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#सख्यम् । ''sakhyam'' refers to the ability of one to confide in him as a friend

#सख्यम् । ''sakhyam'' refers to the ability of one to confide in him as a friend

#आत्मनिवेदनम् । ''ātmanivedanam'' refers to offering oneself and one's belongings completely to his service and care.

#आत्मनिवेदनम् । ''ātmanivedanam'' refers to offering oneself and one's belongings completely to his service and care.

Prahlada further states that offering oneself completely to Vishnu and performing this nine-fold devotion is regarded as the highest type of learning. In fact, complete dedication as described above, is in fact the precedent to real devotion.<ref name=":6">[https://cloudup.com/cUT0LxhA6uF The Bhagavata Purana (Part III)], Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited.</ref><blockquote>इति पुंसार्पिता विष्णौ भक्तिश्चेन्नवलक्षणा | क्रियेत भगवत्यद्धा तन्मन्येऽधीतमुत्तमम् ||२४||<ref name=":8" /></blockquote><blockquote>''iti puṁsārpitā viṣṇau bhaktiścennavalakṣaṇā | kriyeta bhagavatyaddhā tanmanye'dhītamuttamam ||24||''</blockquote>This is exemplified by Ambarisha who not only had supreme devotion to Bhagavan Vasudeva but also had great friendly affection towards His devotees. In fact, he dedicated all his actions and duties to Bhagavan Vishnu. The Bhagavata Purana (Skandha 9, Adhyaya 4) says,  <blockquote>स वै मनः कृष्णपदारविन्दयोः वचांसि वैकुण्ठगुणानुवर्णने । करौ हरेर्मन्दिरमार्जनादिषु श्रुतिं चकाराच्युतसत्कथोदये ॥ १८ ॥</blockquote><blockquote>मुकुन्दलिंगालयदर्शने दृशौ तद्‍भृत्यगात्रस्पर्शेङ्‌गसंगमम् । घ्राणं च तत्पादसरोजसौरभे श्रीमत् तुलस्या रसनां तदर्पिते ॥ १९ ॥</blockquote><blockquote>पादौ हरेः क्षेत्रपदानुसर्पणे शिरो हृषीकेश पदाभिवन्दने । कामं च दास्ये न तु कामकाम्यया यथोत्तमश्लोक जनाश्रया रतिः ॥ २० ॥<ref>Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 9, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AF/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AA Adhyaya 4]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''sa vai manaḥ kr̥ṣṇapadāravindayoḥ vacāṁsi vaikuṇṭhaguṇānuvarṇane ।'' </blockquote><blockquote>''karau harermandiramārjanādiṣu śrutiṁ cakārācyutasatkathodaye ॥ 18 ॥''</blockquote><blockquote>''mukundaliṁgālayadarśane dr̥śau tad‍bhr̥tyagātrasparśeṅ‌gasaṁgamam ।'' </blockquote><blockquote>''ghrāṇaṁ ca tatpādasarojasaurabhe śrīmat tulasyā rasanāṁ tadarpite ॥ 19 ॥''</blockquote><blockquote>''pādau hareḥ kṣetrapadānusarpaṇe śiro hr̥ṣīkeśa padābhivandane ।'' </blockquote><blockquote>''kāmaṁ ca dāsye na tu kāmakāmyayā yathottamaśloka janāśrayā ratiḥ ॥ 20 ॥''</blockquote>That is,

