all sins."

15. BHAKTI & SOCIAL CUSTOMS 171 "Neither Yoga, nor Sankhya, nor righteous duties, nor the study of the Vedas, nor Tapas, nor liberal gifts propitiate me so well as the well-develop- ed and unswerving devotion to me. I am won only through undivided Bhakti and faith. I am the belov- ed Atman of the righteous. Devotion to me purifies even such outcasts as eat of a dog's flesh and saves them from births." "People do not accept fellowship in residence with Me, prosperity equal to Mine, nearness to Me, appearance in the same forms as I appear, or even unification with Me, even when these are offered to them; they only pray for employment in My service. It is this link of devotion which has been said to be the absolute, by which, overcoming attachment to the world, they become fit for attaining My nature." That is the nature of Ekanta Bhakti. Ekanta means "having only one end." That end is to be in the presence of the Lord always and ever doing ser- vice to Him. Such devotees have only one thought of God.

172 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS 16. GLORY OF BHAKTAS कण्ठावरोधरोमाश्वाश्रुभिः परस्परं लपमानाः पावयन्ति कुलानि पृथिवीं च ॥ ६८ ॥ Sutra 68. Kanthaavarodharomaanchaasrubhih para- sparam lapamaanaah Paavayanti kulaani prithiveem cha. Conversing with one another with a choking voice, with hairs standing on end, with tears flowing from their eyes, they purify their families as well as the earth (the land which gave birth to them). Kanthaa-varodha- कण्ठ व रोध रोमा श्वश्रुभि : romaanchaasrubhih: with choking of voice, hairs standing on end and tears (flowing from the eyes); परस्परम् : Parasparam with one another; amongst themselves; लपनाना : Lapamaanaah conversing; Kulaani families; clans; पृथिवीम् : कुलानि : veem the earth; 7; cha: and; yanti purifying. prithi- : paava- In Gita, X-9 Lord Krishna says "Having their minds fixed upon Me and their life directed to Me, enlightening one another, and constantly talking about Me, My devotees become satisfied and de- lighted. Talking of Bhakti to one another in faltering tone attended with thrill and tears of joy, they sanctify their race and the wide earth.

16. GLORY OF BHAKTAS 173 The spirits of the ancestors of the devotees feel gratified and purified by the devotion of their descen- dents. When there is a congregational prayer, when devotees meet together and do Kirtan and common meditation, they generate a spiritual current or force which inspires and purifies the hearts of many. The whole atmosphere of that place gets purified and is surcharged with currents of Divine Love. The scriptures say, "Holy is the family and bless- ed the mother, nay, the earth itself is fortunate through him whose mind is absorbed in the Supreme Brahman, the ocean of infinite knowledge and bliss." Lord Hari said, "I do not dwell exclusively in Vaikunth nor in the hearts of Yogis, but, O Narada, I am verily present in my full splendour, where my devotees sing of Me." Choking of voice, hairs standing on end and tears flowing from the eyes are external marks of the internal emotion. They express intensity of feeling. This feeling is Prem or divine love. He who has such a prem can have direct communion with the Lord. The greater the Bhakti is, the greater the orbit of the spiritual influence. The greatest of them are the light of whole universe. Even if they live in caves, the spiritual waves generated by their devotion will spread over the entire universe and find an echo in all pure hearts ready to receive them. The emotion of a devotee is Vibhava or Anubhava or Bhava. When the devotee is enjoying divine

174 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS Bliss, his Prem is mixed up with Rasa (taste or sen- timent). The emotion of a devotee is Vibhava or anubhava or Vyabhichari bhava. Vibhava is of two kinds, Alambana and Uddipana. Alambana Vibhava is the ecstasy which the de- votee expresses on account of an external impulse. The mere sight of a dark cloud will make the devotee see Lord Krishna in it. He will lose all consciousness of the world. Vibhava means having no conscious- ness of the external world. Alambana is "taking hold." The external phenomena have taken hold of the devotee. In Uddipana Vibhava the devotee hears the flute played by Lord Krishna. The music generates Vibhava. Uddipana means illuminating. After Alambana, Uddipana comes. Anubhava is the third stage. The devotee joins the company of the celestials surrounding the Lord. He is actually in Brindavan at that time. He takes part in dancing, singing etc. All the sentiments namely Rati, Hasya. Utsaha, Daya, Jugupsa, Soka and Vismaya manifest in him. They will be shown in the form of glances, perspiration etc. In Anubhava there are external signs such as hairs standing on end, tears flowing from the eyes etc. These are called Sattvic Anubhava. Anubhava is the primary mood, Vyabhichari Bhav is a secondary mood.

16. GLORY OF BHAKTAS 175 There are nine primary bhavas which are accom- panied by secondary Bhavas. Wonder (Vismaya), lifting of the eyes, opening of the lips etc., are the Vyabhichari bhavas. "Paavayanti". The devotees purify. Kulaani, their families. Prithiveem cha; also the world. Wherever they go, they radiate love and joy, they dispel fear and ignorance, they give new life and fresh life to the despondent; they inspire and elevate those who come to them. It is in this way that they purify. Purification means removal of sin and ignorance. The very presence of the great devotees removes sor- row and suffering and ignorance, the root cause of sin and misery. In this way they purify this earth. They get Svarabhanga (choking of the voice) when there is ebullition of divine prem in the heart, Pulak (horripilation or standing of hair on ends) and Asrupat (tears in the eyes) God lives in the tears of a devotee. The next two Sutras elaborate this point still further. तीर्थीकुर्वन्ति तिर्थानि सुकर्मी कुर्वन्ति कर्माणि सच्छास्त्री कुर्वन्ति शास्त्राणि ॥ ६९ ॥ 1 Sutra 69. Teertheekurvanti teerthaani sukarmee- kurvanti karmaani sacchastreekurvanti Saastraani. They (such devotees) impart sanctity to places of pilgrimage; render actions righteous and good and give spiritual authority to scrip- tures.

