Narada Bhakti Sutra

The Narada Bhakti Sutra (IAST: Nrada Bhakti S-tra) is a well known sutra venerated within the traditionsof Hinduism, purportedly spoken by the famous sage,Narada. The text details the process of devotion (Bhakti),or Bhakti yoga and is thus of particular importance tomany of the Bhakti movements within Hinduism. It hasreceived particular attention among the Vaishnava tradi-tions.Sanskrit scriptures often appear in variant editions whichmay show dierences in organization and verse num-bering. For example in the translation by Swami Prab-havananda there are eighty-four verses arranged in ninechapters,[1] whereas in the Bhaktivedanta Book Trusttranslation by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupadaand his disciple Satsvarupa dasa the eighty-four verses areorganised into ve chapters.[2]

As organized by Swami Prabhavananda, the text coversthe following subjects:

Chapter 1 (verses 1-6) provides a denition ofbhakti.

Chapter 2 (verses 7-14) stresses the importance ofrenunciation and self-surrender.

Chapter 3 (verses 15-24) provides exemplars of di-vine love.

Chapter 4 (verses 25-33) endorses bhakti as thehighest goal of human life.

Chapter 5 (verses 34-42) provides suggestions onhow to practice divine love.

Chapter 6 (verses 43-50) explains the importance ofseeking holy company.

Chapter 7 (verses 51-57) discusses the dierencebetween preparatory and supreme devotion.

Chapter 8 (verses 58-73) covers the forms of divinelove.

Chapter 9 (verses 74-84) recommends the practiceof ethical virtues and worship of God.

In the translation by Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupadathe chapters break at similar points, but with the rst fourchapters arranged into double the amount of verses:

Chapter 1 (verses 1-14) The Value of Devotion

Chapter 2 (verses 15-33) Dening Bhakti Chapter 3 (verses 34-50) The Means of Achieve-ment

Chapter 4 (verses 51-73) Pure and Mixed Devotion Chapter 5 (verses 74-84) Attaining Perfection

1 Key ConceptsWithin the text Narada explains the perfectional stage ofpure devotion; the process to achieve this state; gives quo-tations from other Vedic personalities on the subject mat-ter; things to avoid when developing bhakti; and nallyexplains the nature of seless love and the dierent formsof attachment to the Supreme person.

1.1 Pure devotion

Sage Narada oering respect to Vishnu on Garuda.

Firstly bhakti itself is dened as being the most ele-vated, pure love for God[3] which is eternal by nature

1

2 1 KEY CONCEPTS

and through following which one obtains perfect peaceand immortality (release from samsara). The symptomsof such devotion are that one no longer has any selshdesires, nor is aected by the dualities of loss or gainfor himself being fully content with (and experiencingecstasy through) the process of bhakti itself. Narada de-scribes that lust is absent in those who execute bhaktipurely because they naturally have no personal desires tofulll.The aspirant bhakta is encouraged to renounce socialcustoms and religious rituals and to focus purely onservice to God with exclusive dedication, being indier-ent to whatever may stand in the way of such service.[4]Activities of social custom and religious rituals that arefavorable to devotional service are still promoted but de-votional activities are given as the only means for reach-ing the perfection of life.[5]

The text then goes on to quote Vyasa, Garga and Sandilyain terms of their opinions on what is bhakti, giving theopinion that all three are correct but declaring in conclu-sion that bhakti consists of oering ones every act to theSupreme Lord and feeling extreme distress in forgettingHim.[6] The Gopis (cowherd women) of Vrindavan aregiven as an example of devotees who display this form ofpure bhakti, but warning is also given about 'false devo-tion' that imitates this perfectional stage. Narada followsthis warning by stating, Furthermore, the Lord dislikesthe proud but is pleased with the humble.[7]

1.2 Bhakti begets bhaktiAn important point is made in verse 30 in regard to therelationship between bhakti and knowledge: But the sonof Brahma [Narada] says that bhakti is its own fruit.[8]In his commentary, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhu-pada further describes in regard to this verse that bhaktiis not dependent on anything else for nourishment[9] be-ing complete in itself, without dependence on the pathsof either knowledge or renunciation.

1.3 Obtaining bhaktiThe methods initially described for obtaining bhakti areas follows:

Giving up worldly pleasures and the close companyof others who indulge in such activities

Worshipping the Supreme Lord ceaselesly Hearing and speaking about the Lords special qual-ities and activities

However, following these three, the text gives the graceof great souls or a small drop of the Lords grace[10] asthe most important factors in developing true devotion.

Saying that such association is so rare and precious that itcan only be obtained through the grace of God Himself,thus the instruction is given in verse 42: Strive, striveonly for the association of pure devotees.[11]

1.4 Items to avoidAlongside the acceptance of positive practices in the cul-tivation bhakti, the text also describes items which shouldbe avoided by the aspiring bhakta. Intimate dealings withothers who are against the path of bhakti or who indulgein sinful habits is described as potentially dangerous forone attempting to purify their consciousness: Materialassociation is the cause of lust, anger, confusion, forget-fulness, loss of intelligence, and total calamity.[12] It fur-ther explains that only one who abandons such materialassociation, serves the sages and becomes seless in theirdealings, renouncing desires for prot or gain, can crossbeyond the ocean of illusion. Even the Vedas are given asan object to renounce for one for wants to obtain pure anduninterrupted love for God.[13] In later chapters howeveran instruction is also given that respect should be shownfor all scriptures which promote bhakti (devotion) and anaspirant bhakta should endeavour to follow the instruc-tions of such texts.[14]