Prahlada further states that offering oneself completely to Vishnu and performing this nine-fold devotion is regarded as the highest type of learning. In fact, complete dedication as described above, is in fact the precedent to real devotion.<ref name=":6">[https://cloudup.com/cUT0LxhA6uF The Bhagavata Purana (Part III)], Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited.</ref><blockquote>इति पुंसार्पिता विष्णौ भक्तिश्चेन्नवलक्षणा | क्रियेत भगवत्यद्धा तन्मन्येऽधीतमुत्तमम् ||७.५.२४||<ref name=":8" /></blockquote><blockquote>''iti puṁsārpitā viṣṇau bhaktiścennavalakṣaṇā | kriyeta bhagavatyaddhā tanmanye'dhītamuttamam ||7.5.24||''</blockquote>This is exemplified by Ambarisha who not only had supreme devotion to Bhagavan Vasudeva but also had great friendly affection towards His devotees. In fact, he dedicated all his actions and duties to Bhagavan Vishnu. The Bhagavata Purana (Skandha 9, Adhyaya 4) says,  <blockquote>स वै मनः कृष्णपदारविन्दयोः वचांसि वैकुण्ठगुणानुवर्णने । करौ हरेर्मन्दिरमार्जनादिषु श्रुतिं चकाराच्युतसत्कथोदये ॥ ९.४.१८ ॥</blockquote><blockquote>मुकुन्दलिंगालयदर्शने दृशौ तद्‍भृत्यगात्रस्पर्शेङ्‌गसंगमम् । घ्राणं च तत्पादसरोजसौरभे श्रीमत् तुलस्या रसनां तदर्पिते ॥ ९.४.१९ ॥</blockquote><blockquote>पादौ हरेः क्षेत्रपदानुसर्पणे शिरो हृषीकेश पदाभिवन्दने । कामं च दास्ये न तु कामकाम्यया यथोत्तमश्लोक जनाश्रया रतिः ॥ ९.४.२० ॥<ref>Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 9, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AF/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AA Adhyaya 4]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''sa vai manaḥ kr̥ṣṇapadāravindayoḥ vacāṁsi vaikuṇṭhaguṇānuvarṇane ।'' </blockquote><blockquote>''karau harermandiramārjanādiṣu śrutiṁ cakārācyutasatkathodaye ॥ 9.4.18 ॥''</blockquote><blockquote>''mukundaliṁgālayadarśane dr̥śau tad‍bhr̥tyagātrasparśeṅ‌gasaṁgamam ।'' </blockquote><blockquote>''ghrāṇaṁ ca tatpādasarojasaurabhe śrīmat tulasyā rasanāṁ tadarpite ॥ 9.4.19 ॥''</blockquote><blockquote>''pādau hareḥ kṣetrapadānusarpaṇe śiro hr̥ṣīkeśa padābhivandane ।'' </blockquote><blockquote>''kāmaṁ ca dāsye na tu kāmakāmyayā yathottamaśloka janāśrayā ratiḥ ॥ 9.4.20 ॥''</blockquote>That is,

* He (Ambarisha) engaged his mind (in meditating) on the lotus-like feet of Shri Krishna, his speech in singing of the excellences of Shri Vishnu (Vaikuntha), his hands in services like cleansing the temple of Hari and other such duties, and his ears (sense of hearing) in listening to excellent stories of the Imperishable Supreme.

* He (Ambarisha) engaged his mind (in meditating) on the lotus-like feet of Shri Krishna, his speech in singing of the excellences of Shri Vishnu (Vaikuntha), his hands in services like cleansing the temple of Hari and other such duties, and his ears (sense of hearing) in listening to excellent stories of the Imperishable Supreme.

* He employed his eyes (faculty of seeing) in beholding the images and shrines of Shri Vishnu (Mukunda), his sense of touch in embracing the servants of the Supreme, his sense of smell in taking in the fragrance of the Tulasi leaves dedicated to His feet, and his tongue (sense of taste) to what is offered to the Supreme.

* He employed his eyes (faculty of seeing) in beholding the images and shrines of Shri Vishnu (Mukunda), his sense of touch in embracing the servants of the Supreme, his sense of smell in taking in the fragrance of the Tulasi leaves dedicated to His feet, and his tongue (sense of taste) to what is offered to the Supreme.