176 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS eff: Kar- aft af far: Teerthaani holy places; Teertheekurvanti: make holy places; for: maani actions; off & fa: Sukarmeekurvanti: make meritorious actions; r: Saastraani: scrip- सच्छास्रीकुर्वन्ति : Sat-sastreekurvanti: make authoritative; make sacred scripture. tures; The devotees turn ordinary bathing places into sacred places of purification, ordinary acts into pious deeds and words of instructions into holy texts. Their presence adds holiness to the place where they live. Their thoughts are dynamic. Their thoughts transform their environments infusing peace and joy into them. We do not know of any one who has become a saint by reading Shakespeare, Herbert Spencer, Milton, Goldsmith or Shelly, but there are thousands who have adopted a new divine life by studying Gita, Upanishads "Wisdom of Siva," "Mind, Its Mysteries and Control", Bible and the Noble Eightfold Path and other such books. Each time these books are studied by a man, they receive a greater power to transform the hearts of the reader. Jayaram studied Practice of Yoga and became Swami Paramananda, 'Madi' studied the Ten Upani- shads and became Swami Satchidananda, Vaidya- nathan studied spiritual lessons and became Swami Narayana. Goddess Ganga was propitiated by the austere penance of King Bhagiratha. She appeared before Bhagiratha and said, "All the sinners of this world

16. GLORY OF BHAKTAS 177 will wash their sins and purify themselves by immers- ing their sinful bodies in my holy waters. Where shall I wash the immense store of sins they deposit in my watery body?" Bhagiratha replied, "O sacred Mother! Holy saints will bathe in Ganges and purge you of all your sins, because Lord Vishnu, the dispeller of all sins, dwells in their heart." Buddha Gaya, Jerusalem and Mecca have all been regarded sacred only on account of their being res- pectively associated with Buddha, Jesus and Muham- mad. Brindavan and Mathura are sacred because of Lord Krishna. Ayodhya is holy because of Lord Rama. Naimisaranya is still visited by thousands of pilgrims on every New Moon day, because many Rishis of olden days dwelt there. It is the Saint that constitutes the real Tirtha. That which enables a man to cross over an obsta- cle, such as a boat in a river, is a Tirtha. The stones on which they sat, the paths on which they have trodden, the villages through which they have passed, the lakes in which they have taken baths, the trees under which they have taken their food are sanctified. Their names are even now asso- ciated with these places and objects. Guru Nanak's name is linked with Panchasahab near Taxila. His fingers are shown in the Kund. Bodhi Tree in Gaya is associated with Lord Buddha. Hathiaharan tank near Sitapur is associated with Sri Rama. There are

178 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS so many Hanuman Kunds, Sita Kunds and Lakshman Kunds in various places of pilgrimage. तन्मया : ॥ ७० ॥ Sutra 70. Tanmayaah. (For) They are full of Him. तन्मया : Tanmayaah full of that; filled with the presence of God; merged or absorbed in Him. In and around them they realised the presence of God everywhere and at all times. Every one of those, mentioned in the last Sutra is filled with the spirit of saints and through that with the spirit of the Lord Himself. They have emptied themselves so completely that they entirely live in God. The lives of God-intoxicat- ed devotees like Prahlad bear witness to this. Just as a river falling into the ocean becomes one with the ocean, even so the devotee having offered his body, mind, intellect, egoism and all at the feet of his beloved Lord becomes one with Him. "Sarvam Vishnumayam Jagat" "the whole world is full of Vishnu." This experience is described in the Gita, Ch. VII-19. "At the close of many births, the man full of wisdom cometh unto Me." "Vasudeva is all" saith he, the Mahatma, "very difficult to find." This is a grand realisation. The devotee is full of divine ecstasy. मोदन्ते पितरो नृत्यन्ति देवताः सनाथाः चेवं भूर्भवति ॥ ७१ ॥ Sutra 71. Modante pitaro nrityanti devataah sanaathaa cheyam bhoorbhavati.

16. GLORY OF BHAKTAS 179 (On the advent of a devotee) their forefathers re- joice, the Gods dance in joy and this earth gets a saviour. पितर : Pitarah the departed ancestors, fore- fathers; r: Modante: rejoice; Devataah: Gods, celestials: Tue: Nrityanti: dance in joy; : इयम् : Iyam this; भू : Bhu earth; स ना था : न्च : cha and; Sanaathaa possessing a saviour; H: Bhavati: becomes. This earth is happy in their care. This earth finds in them its protectors or guardians. The earth is blessed by them. The manes or forefathers, the spirits of the ances- tors of the devotees of God feel the spiritual influence generated by the devotional practices of their descen- dents living on the earth. They rejoice over the de- votional state of their descendents. The earth feels the effect of our good and evil actions. It is a living, breathing, conscious entity for a saint with a spiritual eye or the eye of intuition. It is Bhu Devi or Mother earth full of life. It is Vishnu. It is Virat. It is not a dead mass of matter or the lifeless de- bris of a nebula of a geologist. It is a living organism. It is very productive. Nothing is lifeless in the spiri- tual sense. All the actions of a devotee are naturally condu- cive to the welfare of the world. So his advent is a happy augury for all.

180 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS The devotion of a devotee redeems a number of generations (7 or 21) going before and coming after him. So the manes rejoice on account of prospect of salvation. The devotee puts many irreligious people on the path of devotion and Dharma. They perform charity, Sraddha, Tarpana, and the five sacrifices. So the manes rejoice and the celestials dance in joy. God gives darshan to His devotee. The advent of a devotee is the precursor of the manifestation of the Lord God manifests and destroys the Asuras or wicked men, the enemies of Gods. Therefore Gods also dance in joy. A devotee can help the Pitris. He can give them what they want. That is why the Pitris rejoice on the advent of a devotee. The Asuras will not be powerful when there are devotees on this earth. The earth will be having more men with divine qualities. The saints will convert diabolical men into divine beings with virtuous quali- ties. So the Devas dance in joy. Saints radiate the current of love and peace. They disseminate the message of unity, love, peace and goodwill on this earth. They stop wars. They send their disciples to preach the gospel of love and peace. Therefore this earth also rejoices. She gets a Natha or saviour. The word Pitru is used in the scriptures to de- note not only living parents but also ancestors and

16. GLORY OF BHAKTAS 181 permanent demi-gods known by the name Agnisvatta and others. The living parents also rejoice because their son will be honoured by the world after his attainment of God-realisation and will save them also from the wheel of birth and death. A devotee satisfies the denizens of all the three worlds. Glory to saints and devotees !!

182 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS 17. BHAKTAS ABOVE CASTE & CREED नास्ति तेषु जातिविद्यारूपकुलधन क्रियादि भेदः ॥ ७२ ॥ Sutra 72. Naasti teshu jaatividyaaroopakula- dhanakriyaadi bhedah. Among them (the devotees) there is no distinc- tion based on caste, learning, beauty, family or birth, wealth, observance or profession and the like. ag: Teshu among them; क्रियादिभेद : जातिविद्यारूपकुलधन- Jaati-vidyaa-roopa-kula-dhana-kriyaadi- bheda distinctions based on caste, learning, beauty, family, wealth, profession or observance and the rest; 7: Na not%; era: Asti: exists like, there is. In the Adhyatma Ramayana III-10-20, Sri Rama says, "Sex, birth, reputation, status, etc., do not con- fer any title to My worship; only devotion, Adhikara or fitness, competence to do." However widely they may differ in other respects they are all alike in their pure and one-pointed love for God. You should not judge a devotee or a saint by his birth or literary attainments. Kabir was a common weaver, Raidas a sweeper, Nandan an untouchable, Sadan, a butcher and yet they were great spiritual lights. Viswamitra, Vyasa, Kavasa, Jabala, Mahidasa, Nammalvar, Kannapar, Tukaram and others were not Brahmins and yet they were great spiritual lumina- ries.

