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Line 28: − While 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 वाञ्छति न शोचति न द्वेष्टि न रमते नोत्साही भवति ॥५॥ यज्ज्ञात्वा मत्तो भवति स्तब्धो भवति आत्मारामो भवति ॥६॥</blockquote><blockquote>''sā tvasmin paramapremarūpā ॥2॥ amr̥tasvarūpā ca ॥3॥ yallabdhvā pumān siddho bhavatyamr̥to bhavati tr̥pto bhavati ॥4॥'' </blockquote><blockquote>''yat prāpya na kiñcid vāñchati na śocati na dveṣṭi na ramate notsāhī bhavati ॥5॥'' ''yajjñātvā matto bhavati stabdho bhavati ātmārāmo bhavati ॥6॥''</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>By knowing which he becomes ecstatic (with joy), quiet and happy in his own Self.<ref name=":9" />+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
→भक्तिलक्षणम् ॥ What is Bhakti ?: Adding content with reference - to be edited
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 Sutras explain 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 वाञ्छति न शोचति न द्वेष्टि न रमते नोत्साही भवति ॥५॥ यज्ज्ञात्वा मत्तो भवति स्तब्धो भवति आत्मारामो भवति ॥६॥</blockquote><blockquote>''sā tvasmin paramapremarūpā ॥2॥ amr̥tasvarūpā ca ॥3॥ yallabdhvā pumān siddho bhavatyamr̥to bhavati tr̥pto bhavati ॥4॥'' </blockquote><blockquote>''yat prāpya na kiñcid vāñchati na śocati na dveṣṭi na ramate notsāhī bhavati ॥5॥'' ''yajjñātvā matto bhavati stabdho bhavati ātmārāmo bhavati ॥6॥''</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>By knowing that (Bhakti) one becomes ecstatic (with joy), quiet and happy in his own Self.<ref name=":9" />
Thus, Bhakti is marked by certain essential characteristics that is unanimously agreed upon by all devotees. Though some give prominence to certain indications while others to certain other marks, there is no fundamental difference in the essence. The Narada Bhakti Sutras enlist the signs of devotion as described by various rshis in their exposition of Bhakti as follows: <blockquote>पूजादिष्वनुराग इति पाराशर्यः ॥१६॥ ''pūjādiṣvanurāga iti pārāśaryaḥ ॥16॥''</blockquote>Meaning: Intense attachment in the worship of the jord and like performances is the characteristic devotion, according to the disciple of Parasara.
Puja is worship of God. Anurag is intense attachment. Prahalada says: “0 Hari ! May not the ceaseless flow of love and attachment leave my heart, while I am constantly meditating upon Thee’’. (Vishnu Parana 1-20. 19.)<blockquote>कथादिष्विति गर्गः ॥१७॥ ''kathādiṣviti gargaḥ ॥17॥''</blockquote>Meaning: According to Garga, attachment to the hearing of praises and greatness of the Lord is the mark of devotion.
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 Sukha dev. He approaches the Baghawatas and hears the praises of God. Then the mind graddally is turned towards God.<blockquote>आत्मरत्यविरोधेनेति शाण्डिल्यः ॥१८॥ ''ātmaratyavirodheneti śāṇḍilyaḥ ॥18॥''</blockquote>Meaning: Sandilya is of the opinion that the sign of devotion is a constant feeling of Bliss in the Self.
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 countenance 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 Jivanmukta too.<blockquote>नारदस्तु तदर्पिताखिलाचारता तद्विस्मरणे परमव्याकुलतेति ॥१९॥ ''nāradastu tadarpitākhilācāratā tadvismaraṇe paramavyākulateti ॥19॥''</blockquote>Meaning: Narada then is of opinion, however, that the sign of devotion is surrendering all actions to God and feeling severe grief in forgetting Him.
The devotee gets parama-vyakukUa 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.
Just as it was shown by the (Gopis, the cowmaids of Vraja or Brindawan.
The Gopis surrendered all their actions at the lotus feet of Lord Krishna. They experienced acute agony even if they missed His presence even for a second. 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 giving food to others, some were giving milk to their own children. Some were serving their husbands and some were taking their own food. But thev all left their work half-finished. Thev pave up their household duties, with clothes and ornaments all in disorder; they hurriedly went to Krishna. When Krishna disappeared they asked the trees if they had seen their lover. They enquired of the creepers, the earth and the deer.<ref name=":9" />
=== What is not Bhakti ? ===
=== What is not Bhakti ? ===