=== श्रवणम् ॥ Shravana ===

=== श्रवणम् ॥ Shravana ===

Shravanam refers to listening to the names, stories etc. of Vishnu. Process of transformation within the heart is described beautifully in the following five verses of the Bhagavata Purana. <blockquote>श्रृण्वतां स्वकथां कृष्णः पुण्यश्रवणकीर्तनः । हृद्यन्तःस्थो ह्यभद्राणि विधुनोति सुहृत्सताम् ॥ १७ ॥</blockquote><blockquote>नष्टप्रायेष्वभद्रेषु नित्यं भागवतसेवया । भगवति उत्तमश्लोके भक्तिर्भवति नैष्ठिकी ॥ १८ ॥</blockquote><blockquote>तदा रजस्तमोभावाः कामलोभादयश्च ये । चेत एतैरनाविद्धं स्थितं सत्त्वे प्रसीदति ॥ १९ ॥</blockquote><blockquote>एवं प्रसन्नमनसो भगवद्‍भक्तियोगतः । भगवत् तत्त्वविज्ञानं मुक्तसङ्गस्य जायते ॥ २० ॥</blockquote><blockquote>भिद्यते हृदयग्रन्थिः छिद्यन्ते सर्वसंशयाः । क्षीयन्ते चास्य कर्माणि दृष्ट एवात्मनीश्वरे ॥ २१ ॥<ref name=":0">Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 1, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A8 Adhyaya 2]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''śrr̥ṇvatāṁ svakathāṁ kr̥ṣṇaḥ puṇyaśravaṇakīrtanaḥ । hr̥dyantaḥstho hyabhadrāṇi vidhunoti suhr̥tsatām ॥ 17 ॥''</blockquote><blockquote>''naṣṭaprāyeṣvabhadreṣu nityaṁ bhāgavatasevayā । bhagavati uttamaśloke bhaktirbhavati naiṣṭhikī ॥ 18 ॥''</blockquote><blockquote>''tadā rajastamobhāvāḥ kāmalobhādayaśca ye । ceta etairanāviddhaṁ sthitaṁ sattve prasīdati ॥ 19 ॥''</blockquote><blockquote>''evaṁ prasannamanaso bhagavad‍bhaktiyogataḥ । bhagavat tattvavijñānaṁ muktasaṅgasya jāyate ॥ 20 ॥''</blockquote><blockquote>''bhidyate hr̥dayagranthiḥ chidyante sarvasaṁśayāḥ । kṣīyante cāsya karmāṇi dr̥ṣṭa evātmanīśvare ॥ 21 ॥''</blockquote>Meaning: The reason is that Krishna, hearing and glorifying (whose episodes) is meritorious and who is the well-wisher of the good, exists in the hearts of the listeners to His narratives and shakes off all evil

Shravana refers to listening to the names, stories etc. of Vishnu.<ref name=":6" /> The Bhagavata Purana emphasizes that devotees should constantly hear about, glorify, remember and worship Bhagavan, who is their protector. And the love for hearing the narratives of Vasudeva will be generated in those engaged in the service of devotees who are completely freed from all vice.<ref name=":11">A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1972), Srimad Bhagavatam ([http://prabhupadabooks.com/pdf/SB1.1.pdf First Canto, Part One]), Bombay: The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.</ref><ref name=":1" /> <blockquote>तस्मादेकेन मनसा भगवान् सात्वतां पतिः । श्रोतव्यः कीर्तितव्यश्च ध्येयः पूज्यश्च नित्यदा ॥ १.२.१४ ॥</blockquote><blockquote>शुश्रूषोः श्रद्दधानस्य वासुदेवकथारुचिः । स्यान्महत्सेवया विप्राः पुण्यतीर्थनिषेवणात् ॥ १.२.१६ ॥<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>''tasmādekena manasā bhagavān sātvatāṁ patiḥ । śrotavyaḥ kīrtitavyaśca dhyeyaḥ pūjyaśca nityadā ॥ 1.2.14 ॥''</blockquote><blockquote>''śuśrūṣoḥ śraddadhānasya vāsudevakathāruciḥ । syānmahatsevayā viprāḥ puṇyatīrthaniṣevaṇāt ॥ 1.2.16 ॥''</blockquote>In the following five verses, the Bhagavata Purana beautifully describes the Process of transformation within the heart that takes place as a result of shravana. It says, <blockquote>श्रृण्वतां स्वकथां कृष्णः पुण्यश्रवणकीर्तनः । हृद्यन्तःस्थो ह्यभद्राणि विधुनोति सुहृत्सताम् ॥ १.२.१७ ॥</blockquote><blockquote>नष्टप्रायेष्वभद्रेषु नित्यं भागवतसेवया । भगवति उत्तमश्लोके भक्तिर्भवति नैष्ठिकी ॥ १.२.१८ ॥</blockquote><blockquote>तदा रजस्तमोभावाः कामलोभादयश्च ये । चेत एतैरनाविद्धं स्थितं सत्त्वे प्रसीदति ॥ १.२.१९ ॥</blockquote><blockquote>एवं प्रसन्नमनसो भगवद्‍भक्तियोगतः । भगवत् तत्त्वविज्ञानं मुक्तसङ्गस्य जायते ॥ १.२.२० ॥</blockquote><blockquote>भिद्यते हृदयग्रन्थिः छिद्यन्ते सर्वसंशयाः । क्षीयन्ते चास्य कर्माणि दृष्ट एवात्मनीश्वरे ॥ १.२.२१ ॥<ref name=":0">Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 1, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A8 Adhyaya 2]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''śrr̥ṇvatāṁ svakathāṁ kr̥ṣṇaḥ puṇyaśravaṇakīrtanaḥ । hr̥dyantaḥstho hyabhadrāṇi vidhunoti suhr̥tsatām ॥ 1.2.17 ॥''</blockquote><blockquote>''naṣṭaprāyeṣvabhadreṣu nityaṁ bhāgavatasevayā । bhagavati uttamaśloke bhaktirbhavati naiṣṭhikī ॥ 1.2.18 ॥''</blockquote><blockquote>''tadā rajastamobhāvāḥ kāmalobhādayaśca ye । ceta etairanāviddhaṁ sthitaṁ sattve prasīdati ॥ 1.2.19 ॥''</blockquote><blockquote>''evaṁ prasannamanaso bhagavad‍bhaktiyogataḥ । bhagavat tattvavijñānaṁ muktasaṅgasya jāyate ॥ 1.2.20 ॥''</blockquote><blockquote>''bhidyate hr̥dayagranthiḥ chidyante sarvasaṁśayāḥ । kṣīyante cāsya karmāṇi dr̥ṣṭa evātmanīśvare ॥ 1.2.21 ॥''</blockquote>Meaning:  