17. BHAKTAS ABOVE CASTE & CREED 183 In devotion caste, culture, physical appearance, birth, possessions, occupation etc., do not matter. He who has dedicated his all at the feet of the Lord and who constantly remembers Lord succeeds in attaining God-consciousness, no matter whether he is a Brahmin or a labourer, educated or uneducated, high-born or low-born, good-looking or ugly-looking, wealthy or poor. Nisada was born in a low caste, Sabari was a rustic woman, Dhruva was an un-educated boy, Vidura and Sudama were very poor, Vibhishana was an ugly Rakshasa, Hanuman was a monkey, Jatayu was a bird, Gajendra was an elephant, the Gopis of Brindivan were not initiated into Vedic rites; but an these attained god-realisation on account of their de- votion and self-surrender. The institution of Varna Ashrama is not con- demned thereby. Bhakti and observance of the rules of Varnashrama are two separate things. They should not be confounded. Those who try to abolish the distinction in the name of Bhakti bring a slur on Bhakti. Therefore devotees should never try to re. pudiate the authority of the scriptures. A devotee should not be treated with contempt on account of birth etc. He should be judged by his devotion alone. Discrimination among devotees on grounds of caste, etc., has been declared an offence in Vaishnava scrip- tures. He A saint has risen above the three gunas. shines with the resplendence of divine illumination. He does not belong to one caste or community but to

184 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS the whole humanity. That is the reason why there is no distinction of caste among the saints. He has Para Vidya or Highest knowledge through direct God-realisation. There is no distinction based upon appearance. Ashta Vakra had eight bends in his body. Agastya was a dwarf. Some may be clean shaven, others may have matted hair. Kula It means family and also race. Saints can come out of any race. St. Francis, Saint Catherine, and several others belong to the Western race. They were realised souls. There have been saints among Mussalmans. Kabir is another instance. Saintliness is not affected by distinctions between the rich and the poor, between one profession and another. The discipline of surrender to the Lord does not demand the special qualifications of caste, birth, clan, sex, etc. He who has devotion to the Lord is a Brahmin ; he who has no faith in the Lord is a Sudra. An out- caste who has devotion and who is leading the life divine is far superior to a Brahmin who is leading a vicious and abominable life. The distinctions exist when a man is petty mind- ed. These differences are created by the mind on ac- count of Avidya. They all melt away when one gets Darshan of God or Atma. Love is a great leveller. It develops equal vision (sama drishti). The advanced Bhakta becomes an Ativarnashrami. He goes beyond varnashrama. The petty rules of society and man-

17. BHAKTAS ABOVE CASTE & CREED 185 made laws cannot in any way bind him. He becomes absolutely free. He acts from his own view-point by resting on God. His will and cosmic will have be- come one. His voice is the voice of God. His words are infallible. God speaks and acts through him. His ways are mysterious and incomprehensible. He takes food from anybody's hands. He lives with a cobbler or barber sometimes. He dines with a scavenger. Narasi Mehta did Kirtan in the houses of cobblers and scavengers. Orthodox Brahmins excommunicated him. Narasi Mehta attended a feast. The other Brah- manas ill-treated him and looked down on him with contempt. They all saw a cobbler on their sides. They understood the glory of Narasi Mehta and from that time onwards they began to adore him. The reason for all saints being of equal eminence is mentioned in the next Sutra. यतस्तदीया: ॥ ७३ ॥ Sutra 73. Yatastadeeyaah. Because they are all His own. ; Yatah because, since; a: Tadeeyaah: His own, belonging to Him, his. For they all belong to Him. Devotees belong to the Lord. They are the objects of His special love. He loves them for their sincere devotion and pure, virtuous life. Wealth, beauty, birth and culture are of no value without these two qualifications. The devotees become embodiments of the Divine on account of their devotion. Therefore they lose ali

186 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS sense of difference among themselves No one recog- nises himself as superior to the rest. Devotees are equal in the sight of God because their devotion is the same in spite of apparent physi- cal and social differences. They all belong to one group. To a devotee all the creatures in the world are the children of God or God Himself. Therefore he sees them with equal vision or Samadrishti. It is Lord Hari that has taken all these forms. The whole world is a manifestation of the Lord. "Lokavattu Lila Kaivalyam" The whole world is the Lila of the Lord. God acts the parts of a profes- sor, thief, prostitute, king, beggar. saint, rogue, genius etc., in this big world-drama. He who has this understanding will have immense peace of mind. He will entertain no pride, ghrina, prejudice, intolerance or hatred towards anybody. One' must be well-esta- blished in this Bhav. This Bhav will come and go away. Address everybody as Narayan and receive him with this Bhav. Your whole nature will be abso- lutely changed. It takes some time. You will have to struggle hard. The next Sutra shows the way of how to make the mind offer itself completely to the Lord.

18. INSTRUCTIONS TO DEVOTEES 187 INSTRUCTIONS TO DEVOTEES ET T ना व ल म्ब्य : ॥ 08 ॥ Sutra 74. Vaado Naavalambyah. No controversy ought to be entered into. वाद : Na: Not Vaadah: dispute, vain discussion; न : Avalambyah should be under- taken, deserve to be entered into. The devotee should never enter into argumenta- tion. Vain discussion should not be undertaken by those who aspire to devotion, regarding the existence or attributes of God. It has been pointed out in the Kathopanishad "How else can that be conceived except that it exists?" It is not proper for one to enter into a controversy about God or other spiritual truths, or about com- parative merits of different devotees. Discussion is an intellectual luxury. In disputa- tion the true spirit of enquiry vanishes and the joy of intellectual gymnastics or lingual warfare takes its place. The disputant takes delight in overthrowing his combatant through arguments and reasoning skill. But constructive reasoning is beneficial. A devotce should accept the truth as an established truth. Criti- cising the truth revealed in the sacred scriptures will end in disbelief. The duty of a devotee is to love God and to realise God. Love is above reasoning. Argumentation is a

188 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS great hindrance in the path of divine love or Bhakti. The duty of a devotee is to remember God every second. He need not know "When was the world created, how it was created, why it was created, is Karma Anadi?" God will Himself reveal His truth to him whenever He wills. Truth can never be realised through logical argu- ment. Logical reasoning has no foundation or stabi- lity. Discussion produces unnecessary agitation in the mind. An agitated mind cannot grasp the truth. Vain discussions, heated debates, wrangling etc., end in hostility. When arguments fail people take to vituperation and fighting. Discussions entail wastage of energy and time. It is only mere lingual warfare and intellectual gymnastics (Sabda vilas and Budhi vilas). Nothing substantial is gained thereby. Every- one wants to show his pedantry, skill in argument etc Such a Pundit cannot dream of getting darshan of God. He is very far away from God. But a little divine talk can be had between people who are well- united in hearts and who are free from pride for removing doubts and exchanging of ideas. salutory and beneficial. बाहुल्यावकाशत्वादनियतत्वाच्च ॥ ७५ ॥ Sutra 75. Baahulyaavakaasatwaadaniyatat- waatcha. This is For there is plenty of room for diversity in views and no one view, based upon mere reason, is conclu.. sive in itself.