1.5 The nature of pure loveThe text states that the true nature of pure love of Godis beyond description, but this does not restrict God fromrevealing it to those who are qualied. Once this purelove is obtained it says that a person looks only at theLord, hears only about Him, speaks only of Him, andthinks only of Him.[15] Secondary forms of this love aregiven as stepping stones which bring one to the perfec-tional stage, with each stage nearer to perfection beingbetter than those preceding it.[16] It is also stated that per-fection is attained much more easily by bhakti than byany other process. The reason is that bhakti does notdepend on any other authority for its validity, being it-self the standard of authority. Furthermore, bhakti is theembodiment of peace and supreme ecstasy..[17]

1.6 Ultimate attachmentIn conclusion the sutra gives an instruction to patientlyendure [18] until the perfectional stage of bhakti becomesmanifest, whilst cultivating qualities such as nonviolence,honesty, cleanliness, compassion and faith. Again it issaid that the Lord reveals Himself to His devotees[19]and that bhakti is the most precious of all possessions.Next a list of forms of attachment is given, through whicha devotee should attain a loving feeling towards God, in-cluding :

attachment to the Lords qualities

3 attachment to His beauty, attachment to worshiping Him, attachment to remembering Him, attachment to serving Him, attachment to dealing with Him as a friend, attachment to surrendering ones self completely toHim,

attachment to being absorbed in thoughts of Him,

Finally a number of devotional gures from Puranicscriptures are quoted as being agreement with the truthof the process given, including: the Four Kumaras,Vyasa, uka, Sandilya, Garga, Vishnu, Kaundilya, Sesha,Uddhava, Aruni, Bali, Hanuman and Vibhishana.The last verse of the text gives the message that: Any-one who trusts these instructions spoken by Narada andis convinced by them will be blessed with devotion andattain the most dear Lord. Yes, he will attain the mostdear Lord. [20]

2 See also Bhakti Hinduism Narada

3 References[1] Swami Prabhavananda. Naradas Way of Divine Love

(Narada Bhakti Sutras). (Sri Ramakrishna Math:Madras). Provides Sanskrit text translated into Englishwith a commentary by Swami Prabhavananda. ISBN 81-7120-506-2.

[2] Narada Bhakti Sutra Online (complete)

[3] NBS Verse 2

[4] NBS Verse 9

[5] NBS Verse 12

[6] NBS Verse 19

[7] NBS Verse 27

[8] NBS Verse 30

[9] NBS Verse 30 purport

[10] NBS Verse 38

[11] NBS verse 42

[12] NBS verse 44

[13] NBS verse 49

[14] NBS Verse 76

[15] NBS verse 55

[16] NBS verse 57

[17] NBS verse 60

[18] NBS Verse 77

[19] NBS Verse 80

[20] NBS verse 84

4 Bibliography Bhakti Ratnavali with the Commentary of Visnu PuriText with Translation/ Divine Books, Delhi

Sri Narada Pancaratram - The Jnanamrita SaraSamhita/ Translated by Swami Vijnananda. DivineBooks, Delhi.

Swami Bhuteshananda. Narada Bhakti Sutras. (Ad-vaita Ashrama: Calcutta, 1999). ISBN 81-7505-199-X. Provides Sanskrit text translated into En-glish with a commentary by Swami Bhuteshananda,the 12th President of the Ramakrishna Math. Thiscommentary views the work within the context ofAdvaita Vedanta.

Swami Chinmayananda (2005), Narada Bhakti Su-tra. Central Chinmaya Mission Trust. ISBN8175973064.

Swami Prabhavananda. Naradas Way of DivineLove (Narada Bhakti Sutras). (Sri RamakrishnaMath: Madras). ISBN 81-7120-506-2. ProvidesSanskrit text translated into English with a com-mentary by Swami Prabhavananda. This commen-tary views the work within the context of AdvaitaVedanta as understood within the RamakrishnaMath.

Swami Prabhupada. Narada-bhakti-sutra: The Se-crets of Transcendental Love. (Bhaktivedanta BookTrust: 1998). ISBN 0-89213-273-6. Translationby A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and hisdisciple Satsvarupa dasa Goswami. Provides San-skrit text translated into English with commentaryfrom a Gaudiya Vaishnava perspective alongside theSanskrit text, viewing Naradas teachings within thecontext of other devotional scriptures such as theBhagavata Purana, emphasizing the role of Krishna.

Swami Sivananda (1997). Narada Bhakti Sutras.Divine Life Society. ISBN 8170520681.

4 5 EXTERNAL LINKS

Swami Vivekananda, Narada Bhakti Sutra

Prem Prakash. The Yoga of Spiritual Devotion:A Modern Translation of the Narada Bhakti Su-tras. (Inner Traditions International: Rochester,Vermont, 1998). ISBN 0-89281-664-3. ProvidesSanskrit text translated into English with a commen-tary by a Westerner.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Narada Bhakti Sutra. (Artof Living). Oers interpretation of Narada BhaktiSutra in simple to understand words.

5 External links Narada Bhakti Sutra Online translation (complete)(naradabhaktisutra.com)

English Translation of Narada Bhakti Sutra(sankaracharya.org)

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Key ConceptsPure devotionBhakti begets bhaktiObtaining bhaktiItems to avoidThe nature of pure loveUltimate attachment

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