Chapter 1: Narada teaches the nature of supreme love

अथातो भक्तिं व्याख्यास्यामः

athāto bhaktiṃ vyākhyāsyāmaḥ

Now, therefore, we shall explain bhakti, devotion to Bhagwan.

सा त्वस्मिन् परमप्रेमरूपा

sā tvasmin paramapremarūpā

Bhakti is supreme love for Him, love whose object is Bhagwan alone.

अमृतस्वरूपा च

amṛtasvarūpā ca

And it is of the nature of amrita, the nectar of immortality.

यल्लब्ध्वा पुमान्सिद्धो भवत्यमृतो भवति तृप्तो भवति

yallabdhvā pumānsiddho bhavatyamṛto bhavati tṛpto bhavati

Gaining it, a person becomes perfected, becomes immortal and becomes fully content.

यत्प्राप्य ना किञ्चिद्वाञ्छति न शोचति न द्वेष्टि न रमते नोत्साही भवति

yatprāpya nā kiñcidvāñchati na śocati na dveṣṭi na ramate notsāhī bhavati

Having attained it, one desires nothing, grieves for nothing, hates nothing, delights in nothing else and strives for no worldly gain.

यज्ज्ञात्वा मत्तो भवति स्तब्धो भवत्यात्मारामो भवति

yajjñātvā matto bhavati stabdho bhavatyātmārāmo bhavati

Knowing it, one becomes intoxicated with love, becomes still, and delights in the Atman alone.

सा न कामयमाना निरोधरूपत्वात्

sā na kāmayamānā nirodharūpatvāt

Bhakti is not the fulfilment of desire, because its nature is nirodha, the laying aside of all else.

निरोधस्तु लोकवेदव्यापारन्यासः

nirodhastu lokavedavyāpāranyāsaḥ

Nirodha means giving over all worldly and Vedic activity to Bhagwan, doing nothing for one's own sake.

तस्मिन्ननन्यता तद्विरोधिषूदासीनता च

tasminnananyatā tadvirodhiṣūdāsīnatā ca

It also means single-minded devotion to Him and indifference to whatever opposes Him.

अन्याश्रयाणां त्यागोऽनन्यता

anyāśrayāṇāṃ tyāgo'nanyatā

Single-mindedness means giving up every other refuge and leaning on Bhagwan alone.

लोकवेदेषु तदनुकूलाचरणं तद्विरोधिषूदासीनता च

lokavedeṣu tadanukūlācaraṇaṃ tadvirodhiṣūdāsīnatā ca

Indifference to what opposes Him means doing, in worldly and Vedic life, only what is in keeping with devotion.

भवतु निश्चयदाढ्यादूर्ध्वं शास्त्ररक्षणम्

bhavatu niścayadāḍhyādūrdhvaṃ śāstrarakṣaṇam

Even after one's resolve is firm, the injunctions of the shastra should be kept.

अन्यथा पातित्यशङ्कया

anyathā pātityaśaṅkayā

Otherwise there is the danger of falling from the path.

लोकोऽपि तावदेव भोजनादिव्यापारस्त्वाशरीरधारणावधि

loko'pi tāvadeva bhojanādivyāpārastvāśarīradhāraṇāvadhi

Worldly duties too are to be kept up in the same measure, and eating and the like for as long as the body lasts.

तल्लक्षणानि वाच्यन्ते नानामतभेदात्

tallakṣaṇāni vācyante nānāmatabhedāt

Now the marks of bhakti are described, for different teachers hold different views.

पूजादिष्वनुराग इति पाराशर्यः

pūjādiṣvanurāga iti pārāśaryaḥ

Vyasa, son of Parashara, says bhakti is loving attachment to worship and the like.

कथादिष्विति गर्गः

kathādiṣviti gargaḥ

Garga says it is love for hearing and telling the kathas of Bhagwan.

आत्मरत्यविरोधेनेति शाण्डिल्यः

ātmaratyavirodheneti śāṇḍilyaḥ

Shandilya says it is love that does not conflict with delight in the Atman.

