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Bhakti

भक्ति

Also known as भक्तियोग · भगवच्छिक्षया · Bhakti-yoga

Causeless and unbroken

The supreme dharma is devotion that is 'ahaituky apratihata' - without ulterior motive, unimpeded (SB 1.2.6).

Received through shruti and joined with knowledge and detachment

The faithful, equipped with jnana and vairagya, see the self by devotion received from shruti: 'bhaktya shruta-grihitaya' (SB 1.2.12).

Grants realization of the truth of the Lord

To the cheerful-minded engaged in bhakti-yoga, freed of other attachment, realization of the Lord's truth arises: 'bhagavat-tattva-vijnanam mukta-sangasya jayate' (SB 1.2.20).

Cuts the heart-knot, severs doubts, dissolves karma

Seeing the Lord in the self: 'bhidyate hrdaya-granthih chidyante sarva-samshayah kshiyante casya karmani' (SB 1.2.21).

The wise ever render it to Vasudeva

'Ato vai kavayo nityam bhaktim paramaya muda vasudeve bhagavati kurvantyatma-prasadanim' (SB 1.2.22).

Even falling while immature in bhakti, no inauspiciousness

'Tyaktva svadharmam charanambujam hareh bhajanapakvo 'tha patet tato yadi' (SB 1.5.17).

Cure for the threefold misery: action in the Lord, meditation on Brahman

'Etat samsucitam brahman tapa-traya-cikitsitam yad ishvare bhagavati karma brahmani bhavitam' (SB 1.5.32).

All karmic engagements cause samsara; offered to the Transcendent they become liberation

'Evam nrinam kriya-yogah sarve samsriti-hetavah ta evatma-vinashaya kalpante kalpitah pare' (SB 1.5.34).

Service of Mukunda surpasses the paths of yoga

'Yamadibhir yoga-pathaih... mukunda-sevaya yadvat tathatmadha na shyamyati' (SB 1.6.36).

Long service of the holy makes the mind firm

'Sat-sevaya adirghaya te jata mayi dridha matih' (SB 1.6.24).

Even self-satisfied munis render causeless devotion to Hari

'atmaramas ca munayo nirgrantha apy urukrame kurvanty ahaitukim bhaktim' (SB 1.7.10).

Hearing, singing, recounting, remembering and delighting — the fivefold practice

'shrinvanti gayanti grinanty abhikshnashah smaranti nandanti tavehitam janah' (SB 1.8.36); the fruit is sight of the lotus feet that halt the flow of samsara.

Bad company falls away through good company; fame once heard cannot be given up

'satsangan mukta-duhsango hatum notsahate budhah kirtyamanam yasho yasya sakrid akarnya rocanam' (SB 1.10.11).

Beside Hari-katha, other talk is life spent in vain

'kim anyair asad-alapair ayusho yad asad-vyayah' (SB 1.16.6); the dull man's years are stolen by sleep at night and futile works by day (SB 1.16.9).

Neither heaven nor liberation weighs against a moment of devotees' company

'tulayama lavenapi na svargam napunar-bhavam bhagavat-sangi-sangasya' (SB 1.18.13).

Devotees do not retaliate though slighted, cursed or struck

'tiraskrita vipralabdhah shaptah kshipta hata api nasya tat pratikurvanti tad-bhaktah prabhavo 'pi hi' (SB 1.18.48) — though indeed they have the power.

Saints, on the pretext of visiting holy places, themselves purify them

'prayena tirthabhigamapadeshaih svayam hi tirthani punanti santah' (SB 1.19.8); by mere remembrance houses are purified (SB 1.19.33).

Hearing, glorifying and remembering — the way for one who desires fearlessness

'shrotavyah kirtitavyash ca smartavyash cecchatabhayam' (SB 2.1.5); the chanting of Hari's name is determined for all three — the dispassionate, the desirous and the yogis (SB 2.1.11).

The wise need not court the rich, for nature itself suffices

'satyam kshitau kim kashipoh prayasaih' (SB 2.2.4); 'kasmad bhajanti kavayo dhana-durmadandhan' (SB 2.2.5).

There is no other auspicious path than devotion to Vasudeva

'na hy ato 'nyah shivah pantha vishatah samsritav iha, vasudeve bhagavati bhakti-yogo yato bhavet' (SB 2.2.33); Brahma concluded the same after thrice surveying the Veda (SB 2.2.34).

Desireless, full of desire, or desiring liberation — one prescription for all

'akamah sarva-kamo va moksha-kama udara-dhih, tivrena bhakti-yogena yajeta purusham param' (SB 2.3.10) — this verse overturns the entire list of desire-specific deities given at SB 2.3.2-9.

The bodily signs of feeling: tears in the eyes, thrill in the hairs

'tad ashma-saram hridayam batedam yad grihyamanair hari-namadheyaih na vikriyeta' (SB 2.3.24) — the heart unchanged by Hari's names is iron.

Unshakable feeling for the Lord arises only from the company of devotees

'etavan eva yajatam iha nihshreyasodayah, bhagavaty acalo bhavo yad bhagavata-sangatah' (SB 2.3.11).

Even Kiratas, Hunas, Yavanas and the rest are purified by taking refuge in His refugees

'kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasha abhira-kanka yavanah khasadayah, ye 'nye ca papa yad-apashrayashrayah shudhyanti' (SB 2.4.18).

By daily hearing and reciting with faith, the Lord soon enters the heart

'shrinvatah shraddhaya nityam grinatash ca sva-ceshtitam, kalena natidirghena bhagavan vishate hridi' (SB 2.8.4); entering by the ear He clears the impurity as autumn clears water (SB 2.8.5).

Bhakti — supreme form of — Dharma

Devotion is declared the highest dharma of human beings: 'sa vai pumsam paro dharmo' (SB 1.2.6). Evidence: EXPLICIT.

Bhakti — directed to — Krishna

That supreme dharma is devotion to Adhokshaja (Krishna): 'yato bhaktir adhokshaje' (SB 1.2.6). Evidence: EXPLICIT.

Bhakti — yields — Vairagya

Bhakti-yoga applied to Vasudeva quickly begets detachment: 'janayaty asu vairagyam' (SB 1.2.7). Evidence: EXPLICIT.

Bhakti — yields — Jnana

Bhakti-yoga quickly begets causeless knowledge: 'jnanam ca yad ahaitukam' (SB 1.2.7). Evidence: EXPLICIT.

Bhakti — cleanses — Rajas-guna

Hearing of Krishna dwells in the heart and 'shakes away' the inauspicious (SB 1.2.17), so that the states of rajas - lust, greed and the like - are removed (SB 1.2.19). Evidence: EXPLICIT chain (1.2.17-19).

Bhakti — cleanses — Tamas-guna

Bhakti, with hearing of the Lord, removes the tamas-state together with rajas (SB 1.2.17-19). Evidence: EXPLICIT chain.