18. INSTRUCTIONS TO DEVOTEES 189 बाहूल्या व काशत्वा त् : Baahulyaavakaasatwaat : as there is room for diversity in views; अनि य त त्वात् : Aniyatatwaat: as no (view based on mere) reason is conclusive; : cha: and. Vain discussion about God must not be en- couraged because it can go on indefinitely and there will be still no certainty that it will arrive at the truth. There are as many different view points as there are intelligent people. Because it leads to endless arguments and leads to no certain conclusion. Mere reasoning does not lead to realisation of God. Intellect is frail and finite. It is not able to grasp the Infinite. Even none of the great problems which affect human life has been conclusively solved by reasoning. Reasoning has only complicated the issues. Therefore depend not on reason but depend on intuition which is ever infallible and correct. In argumentation there is room for excess. It cannot determine anything. A conclusion arrived at through the process of reasoning is never the truth. God is attained not through argument but through the practice of devotion. Every topic relating to God is capable of being argued out in a variety of ways. After all it is profit- less discussion, for no argument is conclusive. Anger rises to win victory over one's opponent. Vehemence is an unavoidable concomitant of argumentation or discussion. The ego is the cause for

190 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS such vain discussion. How can there be perception of Truth so long as there is the ego? Convincing reasons may be given to support two Hence it does not fol- diametrically opposite views. low that a view is true because it has the support fron reason. What one man considers well-established by reason can easily be shaken by another more intelli- gent man. A lawyer uses his reason to prove even a false case to be true. Therefore reason is often an unreliable guide. Science provides with many examples of exploded theories what were all once considered as well estab- lished through reason. No one view based on mere reasoning can be considered true once for all, because it can be proved to be untrue by better reason. Vain discussion will go on indefinitely for days together. Yet people will not arrive at definite posi- tive conclusions. They will be fighting over words roots, conjunctions and other grammatical points. God is certainly not in Vyakarana or logic or prosody. He is in the chambers of the heart. He is to be realised by purity and meditation and not by vain discussions. That is the reason why Lord Yama says to Nachiketas: "This Atman cannot be obtained by too much learning, or discussions or intelligence. He who gets the grace of God, who is chosen by the Lord as His favourite, gets the darshan of Atma. He re- veals to him His Nature. To him alone He manifests Himself." Therefore give up hot discussions. Be humble. Do practical Sadhana. Waste not time and energy in vain discussion.

18. INSTRUCTIONS TO DEVOTEES भक्तिशास्त्राणि मनननीयानि तद्बोधककर्माणि करणीयानि ॥ ७६ ॥ Sutra 76. Bhaktisaastraani mananeeyaani tadbodhakakarmaani karaneeyaani 191 (For the attainment of Bhakti) the teachings of scriptures that promote devotion should be constantly meditated upon and actions that rouse devotion shouid be preformed. भक्ति शास्त्राणि: devotion; Bhaktisaastraani: treatises on मन न नी या नि : Mananeeyaani: should Tadbodhakah be reflected upon; त दो ध क कर्माणि : karmaani: practices or acts that rouse devotion; : Karaneeyaani: should be performed. This Sutra is a supplement to Sutras 12, 14, 49 and 62. Sutras 12 and 14 refer to the Bhakta's atti- tude to study and spiritual practices, as well as social service, even after God-realisation. Sutras 49 and 62 refer to his attitude towards the same before the dawn of devotion. Sutra 76 deals with the same attitude during the stage of Mukhyabhakti. It is clear that according to Narada a devotee does not give up his spiritual practices or social service at any stage either before or after realisation. A devotee should study books which place before him the ideals of devotion, the glory, the sweetness and the leelas of the Lord, the stories of saints and the practices which help him to cultivate devotion. Devotion develops by the study of such devotional scriptures.

192 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS The most important books are Ramayana, Srimad Bhagavatam, Narayaneeyam, Gita, Vishnupurana. Adhyatma Ramayana, Tulsi Ramayana (Rama- charitamanas), Vishnu Sahasranama, Sandilya Sut- ras, Siva Purana, Devi Bhagavata, the Narada Pancha- ratram, Practice of Bhakti Yoga, Essence of Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti and Sankirtan, Bhakti-rasamritam, songs of Alwars and Nayanars, Thevaram, Thiru- vachakam, Dasabodha, Tukkaram's Abhanga, Jna- neshwari, Bhakti Rasayana, Bhakti Rasamritasindhu, etc. Every act that awakens the emotion of Bhakti must be done. Keep the Pooja room clean. Decorate the room. Burn incense. Lit a lamp. Keep a clean seat. Bathe, wear clean clothes. Apply Vibhuti or Bhasma and Kumkum on the forehead. Wear Rud- raksha or Tulsimala. All these produce a benign in- fluence on the mind and elevate the mind also. They generate piety. They help to create the necessary Bhav or feeling to invoke the deity that you want to worship. The mind will be easily concentrated. Practice of Sadachara or right conduct, Satsangh, Japa, Smarana, Kirtan, Prayer, worship, service of saints, residence in places of pilgrimage, service of poor and the sick with divine Bhav, observances of Varnashrama duties, offering of all actions and their fruits to the Lord, feeling the presence of the Lord in all beings, prostrations before the image and saints with all the eight parts of the body, renunciation of earthly enjoyments and wealth, charity, austerities and vows, practice of Ahimsa, Satyam and Brahma- charya all these will help you to develop Bhakti. -

18. INSTRUCTIONS TO DEVOTEES 193 You must not give leniency to the mind. You must rigidly follow all the rules prescribed in the Bhakti Sastras. Then alone you will evolve quickly. You must keep up daily routine and programme and follow it strictly at all costs. If you are lenient to the mind, laziness will overtake you and you will pro- crastinate everything. That 'tomorrow' will never come. Even if you are of advanced age, think you are a college-student and follow the daily routine. The benefits of keeping up daily routine and daily spiritual diary cannot be adequately described. This is the master-key for success in spiritual life. सुखदुःखेच्छालाभादि त्यक्ते काळे प्रतीक्षमाणे क्षणार्धमपि व्यथं न नेयम् ॥ ७७ ॥ Sutra 77. Sukhaduhkhechchalaabhaadityakte kaale prateekshyamaane kshanaardham- api vyartham na neyam. One should not waste even half a second, as all the time one has for meditation is the little that re- mains after what is spent in experience of pleasure and pain, desire, gain etc. सुखदुःखेच्छालाभादि त्यक्ते : Sukha-duhkha-ichchaa- laabhadi Tyakte: freed from pleasure, pain, desire, का ले : Kaale: in time; प्रतीक्षमा णे : gain etc.; Prateekshyamaane: when expectantly waited upon; Kshanaardham: half a moment; क्षणार्धम् : Api: even; व्यर्थम् : Vyartham: in vain; 7: not; Neyam: should be spent. अपि : Na:

194 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS When one has given up pleasure and pain, desire, gain etc., and is in a state of high expectancy, not even half a moment should be allowed to go in vain. Time free from the sway of pleasure, pain, desire, profit or other worldly considerations, is what every one seeks; therefore, even half a second should not be wasted. It should be spent in meditation on God. Sukha is the quality of Sattva; Duhkha is the quality of Tamas. Ichcha is the quality of Rajas. When one has given up pleasure, pain, desire, etc., when one has given up the three Gunas, when he is waiting for the appearance of the Lord in the form in which He is requested by the devotee to appear, even half a second should not be wasted. You should be extremely alert. You should not sleep. Within half a second, when your mind wanders, God may have come and gone without your noticing Him. Maya is very clever to take advantage of your carelessness even for half a second. You must be intensely watch- ful and vigilant. Be ever looking forward for God's appearance. This is high expectancy. If the devotee is not vigilant and alert Rajas and Tamas will pull him down from the height he has attained. Satan will easily find a loophole to enter and work in him mischief. The mind will become impure like the brass vessel if it is not cleansed every day by vigorous meditation. In youth you are enveloped in darkness. In adolescence you are carried away by lust and are given up to sexual pleasure. In old age you groan

18. INSTRUCTIONS TO DEVOTEES 195 under the burden of Samsara. Much time goes away in sleeping, vain talk and idle gossiping. A portion is spent in disease and suffering. Where then is the time for doing virtuous actions and divine contemplation? Life is uncertain. You will be carried away by death without a moment's notice. Therefore, a wise man should be very careful in spending his time profitably in meditation. Time is most precious. Every second must be utilised in the service of God. service of bhaktas and in meditation. The next Sutra points out the necessity for such watchfulness, alertness and eternal vigilance. You are ever prone to yield to the animal in you. You should be constantly fighting against evil tendencies such as Himsa etc. अहिंसासत्यशौचदया स्तिक्यादि चारित्र्याणि ofc¶rmatant ॥ 06 ॥ Sutra 78. Ahimsaasatyasouchadayaastikyaadi chaaritryaani paripaalaneeyaani. Virtues like non-violence, truth, purity, compas. sion, faith in the existence of God and Vedas and other excellences of character should be strictly culti vated and protected. अहिंसासत्यशौचदयास्तिक्यादि चारित्र्याणि : Ahimsaa- satya-soucha-dayaa-aastikya-aadi chaaritryaani: vir- tues like non-violence, truthfulness, purity, compas- sion, faith in the existence of God; : Pari- paalaneeyaani: should be strictly cultivated and pro- tected.

196 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS Just as a plant in a garden is protected from in- sects, pests, etc., and is given sufficient manure for its growth, so also those virtues have to be protected and nourished. The food has already been mentioned in the previous sutras, "Avvyaavrita Bhajanaat, Lokepi Bhagavat Guna sravana kirtanaat" Sutras 36 and 37. Ahimsa, satyam, etc., are the Yamas (restraints). Soucha, Santosha etc., are the Niyamas (observances). All these are the disciplines, without which no spiri- tual progress is possible. Daya is active benevolence. It is the positive ex- pression of love. Ahimsa is the negative expression of love. In Sutra 76 Narada advises to perform actions which help the growth of devotion. In the present Sutra the devotee is asked to practise five special items of conduct. In the practice of truth one must speak exactly what has been seen, heard or understood about a per- son or a thing. There should not be the least exag- geration or twisting. The speech should be truthful and sweet. Truth which leads to another's injury is not a desirable thing. 'Aadi' etc. Narada intends to point to the other Divine qualities such as courage, charity, control of senses, austerity, straightforwardness, humility, self- abnegation, tranquility, freedom from wrath, tender- ness of heart, sobriety, forgiveness, fortitude etc. The principles of Yama and Niyama of Patanjali Maharishi's Raja Yoga philosophy are embodied here.

18. INSTRUCTIONS TO DEVOTEES 197 These are the very foundations of Yoga. Practice of these virtues purifies the heart and prepares the Antahkarana for the reception of divine light. Com- passion softens the hard heart. Satyam purifies the heart. God is an embodiment of truth and He can be reached through practice of truthfulness alone. Truth alone triumphs. If one is well-established in the prac- tice of Ahimsa in thought, word, and deed, all other virtues will cling to him. Most of the vicious actions are done when one loses his temper. Brahmacharya is the highest of all virtues. No Brahmacharya, no realisation. Without faith in God, neither Sadhana nor realisation is possible. Faith is the fundamental qualification of an aspirant. It is not blind faith. It is faith based on reason. The mind is ever unsteady. How then to steady it? The next two Sutras teach how to fix the mind on God. सर्वदा सर्वभावेन निश्चिन्तै भगवानेव भजनीयः ॥ ७९ ॥ Sutra 79. Sarvadaa Sarvabhaavena Nischintaih Bhagavaaneva bhajaneeya. The Lord alone should always be worshipped by one whole-heartedly free from all cares and anxieties. सर्वदा : Sarvadaa always; सर्वभावेन : Sarva Bhaavena: with the whole heart, through every aspect of life; : Nischintaih: by those free from all cares and anxieties; भगवान् the Lord : एव alone ; Bhajaneeya: should be worshipped.

198 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS "Chinta": Chinta means 'thinking', 'reflecting' 'being anxious about.' Sarvabhaavena: Bhaava is mode of existence; in all their modes of existence, and in all their moods. In every aspect of life the devotee has only God-con- sciousness. In his attitude to the members of his family, to his friends who do good to him, to those who do evil, to his superiors and to his inferiors, in every relation that subsists between him and others he has only God-consciousness. Bhagavan He who has all glory, all power and all wisdom, i.e., the Lord. Bhajanam worshipping. 'Bhaj' literally means to 'share in' to obtain for oneself, to partake of. Bhakta is one who shares all the glory, power and knowledge with the Lord. 'Nischinta Bhajana' is complete concentration of the mind on God without a break at any time. Gita says: "Tameva saranam gaccha sarva bha- vena Bharata! Flee unto Him for shelter with all thy being, O Bharata!" The whole heart, mind, in- tellect, Chitta and soul must be given to God without any reservation. Ch. XVIII 62. This is "Sarvabhaa- vena". When you meditate, you must be free from thoughts of fear, worry or anxiety. स कीर्त्यमानः शीघ्रमेवाविर्भवत्यनुभावयति भक्तान् ॥ ८० ॥ Sutra 80. Sa keertyamaanah seeghramevaavirbha-¨ vatyanubhaavayati bhaktaan.