नारदस्तु तदर्पिताखिलाचारता तद्विस्मरणे परमव्याकुलतेति

nāradastu tadarpitākhilācāratā tadvismaraṇe paramavyākulateti

But Narada says bhakti is offering every act to Bhagwan and feeling utmost anguish if He is forgotten even for a moment.

अस्त्येवमेवम्

astyevamevam

Such bhakti does exist, exactly as described; it is no mere ideal.

यथा व्रजगोपिकानाम्

yathā vrajagopikānām

As it was in the gopis of Vraja, whose love for Shri Krishna is the example.

तत्रापि न माहात्म्यज्ञानविस्मृत्यपवादः

tatrāpi na māhātmyajñānavismṛtyapavādaḥ

Even there, it cannot be said that they forgot His greatness; they knew Him as Bhagwan.

तद्विहीनं जाराणामिव

tadvihīnaṃ jārāṇāmiva

Love without that knowledge of His greatness would be like the passion of a paramour.

नास्त्येव तस्मिंस्तत्सुखसुखित्वम्

nāstyeva tasmiṃstatsukhasukhitvam

In such passion there is no joy in the joy of the Beloved; it seeks only its own pleasure.

सा तु कर्मज्ञानयोगेभ्योऽप्यधिकतरा

sā tu karmajñānayogebhyo'pyadhikatarā

Bhakti is greater even than karma, jnana and yoga.

फलरूपत्वात्

phalarūpatvāt

Because it is itself the fruit, the goal of all of them.

ईश्वरस्याप्यभिमानद्वेषित्वाद्दैन्यप्रियत्वाच्च

īśvarasyāpyabhimānadveṣitvāddainyapriyatvācca

And because Ishvara dislikes pride and loves humility.

तस्या ज्ञानमेव साधनमित्येके

tasyā jñānameva sādhanamityeke

Some say knowledge alone is the means to bhakti.

अन्योऽन्याश्रयत्वमित्यन्ये

anyo'nyāśrayatvamityanye

Others say knowledge and bhakti depend on each other.

स्वयं फलरूपतेति ब्रह्मकुमारः

svayaṃ phalarūpateti brahmakumāraḥ

Sanatkumara, son of Brahma, says bhakti is its own fruit.

राजगृहभोजनादिषु तथैव दृष्टत्वात्

rājagṛhabhojanādiṣu tathaiva dṛṣṭatvāt

For so it is seen with a palace, a meal and the like: knowing about them is not having them.

न तेन राजपरितोषः क्षुधाशान्तिर्वा

na tena rājaparitoṣaḥ kṣudhāśāntirvā

Knowing about a king does not please the king, nor does knowing about food remove hunger.

तस्मात्सैव ग्राह्या मुमुक्षुभिः

tasmātsaiva grāhyā mumukṣubhiḥ

Therefore bhakti alone should be taken up by those who seek liberation.

तस्याः साधनानि गायन्त्याचार्याः

tasyāḥ sādhanāni gāyantyācāryāḥ

The acharyas sing of the means to attain it.

तत्तु विषयत्यागात्सङ्गत्यागाच्च

tattu viṣayatyāgātsaṅgatyāgācca

It is attained by giving up sense-objects and giving up attachment.

अव्यावृत्तभजनात्

avyāvṛttabhajanāt

And by unbroken worship, bhajana carried on without a break day and night.

लोकेऽपि भगवद्गुणश्रवणकीर्तनात्

loke'pi bhagavadguṇaśravaṇakīrtanāt

Even while living in the world, by hearing and singing the qualities of Bhagwan.

मुख्यतस्तु महत्कृपयैव भगवत्कृपालेशाद्वा

mukhyatastu mahatkṛpayaiva bhagavatkṛpāleśādvā

Chiefly, however, it comes by the grace of great souls, or by a touch of Bhagwan's own grace.

महत्सङ्गस्तु दुर्लभोऽगम्योऽमोघश्च

mahatsaṅgastu durlabho'gamyo'moghaśca

The company of great souls is hard to gain, hard to understand, and never fails in its effect.

लभ्यतेऽपि तत्कृपयैव

labhyate'pi tatkṛpayaiva

Yet it is gained, by His grace alone.

तस्मिंस्तज्जने भेदाभावात्

tasmiṃstajjane bhedābhāvāt

For there is no difference between Him and His devotees.