 

* Shri Krishna who exists in the hearts of everyone and is the well-wisher of the good, cleanses all evil from the hearts of those who have developed the urge to listen to His narratives which are themselves meritorious when properly heard and chanted.

When Evils are all but destroyed by continuous services of the devotees of the Lord (or the study of the Bhagavata) firm devotion to the Lord of excellent fame, is generated.

* When evils are all destroyed from the heart by continuously listening to the Bhagavata and rendering services to the devotees of the Supreme, firm devotion to the Supreme being of excellent fame is established as an irrevocable fact.

 

* Then, the mind, not being affected by qualities like Passion (rajas) and Ignorance (tamas) and by desire, greed and others, is stabilized in goodness and is quietened (soothed).

Then, mind, not being affected by perturbations (qualities or aspects) like Passions (rajas) and Ignorance (tamas) and by desire, avarice and others, and being stabilised in goodness, is quietened (soothed).

* Thus established in the mode of goodness, the person whose mind is pacified through devotion of the Supreme being, frees himself from attachment and gains the knowledge of the reality of the Supreme.

 

* As soon as the Supreme being is seen within oneself, his knot (of ego) in the heart/mind is cut asunder, all doubts are solved and his actions (good or bad, of the previous period which are not exhausted by enjoying the fruits) are annihilated.<ref name=":11" /><ref name=":1">[https://estudantedavedanta.net/The-Bhagavata-purana-Part-1.pdf The Bhagavata Purana (Part I)], Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited.</ref>

Thus the knowledge of the reality of the Lord is produced in the person whose mind is pacified and who has freed himself from attachment through the devotion of the Supreme Lord.

 

As soon as the Supreme Lord is seen within oneself, his knot (of ego) in the heart/mind is cut asunder, all doubts are solved and his actions (good or bad, of the previous period which are not exhausted by enjoying the fruits) are annihilated.<ref name=":1">[https://estudantedavedanta.net/The-Bhagavata-purana-Part-1.pdf The Bhagavata Purana (Part I)], Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited.</ref><blockquote>शुश्रूषोः श्रद्दधानस्य वासुदेवकथारुचिः । स्यान्महत्सेवया विप्राः पुण्यतीर्थनिषेवणात् ॥ १६ ॥<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>''śuśrūṣoḥ śraddadhānasya vāsudevakathāruciḥ । syānmahatsevayā viprāḥ puṇyatīrthaniṣevaṇāt ॥ 16 ॥''</blockquote>Meaning: Oh Brahmanas ! Love about the narratives of Vasudeva will be generated in (persons) desirous of hearing (or devoted to service) and full of faith, by performing holy pilgrimages and through the service of the great (holy) people.<ref name=":1" />

=== कीर्तनम् ॥ Keertana ===

=== कीर्तनम् ॥ Keertana ===