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Line 14: − − The Narada Bhakti Sutra defines Bhakti as,<blockquote>सा त्वस्मिन् परमप्रेमरूपा । ''sā tvasmin paramapremarūpā ।''</blockquote>Meaning: It (Bhakti) is of the form of intense love towards him (the Supreme being).<ref>Nandlal Sinha (1911), [https://ia802606.us.archive.org/24/items/Sacred_Books_of_the_Hindus/SBH%2007%20-%20Bhakti%20Ratnavali%20of%20Vishnu%20Puri,%20Narada%20&%20Sandilya%20Bhakti%20Sutras%20English%20Translation%201912.pdf The Bhakti Sutras of Narada], Allahabad: The Panini Office, Bhuvaneswari Asrama.</ref> Line 23:
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→व्युत्पत्तिः ॥ Etymology: Adding content with reference and editing
The commentator Svapneshvara says, this prayer of [[Prahlada (प्रह्लादः)|Prahlada]] that his devotion may remain unshaken shows the necessity of counteracting the attempts to topple it. And therefore, this inquiry into devotion, though ancillary to devotion itself which bears the fruit (in the form of the Highest Good), is also fruitful.<ref name=":0">Swami Harshananda (1984), [https://estudantedavedanta.net/Sandilya_Bhakti_Sutras_Harshananda.pdf Sandilya Bhakti Sutras with Svapnesvara Bhasya], Mysore: University of Mysore.</ref>
The commentator Svapneshvara says, this prayer of [[Prahlada (प्रह्लादः)|Prahlada]] that his devotion may remain unshaken shows the necessity of counteracting the attempts to topple it. And therefore, this inquiry into devotion, though ancillary to devotion itself which bears the fruit (in the form of the Highest Good), is also fruitful.<ref name=":0">Swami Harshananda (1984), [https://estudantedavedanta.net/Sandilya_Bhakti_Sutras_Harshananda.pdf Sandilya Bhakti Sutras with Svapnesvara Bhasya], Mysore: University of Mysore.</ref>
== भक्तिलक्षणम् ॥ What is Bhakti ? ==
== भक्तिलक्षणम् ॥ What is Bhakti ? ==
And in this context, the commentator quotes a verse from the Vishnu Purana. It says,<blockquote>या प्रीतिरविवेकानां विषयेष्वानपायिनी । त्वामनुस्मरतः सा मे हृदयान्माऽपसर्पतु ॥<ref name=":2" /> १.२०.१७</blockquote><blockquote>''yā prītiravivekānāṁ viṣayeṣvānapāyinī । tvāmanusmarataḥ sā me hr̥dayānmā'pasarpatu ॥ 1.20.17''</blockquote>Meaning: The firm affection that the deluded feel towards the objects of the senses, such a firm affection (may I have towards you) may it never depart from my heart while I am constantly meditating upon you.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">Manmathanath Paul (1911), [https://ia802606.us.archive.org/24/items/Sacred_Books_of_the_Hindus/SBH%2007%20-%20Bhakti%20Ratnavali%20of%20Vishnu%20Puri,%20Narada%20&%20Sandilya%20Bhakti%20Sutras%20English%20Translation%201912.pdf The One Hundred Aphorisms of Sandilya with the Commentary of Svapnesvara], Allahabad: The Panini Office, Bhuvaneswati Asrama.</ref>
And in this context, the commentator quotes a verse from the Vishnu Purana. It says,<blockquote>या प्रीतिरविवेकानां विषयेष्वानपायिनी । त्वामनुस्मरतः सा मे हृदयान्माऽपसर्पतु ॥<ref name=":2" /> १.२०.१७</blockquote><blockquote>''yā prītiravivekānāṁ viṣayeṣvānapāyinī । tvāmanusmarataḥ sā me hr̥dayānmā'pasarpatu ॥ 1.20.17''</blockquote>Meaning: The firm affection that the deluded feel towards the objects of the senses, such a firm affection (may I have towards you) may it never depart from my heart while I am constantly meditating upon you.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">Manmathanath Paul (1911), [https://ia802606.us.archive.org/24/items/Sacred_Books_of_the_Hindus/SBH%2007%20-%20Bhakti%20Ratnavali%20of%20Vishnu%20Puri,%20Narada%20&%20Sandilya%20Bhakti%20Sutras%20English%20Translation%201912.pdf The One Hundred Aphorisms of Sandilya with the Commentary of Svapnesvara], Allahabad: The Panini Office, Bhuvaneswati Asrama.</ref>
The Narada Bhakti Sutra explains Bhakti as follows:<blockquote>सा त्वस्मिन् परमप्रेमरूपा ॥२॥ अमृतस्वरूपा च ॥३॥ यल्लब्ध्वा पुमान् सिद्धो भवत्यमृतो भवति तृप्तो भवति ॥४॥ </blockquote><blockquote>यत् प्राप्य न किञ्चिद् नाञ्छति न शोचति न द्वेष्टि न रमते नोत्साही भवति ॥५॥</blockquote><blockquote>''sā tvasmin paramapremarūpā ॥2॥ amr̥tasvarūpā ca ॥3॥ yallabdhvā pumān siddho bhavatyamr̥to bhavati tr̥pto bhavati ॥4॥'' </blockquote><blockquote>''yat prāpya na kiñcid nāñchati na śocati na dveṣṭi na ramate notsāhī bhavati ॥5॥''</blockquote>Meaning: It (Bhakti) is of the form of intense love towards him (the Supreme being). It is of the nature of nectar. By attaining that (Bhakti) a person becomes successful, immortal and satisfied. Having obtained that (Bhakti) one does not desire anything else, doesn't lament or loathe anything, doesn't revel in things, nor becomes fervent.<ref>Nandlal Sinha (1911), [https://ia802606.us.archive.org/24/items/Sacred_Books_of_the_Hindus/SBH%2007%20-%20Bhakti%20Ratnavali%20of%20Vishnu%20Puri,%20Narada%20&%20Sandilya%20Bhakti%20Sutras%20English%20Translation%201912.pdf The Bhakti Sutras of Narada], Allahabad: The Panini Office, Bhuvaneswari Asrama.</ref>
=== What is not Bhakti ? ===
=== What is not Bhakti ? ===
While elaborating on the role of 'attachment' in Bhakti, the commentator Svapneshvara enumerates in brief about what is 'not bhakti'. He says,
While elaborating on the role of 'attachment' in Bhakti, Svapneshvara in his commentary on the Shandilya Bhakti Sutras enumerates in brief about what is 'not bhakti'. He says,
* To be engaged in remembering (Ishvara) and/or singing (His glories) occasionally - this cannot (be described as devotion), because these are not constant.
* To be engaged in remembering (Ishvara) and/or singing (His glories) occasionally - this cannot (be described as devotion), because these are not constant.
<blockquote>न तु क्वचित्स्मरणस्य, क्वचिच्च कीर्तनादेः अननुगमात् । ''na tu kvacitsmaraṇasya, kvacicca kīrtanādeḥ ananugamāt ।''</blockquote>
<blockquote>न तु क्वचित्स्मरणस्य, क्वचिच्च कीर्तनादेः अननुगमात् । ''na tu kvacitsmaraṇasya, kvacicca kīrtanādeḥ ananugamāt ।''</blockquote>