तदेव साध्यतां तदेव साध्यताम्

tadeva sādhyatāṃ tadeva sādhyatām

Strive for that alone, strive for that alone: the company of the great.

दुःसङ्गः सर्वथैव त्याज्यः

duḥsaṅgaḥ sarvathaiva tyājyaḥ

Evil company must be given up in every way.

कामक्रोधमोहस्मृतिभ्रंशबुद्धिनाशसर्वनाशकारणत्वात्

kāmakrodhamohasmṛtibhraṃśabuddhināśasarvanāśakāraṇatvāt

Because it causes desire, anger and delusion, loss of memory, loss of understanding, and ruin of everything.

तरङ्गायिता अपीमे सङ्गात्समुद्रायन्ति

taraṅgāyitā apīme saṅgātsamudrāyanti

These, rising first like small ripples, swell into an ocean through bad company.

कस्तरति कस्तरति मायां यः सङ्गं त्यजति यो महानुभावं सेवते निर्ममो भवति

kastarati kastarati māyāṃ yaḥ saṅgaṃ tyajati yo mahānubhāvaṃ sevate nirmamo bhavati

Who crosses, who crosses maya? He who gives up attachment, who serves the great, and who is free of the sense of mine.

यो विविक्तस्थानं सेवते यो लोकबन्धमुन्मूलयति निस्त्रैगुण्यो भवति यो योगक्षेमं त्यजति

yo viviktasthānaṃ sevate yo lokabandhamunmūlayati nistraiguṇyo bhavati yo yogakṣemaṃ tyajati

He who lives in solitude, uproots the bonds of the world, goes beyond the three gunas, and gives up worry over gaining and keeping.

यः कर्मफलं त्यजति कर्माणि संन्यस्यति ततो निर्द्वन्द्वो भवति

yaḥ karmaphalaṃ tyajati karmāṇi saṃnyasyati tato nirdvandvo bhavati

He who gives up the fruit of action, renounces action itself, and so goes beyond the pairs of opposites.

यो वेदानपि सन्न्यस्यति केवलमविच्छिन्नानुरागं लभते

yo vedānapi sannyasyati kevalamavicchinnānurāgaṃ labhate

He who renounces even the Vedas, their rites for reward, and gains only unbroken love for Bhagwan.

स तरति स तरति लोकांस्तारयति

sa tarati sa tarati lokāṃstārayati

He crosses, he crosses, and he carries the worlds across with him.

अनिर्वचनीयं प्रेमस्वरूपम्

anirvacanīyaṃ premasvarūpam

The nature of this love cannot be put into words.

मूकास्वादनवत्

mūkāsvādanavat

It is like the taste a mute person enjoys but cannot describe.

प्रकाशयते क्वापि पात्रे

prakāśayate kvāpi pātre

Yet it shines forth somewhere, in a worthy vessel, a heart made fit for it.

गुणरहितं कामनारहितं प्रतिक्षणवर्धमानमविच्छिन्नं सूक्ष्मतरमनुभवरूपम्

guṇarahitaṃ kāmanārahitaṃ pratikṣaṇavardhamānamavicchinnaṃ sūkṣmataramanubhavarūpam

It is free of the gunas, free of desire, growing every moment, unbroken, subtler than the subtlest, and known only by experience.

तत्प्राप्य तदेवावलोकयति तदेव शृणोति तदेव भाषयति तदेव चिन्तयति

tatprāpya tadevāvalokayati tadeva śṛṇoti tadeva bhāṣayati tadeva cintayati

Having gained it, the devotee sees only Him, hears only Him, speaks only of Him and thinks only of Him.

गौणी त्रिधा गुणभेदादार्तादिभेदाद्वा

gauṇī tridhā guṇabhedādārtādibhedādvā

Secondary bhakti is of three kinds, according to the gunas, or according to the seeker: the distressed, the seeker of knowledge, and the seeker of gain.

उत्तरस्मादुत्तरस्मात्पूर्वपूर्वा श्रेयाय भवति

uttarasmāduttarasmātpūrvapūrvā śreyāya bhavati

Of these, each earlier one is better than the one after it.

