Narada Bhakti Sutra is a collection of Sutras told by Sage Narada. It is an important text in Hinduism and it expounds the Philosophy of Devotion. This is a collection of quotes and teachings from Narad Bhakti Sutra.
The nature of devotion is indescribable, indefinable. Like the taste enjoyed by the dumb. In some rare ones who are fit recipients, this (such pure love or devotion) is found to manifest. This pure love is without attributes, without poison of desires, every moment increasing, unbroken, subtlest, of the nature of sheer immediate experience…
By attaining divine love man becomes perfect, immortal, and satisfied forever.
On attaining true devotion, man does not desire anything else; he grieves no more, is free from hatred and jealousy; he does not take pleasure in the vanities of life; and he loses all eagerness to gain anything for himself. Realizing that, man becomes intoxicated and fascinated, as it were, because he is completely immersed in the enjoyment of the Bliss of the Atman, the truest and highest Self.
Than all other paths, Devotion is readily available and easily attainable.
Having reached the Supreme Love, the devotee sees, feels, comprehends that alone, hears that alone, speaks of that alone and thinks and contemplates upon that alone.
Love requires no other proof. Love is proof onto itself. Love is self-evident.
Divine love is possible only when pride, vanity and other such vices and negative tendencies are given up.
Love brings peace and supreme bliss. Peace and bliss is the outcome of love.
Of all paths or Yogas, Devotion is easily available and also easily attainable.
No worry or anxiety should be entertained at worldly losses, as it is the nature of a true devotee to surrender constantly his limited self and all its secular and sacred activities to the Lord of his heart. (VI, 2:61)
Until a consummate (perfect and complete in every respect) love is gained (or even after attaining the consummate love), worldly activities are not to be abandoned. Certainly, we must diligently pursue love and learn to renounce our anxiety to enjoy the fruit of our actions. (VI, 2:62)
Virtues, like ahimsa, truthfulness, cleanliness, compassion and faith in the Lord should be consistently cultivated. (VIII, 2:78)
Always free from all mental anxiety, the Lord alone is to be invoked and sought after with all factors of our personality. (VIII, 2:79)
Advice for those on the path of Bhakti – Narada Bhakti Sutras
A great obstruction to spiritual life is the attraction towards sense objects. An easy solution to this problem is continuous prayer and remembrance as well as the company of great men and, thereby, their grace.
It is as much necessary to renounce the company of the wicked as cultivate the company of the great; in the company of the wicked, there is every possibility of bad samskaras (mental proclivities) like desire and anger in the devotee’s mind rising up.
Wicked company does not necessarily mean company of wicked persons. The sense objects that stimulate the mind and give rise to desire, greed, atheism, enmity and anger are also wicked company. We should not even listen to such things.
The devotee should renounce those duties – whether worldly or scriptural – which come in the way of his bhakti and perform the rest with the conviction that they are an offering to God.
As the body is a valuable instrument to be used in the path of Bhakti, he should protect it well.
Narada Bhakti Sutra on Divine Love
Inexpressible is the nature of love,
Like sweetness tasted by a mute,
And rare, expressing itself in a bosom fit,
Bereft of qualities,
Devoid of desires,
Continuous and ever increasing,
All pervasive,
Subtle in extreme,
Of the form of experiencing,
Gaining which one sees Him only,
Hears only of Him,
Speak about Him
And contemplates upon Him alone.
And rare, expressing itself in a bosom fit,
Bereft of qualities,
Devoid of desires,
Continuous and ever increasing,
All pervasive,
Subtle in extreme,
Of the form of experiencing,
Gaining which one sees Him only,
Hears only of Him,
Speak about Him
And contemplates upon Him alone.
Divine Love as supreme devotion is indeed, as a technique, even superior to the path of action, the path of knowledge and the path of disciplined contemplation. (Narada Bhakti Sutra 2:1:25)
Than all other paths, devotion is the one most readily available and most easily attainable. (6:1:58)
Having dedicated all activities unto Him, the devotee should turn all desire, anger, pride, and so forth toward Him alone. (6:2:65)
Having gained this supreme devotion, the devotee attains perfection and immortality and becomes extremely satisfied. (1:1:4)
Having attained devotion, he cares for nothing, never grieves, never hates, never indulges in anything, finds no urge or enthusiasm for sense enjoyments. (1:1:5)
Because Love is of the nature of peace; it is of the nature of supreme bliss. (6:1:60)