18. INSTRUCTIONS TO DEVOTEES 199 Being thus invoked or glorified, He (the Lord) manifests Himself, and blesses His devotees with realisation. H; Sa: Me; कीर्त्यमान : Keertyamaanah : being invoked, being glorified; ly ; एव : भक्ता नू ; seeghram: speedi- reveals Himself; eva surely; far of a fa: aavirbhavati: Bhaktaan devotees; anubhavayati: makes realise. Lord Hari came out of the pillar in the form of Narasimha when Prahlada prayed with his full heart, "Sarva-bhavena". Prahlada said to his father: "My Narayan is in your heart. He is in my heart. He is in this straw. He is in this pillar also." Prahlada pointed out four places. But why did Lord Narayan come out of the pillar? Because Prahlada had his full concentration with full feeling, "Sarva-bhavena", in the pillar alone. He wished the Lord Hari should come out of the pillar. This was his sat-sankalpa.

200 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS 19. BHAKTI THE BEST MEANS त्रिसत्यस्य भक्तिरेव गरियसी भक्तिरेव गरीयसी ॥ ८१ ॥ Sutra 81. Trisatyasya bhaktireva gareeyasee bhaktireva gareeyasee. Only love of the absolute, eternal truth is the greatest; this love indeed, is the greatest. truth; गरियसी : votion ; एव : greater. Trisatyasya: of the absolute, eternal : Bhakti devotion; ☑: eva alone; Gareeyasi : is greater; чf Bhakti: de- eva only; : Gareeyasee is In all the three periods of time, i.e., past, present, and future, devotion alone weighs heaviest (most glo- rious), devotion alone weighs heaviest (most glori- ous). Of the three true paths, the path of devotion is greater than anything else; it is greater than any- thing else. In this Sutra Narada emphasized the value and importance of devotion. Divine love is eternal. Repetition of the word "Gareeyasee" adds force. It gorifies devotion to the highest degree. Bhakti alone is preferable to other paths, Bhakti alone is preferable. The path of devotion is the highest path. Love of God is supreme. Devotion to God is devotion to Eternal Truth.

19. BHAKTI THE BEST MEANS. 201 Trisatyam The three eternal truths are (1) Jnana, (2) Karma and (3) Bhakti. God is love, good- ness and truth. God is experienced by the devotee as love. God is experienced by the Karma Yogin as goodness. God is experienced by the Gyani as Truth. Narada says that the first is better than any other. According to all the three forms of Truth prac- tised through the body, speech and mind, the path of devotion is the best path, it is the best. Truth as practised through the body, speech and mind is called the three forms of truth. The Holy Rishi Narada has realised the superiority of devotion from the standpoint of all these three Truths. In the 12th chapter of Gita, Lord Krishna says, ""The devotee is Yukta Tama" the best and highest among those who are united to Him. "Among all Yogis he who, full of faith, with his inner Self merged in Me, worships me, he is deemed by Me to be the most divine." Gita, VI. 47. Thus the Bhakta is given the highest place. Para Bhakti and Jnana are one. Para Bhakti is superior to Mukhya Bhakti even. In Para Bhakti the devotee is one with his higher Self. The object of his love now is not the Personal God but the Absolute. The devotee now passes beyond time, space and causation, beyond the three Gunas, beyond the three states of waking, dream and deep sleep, even beyond the Triputi or subject-object relationship. He realises his oneness with the Lord.

202 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS गुणमाहात्म्यासक्तिरूपासक्ति पूजासक्ति स्मरणासक्ति दास्यासक्ति सख्यासक्ति वात्सल्यासक्ति कान्तासक्त्यात्मनि- वेदनासक्ति तन्मयासक्ति परमचिरहासक्ति रूपैकधा- प्येकादशधा भवति ॥ ८२ ॥ Sutra 82. Gunamaahaatmyaasaktiroopaasakti poojaasakti smaranaasakti daasyaasakti sakhyaasakti vaatsalyaasakti kaantaasakti aatmanivedanaasakti tanmayaasakti para- mavirahaasakti roopaikadhaapyekaadasa- dha bhavati. Bhakti, or Divine Love, though in itself one only, manifests itself in the following eleven forms: (1) Love of the glorification of the Lord's blessed quali- ties, (2) Love of his enchanting beauty, (3) Love of worship, (4) Love of constant remembrance, (5) Love of service, (6) Love of Him as a friend, (7) Love of Him as a son, (8) Love for Him as that of a wife for her husband, (9) Love of self-surrender to Him, (10) Love of complete absorption in Him, (11) Love of the pain of separation from Him. ( Ekadha: of one way, of one kind; af: Api : Even : ) गुणमाहात्म्यासक्ति : Gunamaahatmyaasakti : love for glorifying the divine attributes; Roopaasakti love of divine beauty; jasakti love of worship; sakti love of remembering; reqraf: रूपा स कि : : Poo- smaranaa- Daasyaa- sakti love of service; सख्या सक्ति: Sakhyaasakti: Love of God as a friend ; वात्सल्यासक्ति : Vaatsalya-

19. BHAKTI THE BEST MEANS. 203 sakti love of God as that of a child; कान्ता सक्ति : Kaantaasakti: Love of God as that of a wife; - वेदनासाक्ति : Aatmanivedanaasakti: love of self-sur- render; तन्मयासक्ति : Tanmayaasakti: love of com- plete absorption in Him; परमविर हा सक्ति : Para- mavirahaasakti love of the pain of separation from Him; रूपा : Rupa in the form: एका दशधा : Ekaadasadha of eleven forms; Bhavati: becomes. First of all the devotee serves the Lord as a servant serves his master. Then he approaches Him nearer and behaves towards Him as a friend does towards a friend. The relationship is then felt to be more closely personal. Therefore, the devotee rises higher and manifests parental affection for the Loved one, as a father to his son. Lastly the little remaining remoteness between them disappears altogether. The two become one in spirit. The devotee develops all the marks of a beloved wife's love for her beloved husband. In Atmanivedan or complete self-surrender, there is complete self-absorption. He feels the living presence of God anywhere and everywhere and per- manently loses himself in the Lord. You can know you love the Lord when you feel you cannot live without Him. The purpose of the life of a devotee is to lose all sense of distinctive personality and be dissolved in the Lord like camphor in the fire. ' Narada and Vyasa, Sukadeva, Kakabhusundi, Sesha, Suta, Saunaka, Sandilya, Bhishma, Prithu,