अन्यस्मात्सौलभ्यं भक्तौ

anyasmātsaulabhyaṃ bhaktau

Bhakti is easier to attain than any other path.

प्रमाणान्तरस्यानपेक्षत्वात्स्वयं प्रमाणत्वात्

pramāṇāntarasyānapekṣatvātsvayaṃ pramāṇatvāt

Because it needs no other proof; it is its own proof.

शान्तिरूपात्परमानन्दरूपाच्च

śāntirūpātparamānandarūpācca

And because it is peace itself and supreme bliss itself.

लोकहानौ चिन्ता न कार्या निवेदितात्मलोकवेदत्वात्

lokahānau cintā na kāryā niveditātmalokavedatvāt

There should be no worry over worldly loss, since the devotee has offered himself, the world and the Vedas to Bhagwan.

न तत्सिद्धौ लोकव्यवहारो हेयः किन्तु फलत्यागस्तत्साधनं च कार्यमेव

na tatsiddhau lokavyavahāro heyaḥ kintu phalatyāgastatsādhanaṃ ca kāryameva

Until bhakti is attained, worldly conduct need not be abandoned, but the fruit of action must be given up and the means of devotion practised.

स्त्रीधननास्तिकवैरिचरित्रं न श्रवणीयम्

strīdhananāstikavairicaritraṃ na śravaṇīyam

Talk of women, of wealth, of unbelievers and of enemies should not be listened to, since it draws the mind away.

अभिमानदम्भादिकं त्याज्यम्

abhimānadambhādikaṃ tyājyam

Pride, hypocrisy and the like must be given up.

तदर्पिताखिलाचारः सन्कामक्रोधाभिमानादि तस्मिन्नेव करणीयम्

tadarpitākhilācāraḥ sankāmakrodhābhimānādi tasminneva karaṇīyam

Having offered all conduct to Him, if desire, anger, pride and the like still remain, direct them towards Him alone.

त्रिरूपभङ्गपूर्वकं नित्यदास्यनित्यकान्ताभजनात्मकं प्रेम कार्यं प्रेमैव कार्यम्

trirūpabhaṅgapūrvakaṃ nityadāsyanityakāntābhajanātmakaṃ prema kāryaṃ premaiva kāryam

Breaking through the threefold form of lover, beloved and love, one should cultivate love as an eternal servant or an eternal beloved; love alone is to be practised.

भक्ता एकान्तिनो मुख्याः

bhaktā ekāntino mukhyāḥ

Single-minded devotees, ekantins who love Bhagwan alone, are the foremost of all.

कण्ठावरोधरोमाञ्चाश्रुभिः परस्परं लपमानाः पावयन्ति कुलानि पृथिवीं च

kaṇṭhāvarodharomāñcāśrubhiḥ parasparaṃ lapamānāḥ pāvayanti kulāni pṛthivīṃ ca

Speaking with one another, voices choked, hair on end and tears flowing, they purify their families and the earth.

तीर्थीकुर्वन्ति तीर्थानि सुकर्मीकुर्वन्ति कर्माणि सच्छास्त्रीकुर्वन्ति शास्त्राणि

tīrthīkurvanti tīrthāni sukarmīkurvanti karmāṇi sacchāstrīkurvanti śāstrāṇi

They make the tirthas holy, make actions good and make the shastras true scripture.

तन्मयाः

tanmayāḥ

For they are filled with Him, wholly absorbed in Bhagwan.

मोदन्ते पितरो नृत्यन्ति देवताः सनाथाश्चेयं भूर्भवति

modante pitaro nṛtyanti devatāḥ sanāthāśceyaṃ bhūrbhavati

Their ancestors rejoice, the devas dance, and this earth gains a protector.

नास्ति तेषु जातिविद्यारूपकुलधनक्रियादिभेदः

nāsti teṣu jātividyārūpakuladhanakriyādibhedaḥ

Among them there is no distinction of birth, learning, looks, family, wealth, occupation and the like.

यतस्तदीयाः

yatastadīyāḥ

Because they belong to Him; they are Bhagwan's own.

वादो नावलम्ब्यः

vādo nāvalambyaḥ

One should not take to argument and debate about Bhagwan.