204 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS Parikshit and Janamejaya delighted themselves in singing the glories of the Lord. The Gopis of Brinda- van, the Rishis of Dandakaranya were naturally att- racted by Sri Krishna's enchanting personal beauty. Ambarisha, Lakshmi, Prithu, Bharata spent whole time in worship; Prahlada, Dhruva, Sanaka in re- membrance; Hanuman, Akrura, Vidura in service. Uddhava, Arjuna, Sudama and Guha had the attribute of friendship, Sridama, Rukmini and Satyabhama loved Sri Krishna as a husband and Dasaratha, Kau- salya, Devaki, Nanda, Yasoda, Kasyapa, Aditi, Manu- satarupa, as their son. Bali, Vibhishana, Hanuman, Ambarisha, Sibi did complete self-surrender to the Lord. Sanatkumar, Suka, Sanaka and Yajnavalkya immersed themselves in His Bliss (Tanmayasakti). Uddhava, Arjuna, Gopis and Radha experienced anguish of separation. Each one is characterised by a predominant attitude. All these eleven forms of Bhakti are possible for the same Bhaktas during diffe- rent moods. Viraha is the highest manifestation of love. It is a common charactertistic of all devotees, because it is in the very nature of intense love that it cannot bear separation. This is one of the supreme tests of devo- tion in Sutra 29. This stage of love is typically mani- fested in Radha and the Gopis when they were sepa- rated from Sri Krishna. If all these forms of attachments cannot be deve- loped together, you can select one or two sentiments and cultivate love for God accordingly. Love is funda- mentally one. Therefore, no distinction of higher and

19. BHAKTI THE BEST MEANS. 205 lower should be made among devotees, according to the difference of sentiment cultivated by them. All these eleven types of divine love were found developed among the Gopis. The nine modes or stages of Bhakti are described here. The highest is Madhurya Rasa or Kaantaasakti where the lover and the beloved become one. Sufists also entertain this Bhav. The Bhakta begins with Dasya bhav, attitude of a servant like Hanuman. This is the lowest rung in the ladder of Bhakti. Then he takes up a friendly attitude towards God like Arjuna. Fear vanishes now. He claims equality with his object of worship. Then he develops a Bhav of parental affection towards God. He takes Lord Krishna as his son. The students of the school of thought of Sri Vallabhacharya Sampradaya entertain this Bhav. All fears and expectations vanish. There is fear of down.. fall in Kaantaasakti, if the devotee is not careful. He is carried away by lustful propensities. He mistakes physical sensations for devotion. Emotion is not devotion. Many unhappy, unpleasant occurances take place in those who cherish this Bhav. A high stand- ard of purity is required in those who take this Bhav. This Bhav is purely mental. Dressing like a female and showing gestures like a woman is mere hypocri- tical show. This is not necessary in this Bhav.

206 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS 20. CONCLUSION इत्येवं वदन्ति जनजल्पनिर्भया एकमता: कुमारव्यास- शुकशाण्डिल्यगर्गविष्णुकौण्डिल्यशेषाद्ध वा रुणिचलिहनूमद्- faktonizat vararat: ॥ 13 ॥ Sutra 83. Ityevam vadanti janajalpanirbhayaa eka- mataa kumaaravyaasasukasaandilya- gargavishnukoundilyaseshoddhavaaruni- balihanoomadvibheeshanaadayo bhakta- achaarya. Thus, the teachers of devotion Sanatkumara. Vyasa, Suka, Saandilya, Garga, Vishnu, Koundillya, Sesha, Uddhava, Aruni, Bali, Hanuman, Vibheeshana etc., proclaim unanimously in this strain, without fear of the carping criticisms of men. जन जलप निर्भया : the prattle of people; : Ityevam in the manner described above, Jana Jalpa Nirbhayaa: fearless of एक मता : Ekamatah: of unanimous opinion; कुमार व्यास शुक शाण्डिल्य ग र्ग विष्णु nature शेष उद्धव आरुणि ब लिह नु मा न् विभी षणा दिः Kumara, Vyasa, Suka, Sandilya, Garga, Vishnu, Kaundillya, Sesha, Uddhava, Aruni, Bali, Hanuman, Vibhishana and others; : Bhaktacharyaa: teachers of devotion; ed: Vadanti: say, declare. The names given above are of the highest per- sonalities in the realm of devotees, who held the same view as the Rishi Narada on this subject. They are not afraid of being criticised by anyone. because they have the inner conviction of spiritual experience.

20. CONCLUSION. 207 Giving the reference of other principal teachers of the path of Bhakti, Narada strengthens his own point of view. Kumara is Sanatkumara who was Guru of Narada. He is constantly engaged in the Japa of the Mantra, "Hari Saranam" (Refuge to Sri Hari). He is the prince among Bhaktas. He is one of the pioneers in the path of devotion. Sandilya, the author of Sandilya Sutras is an Acharya in the path of Bhakti. Garga is an ancient Rishi. He obtained know- ledge of the 64 Vidyas from Siva Himself as a result of penance and worship. He performed the Nama- karana ceremony of Sri Krishna. He knew Sri Krishna to be Parabrahman. He is a great authority on astro. logy. His teaching is recorded as Garga Samhita. Maharishi Vishnu was a reputed author of Smriti. He was ever absorbed in meditation. Lord Sesha is engaged day and night in singing the praises of Sri Hari through his thousand tongues. He is the teacher of servant-sentiment, Dasya Bhav. Uddhava was the most intimate friend of Sri Krishna. Bali was he very embodiment of the senti ment of self-surrender. Moved by his devotion Lord Hari had to undertake the duty of a watchman at his gate. Hanuman is the greatest devotee. He had Dasya Bhav. Vibheeshana gained the friendship of Lord Rama through Hanuman. All these Acharyas of Bhakti have established the supremacy of Bhakti through the examples of their lives.

208 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS This Sutra indicates that Bhakti is a practical method of approaching God which has been adopted with success by a good many devotees placed in diffe- rent stations in life, that this treatise is a compendium of their views written by one who himself has prac- tised what he preaches and that it is worth while to follow and profit by the teachings of these disinte- rested Masters of Bhakti. य इदं नारदप्रोक्तं शिवानुशासनं विश्वसति श्रद्धते स भक्तिमान्भवति स प्रेष्टं लभते स प्रेष्टं लभते इति ॥ ८४ ॥ Sutra 84. Ya Idam Naaradaproktam Sivaanusaasa- nam Viswasiti sraddhatte Sa Bhaktimaan Bhavati sa preshtam labhate sa preshtam labhate iti. He who believes and has faith in this auspicious teaching expounded by Narada becomes endowed with Bhakti and realises the most beloved Lord, at- tains the most beloved Lord. य: Ya: who; इदम् Naaradaproktam: recited by Narada; Sivaanusaasanam auspicious teaching; Idam: this; नारदप्रोक्तम् IMAAQ: विश्व सति : Viswasati: believes; श्रद्ध ते : Shraddhate: practises with faith; स : Sah: he; भक्ति मा न् : Bhakti- maan: possessed of devotion; भवति Bhavati: be- comes; प्रष्टम् Preshtam: the most beloved Lord; ਮਰੋ : Labhate: realises, obtains; स : Sa: He; Prestham: the most beloved Lord; Labhate: attains; : Iti: thus.

20. CONCLUSION. 209 This is the Phala Sruti. What is got is the most beloved Lord. Preshtam is Lover-Husband. It is used here as a synonym for the highest goal of human life. 'Iti' thus. This word marks the end of the treatise. Narada now describes the fruit of devotion. He says that he who believes, respects and practises these holy teachings originally laid down by the first Teach- er of Bhakti, Lord Siva, enunciated and elaborated by Devarishi Narada, attains God in the form of the "Beloved." The Upasamhara (conclusion) is quite consistent with the Upakrama (beginning). There is a beautiful recapitulation of the Sutras, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 in this last Sutra. Glory to the Lord! Glory to Sage Narada ! Glory to all Saints, Bhaktas, Bhagavatas and Mahatmas! Om Tat Sat! Om Santi, Santi, Santi !

210 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS STORY OF SWAMI SIVANANDA I thank you very much for the parcel of books you have so kindly sent to me. Of the three, as usual, I like very much the souvenir "Bhumandaleswar" which contains your pictures with various personalities and shows your multifarious activities. "Why Swami Sivananda allows himself to be photographed so often and why is it his pictures are splashed in almost every book or publication from Sivananda Nagar?" Such a querry was posed among others by an Australian who, some- time ago, was staying with me and claimed to be a student of psychology. Such a doubt, fortunately, has never crept into my mind, be it that the mind is no less sceptical than the Occident's, because of the atmosphere in which I have had my education. While I have always liked reading your books beause of their simple and direct approach, I have liked much more publications which contain pictures about your activities. As opportunity to see you in person or sit at your feet for many days is not within my good fortune, it is most certainly exhilarating and inspiring to see you in such pictorial publications as "Bhumandaleshwar". This is the case not only with me but also with the other members of my family, Priya included. And I have no doubt that this must be the case with many others. There must be quite a number who not only delight to see you in such pictorial publications but feel inspired and elevated even as I am, everytime.

STORY OF SWAMI SIVANANDA. 211 If an idea, be it political or religious, it is very necessary that its exponent's pictures, particularly of his activities, associations and so on, are put before the public. That is why Newspapers and Journals to-day pubilsh pictures of our leaders, over and over again. If it is admitted that you are a religious Leader with a mission and with a call for the erring world to live the Divine Life, I believe there is nothing wrong in your activities being pictorially published. Indeed, there is every reason for more and more of such publications. To these wiseacres who cavil at them I can only say: "I pity you." With sincere pranams at Thy Lotus Feet, COL. A. N. S. MURTHI Dy. Dir. Mily. Trg. (Edn.), Army Headquarters, New Delhi. I am one of the innumerable men whose spiritual life is being revolutionised by your Message and your Personality. Until my friend, Sri Pinchas Nasich. brought me some numbers of the DIVINE LIFE, I knew only your name and heard somewhat of your spiritual and moral achievements. By your deep thoughts themselves, I am not quite surprised; but the very fact that in this deplorable period of moral degeneration, of extreme egoism of individuals and groups, of suicidal hatred and brutality, man could appear who built a-new fundamentals of true life, by

212 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS his power of Purity, of Love and of Faith, this fact brings also to me a new great hope. DR. OTTO SCHNEID The Israel Inst. of Tech., Haifa. The more I read thy encouraging letter, the more grateful I become to God for this path of life. My thanks to you for it and for the sacred Prasad. I will go to Ananda Kutir to put myself under thy Holiness' guidance and guard. About organising the Divine Life Centre, bearing in mind thy teaching: Reformer, reform thyself first, I must first go to you, work and serve you. Under thy blessed Divine Guidance study and until you find me ripe and fit to carry a candle of thy torch of Glorious Light back to the holy land of Israel. ASSIA E. MALKIELY Petah-Tikva, Israel. Again greetings to you and to your fortunate dis- ciples who are truly fortunate in having so enlight- ened a Guru. I deeply appreciate your kind offer... Your brotherly and loving letter again brought us all much joy and your photographs will lend lustre to our humble book on Yoga. We shall feel honoured to publish your 'introduction' to our book. I feel this contact we have made will make of the book a true meeting of the East and West. Your Introduc- tion and the pictures of your students practising the Hatha Yoga Asanas plus what I shall obtain to write

STORY OF SWAMI SIVANANDA. 213 about you and your work should form a most unusual work for all students of Yoga. MAURICE DE CORBEVILLE Los Angeles, California. ONE CONCRETE INSTANCE OF THY GRACE Gurudeva, please accept my crores of pranams for all that you did for me. One concrete instance of Thy grace is that a most lazy and timid fellow like this humble self, who was afraid to face even a couple of friends and speak to them, now has the courage to stand before thousands of people and deliver the mes- sage of his Gurudev to all. Is this not a miracle, my Lord ? SRI N. S. V. RAO B.Sc., (Eng.), Rajahmundry. THY BLESSINGS HAVE GUIDED ME, GURUDEV My beloved Gurudev, Thy blessings have guided me and inspired me at every step of the work, enabled me to live in the midst of Thy glorious thoughts, to feel I hear Thee speak each sentence from within my heart, and to enjoy an unknown happiness. While I realise how much I owe to Thee, my eyes are be- dewed with tears of gratitude. I praise Thee, over and over again; and with all my heart and soul offer Sastanga-Pranams to Thy Hallowed Feet.

214 NARADA BHAKTI SUTRAS Beloved Sat-Guru, my heart thirsts to be absorbed in Thy service and love for Thee. Thy most humble and grateful Pada-Sevak, M. V. NARAYANA RAO B.A., B.L., President, Behrampur Branch. Your teachings and the message have affected my thought very much. Though I am far away physically from you, yet I feel that you are near me guiding me in all my activities. What can I offer you, for all thy gifts? Only the love of Thy Lotus Feet. A. RATHNAM Manampitiya, Ceylon. I am not wrong in my words, when I say you are the only soul that can make us men. You are the right One to send us some Blessings from the Almighty God. GANAS SUBBAN Natal, South Africa. Once again I thank you for the most generous act in continuing to send me the journals. Your generosity is much appreciated, especially when I am not in a position to help you at all. MICHAEL SAWTELL Sydney, Australia.

STORY OF SWAMI SIVANANDA. 215 I avoided newspapers, books and radio, etc. until some of your pamphlets arrived and I lacked the strength not to open them. ERNST MOHR New York 23. I am very grateful that you are sending me the magazines, which I am reading with great interest. Your dear letter reached me today and I thank you so much for the kind words and guidance. DORI HAAB Berne, Switzerland.