बाहुल्यावकाशत्वादनियतत्वाच्च

bāhulyāvakāśatvādaniyatatvācca

Because there is endless room for it and it never settles anything.

भक्तिशास्त्राणि मननीयानि तद्बोधककर्माणि करणीयानि

bhaktiśāstrāṇi mananīyāni tadbodhakakarmāṇi karaṇīyāni

The scriptures of bhakti should be reflected on, and the acts that awaken it should be done.

सुखदुःखेच्छालाभादित्यक्ते काले प्रतीक्षमाणे क्षणार्धमपि व्यर्थं न नेयम्

sukhaduḥkhecchālābhādityakte kāle pratīkṣamāṇe kṣaṇārdhamapi vyarthaṃ na neyam

Waiting for a time free of pleasure and pain, desire and gain, one should not waste even half a moment.

अहिंसासत्यशौचदयास्तिक्यादि चारित्र्याणि परिपालनीयानि

ahiṃsāsatyaśaucadayāstikyādi cāritryāṇi paripālanīyāni

Non-violence, truth, purity, compassion, faith and other virtues should be carefully kept.

सर्वदा सर्वभावेन निश्चिन्तैर्भगवानेव भजनीयः

sarvadā sarvabhāvena niścintairbhagavāneva bhajanīyaḥ

At all times, with the whole heart and free of care, Bhagwan alone should be worshipped.

स कीर्त्यमानः शीघ्रमेवाविर्भवत्यनुभावयति भक्तान्

sa kīrtyamānaḥ śīghramevāvirbhavatyanubhāvayati bhaktān

When praised in kirtana, He quickly reveals Himself and lets His devotees experience Him.

त्रिसत्यस्य भक्तिरेव गरीयसी भक्तिरेव गरीयसी

trisatyasya bhaktireva garīyasī bhaktireva garīyasī

Of the three truths, bhakti alone is the greatest, bhakti alone is the greatest.

गुणमाहात्म्यासक्तिरूपासक्तिपूजासक्तिस्मरणासक्तिदास्यासक्तिसख्यासक्तिवात्सल्यासक्तिकान्तासक्त्यात्मनिवेदनासक्तितन्मयासक्तिपरमविरहासक्तिरूपैकधाप्येकादशधा भवति

guṇamāhātmyāsaktirūpāsaktipūjāsaktismaraṇāsaktidāsyāsaktisakhyāsaktivātsalyāsaktikāntāsaktyātmanivedanāsaktitanmayāsaktiparamavirahāsaktirūpaikadhāpyekādaśadhā bhavati

Though one, bhakti takes eleven forms: love of His qualities, of His form, of worship, of remembrance, of service, of friendship, of a parent's care, of a beloved, of self-offering, of absorption, and of the pain of separation.

इत्येवं वदन्ति जनजल्पनिर्भया एकमताः कुमारव्यासशुकशाण्डिल्यगर्गविष्णुकौण्डिन्यशेषोद्धवारुणिबलिहनूमद्विभीषणादयो भक्ताचार्याः

ityevaṃ vadanti janajalpanirbhayā ekamatāḥ kumāravyāsaśukaśāṇḍilyagargaviṣṇukauṇḍinyaśeṣoddhavāruṇibalihanūmadvibhīṣaṇādayo bhaktācāryāḥ

So say the teachers of bhakti, of one mind and unafraid of what people say: the Kumaras, Vyasa, Shuka, Shandilya, Garga, Vishnu, Kaundinya, Shesha, Uddhava, Aruni, Bali, Hanuman, Vibhishana and others.

य इदं नारदप्रोक्तं शिवानुशासनं विश्वसिति श्रद्धत्ते स भक्तिमान्भवति स प्रेष्ठं लभते स प्रेष्ठं लभते इति

ya idaṃ nāradaproktaṃ śivānuśāsanaṃ viśvasiti śraddhatte sa bhaktimānbhavati sa preṣṭhaṃ labhate sa preṣṭhaṃ labhate iti

Whoever trusts and has faith in this auspicious teaching spoken by Narada becomes a devotee and attains the Beloved, attains the most dear.