Narada Bhakti Sutra

Chapter 2 (verses 15-33) Dening Bhakti

The Narada Bhakti Sutra (IAST: Nrada Bhakti Stra) is a well known sutra venerated within the traditions
of 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 to
many of the Bhakti movements within Hinduism. It has
received particular attention among the Vaishnava traditions.

Chapter 3 (verses 34-50) The Means of Achievement

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

Sanskrit scriptures often appear in variant editions which

may show dierences in organization and verse numbering. For example in the translation by Swami Prabhavananda there are eighty-four verses arranged in nine
chapters,[1] whereas in the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust
translation by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
and his disciple Satsvarupa dasa the eighty-four verses are
organised into ve chapters.[2]

1 Key Concepts

Within the text Narada explains the perfectional stage of

pure devotion; the process to achieve this state; gives quotations from other Vedic personalities on the subject matter; things to avoid when developing bhakti; and nally
explains the nature of seless love and the dierent forms
As organized by Swami Prabhavananda, the text covers of attachment to the Supreme person.
the following subjects:

1.1 Pure devotion

Chapter 1 (verses 1-6) provides a denition of

bhakti.
Chapter 2 (verses 7-14) stresses the importance of
renunciation and self-surrender.
Chapter 3 (verses 15-24) provides exemplars of divine love.
Chapter 4 (verses 25-33) endorses bhakti as the
highest goal of human life.
Chapter 5 (verses 34-42) provides suggestions on
how to practice divine love.
Chapter 6 (verses 43-50) explains the importance of
seeking holy company.
Chapter 7 (verses 51-57) discusses the dierence
between preparatory and supreme devotion.
Chapter 8 (verses 58-73) covers the forms of divine
love.
Chapter 9 (verses 74-84) recommends the practice
of ethical virtues and worship of God.

In the translation by Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

the chapters break at similar points, but with the rst four Sage Narada oering respect to Vishnu on Garuda.
chapters arranged into double the amount of verses:
Firstly bhakti itself is dened as being the most elevated, pure love for God[3] which is eternal by nature

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

1

1 KEY CONCEPTS

and through following which one obtains perfect peace

and immortality (release from samsara). The symptoms
of such devotion are that one no longer has any selsh
desires, nor is aected by the dualities of loss or gain
for himself being fully content with (and experiencing
ecstasy through) the process of bhakti itself. Narada describes that lust is absent in those who execute bhakti
purely because they naturally have no personal desires to
fulll.
The aspirant bhakta is encouraged to renounce social
customs and religious rituals and to focus purely on
service to God with exclusive dedication, being indierent to whatever may stand in the way of such service.[4]
Activities of social custom and religious rituals that are
favorable to devotional service are still promoted but devotional activities are given as the only means for reaching the perfection of life.[5]

Saying that such association is so rare and precious that it

can only be obtained through the grace of God Himself,
thus the instruction is given in verse 42: Strive, strive
only for the association of pure devotees.[11]

1.4 Items to avoid

Alongside the acceptance of positive practices in the cultivation bhakti, the text also describes items which should
be avoided by the aspiring bhakta. Intimate dealings with
others who are against the path of bhakti or who indulge
in sinful habits is described as potentially dangerous for
one attempting to purify their consciousness: Material
association is the cause of lust, anger, confusion, forgetfulness, loss of intelligence, and total calamity.[12] It further explains that only one who abandons such material
association, serves the sages and becomes seless in their
dealings, renouncing desires for prot or gain, can cross
beyond the ocean of illusion. Even the Vedas are given as
an object to renounce for one for wants to obtain pure and
uninterrupted love for God.[13] In later chapters however
an instruction is also given that respect should be shown
for all scriptures which promote bhakti (devotion) and an
aspirant bhakta should endeavour to follow the instructions of such texts.[14]

The text then goes on to quote Vyasa, Garga and Sandilya

in terms of their opinions on what is bhakti, giving the
opinion that all three are correct but declaring in conclusion that bhakti consists of oering ones every act to the
Supreme Lord and feeling extreme distress in forgetting
Him.[6] The Gopis (cowherd women) of Vrindavan are
given as an example of devotees who display this form of
pure bhakti, but warning is also given about 'false devotion' that imitates this perfectional stage. Narada follows
this warning by stating, Furthermore, the Lord dislikes
1.5
the proud but is pleased with the humble.[7]

1.2

Bhakti begets bhakti

An important point is made in verse 30 in regard to the

relationship between bhakti and knowledge: But the son
of Brahma [Narada] says that bhakti is its own fruit.[8]
In his commentary, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada further describes in regard to this verse that bhakti
is not dependent on anything else for nourishment[9] being complete in itself, without dependence on the paths
of either knowledge or renunciation.

1.3

Obtaining bhakti

The nature of pure love

The text states that the true nature of pure love of God
is beyond description, but this does not restrict God from
revealing it to those who are qualied. Once this pure
love is obtained it says that a person looks only at the
Lord, hears only about Him, speaks only of Him, and
thinks only of Him.[15] Secondary forms of this love are
given as stepping stones which bring one to the perfectional stage, with each stage nearer to perfection being
better than those preceding it.[16] It is also stated that perfection is attained much more easily by bhakti than by
any other process. The reason is that bhakti does not
depend on any other authority for its validity, being itself the standard of authority. Furthermore, bhakti is the
embodiment of peace and supreme ecstasy..[17]

The methods initially described for obtaining bhakti are

1.6
as follows:

Ultimate attachment

In conclusion the sutra gives an instruction to patiently

Giving up worldly pleasures and the close company endure [18] until the perfectional stage of bhakti becomes
of others who indulge in such activities
manifest, whilst cultivating qualities such as nonviolence,
honesty, cleanliness, compassion and faith. Again it is
Worshipping the Supreme Lord ceaselesly
said that the Lord reveals Himself to His devotees[19]
Hearing and speaking about the Lords special qual- and that bhakti is the most precious of all possessions.
ities and activities
Next a list of forms of attachment is given, through which
a devotee should attain a loving feeling towards God, inHowever, following these three, the text gives the grace cluding :
of great souls or a small drop of the Lords grace[10] as
the most important factors in developing true devotion.
attachment to the Lords qualities

3
attachment to His beauty,

[13] NBS verse 49

attachment to worshiping Him,

[14] NBS Verse 76

attachment to remembering Him,

[15] NBS verse 55

attachment to serving Him,

[16] NBS verse 57

attachment to dealing with Him as a friend,

[17] NBS verse 60

attachment to surrendering ones self completely to

Him,

[18] NBS Verse 77

attachment to being absorbed in thoughts of Him,

Finally a number of devotional gures from Puranic
scriptures are quoted as being agreement with the truth
of 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: Anyone who trusts these instructions spoken by Narada and
is convinced by them will be blessed with devotion and
attain the most dear Lord. Yes, he will attain the most
dear Lord. [20]

See also
Bhakti
Hinduism
Narada

References

[1] Swami Prabhavananda. Naradas Way of Divine Love

(Narada Bhakti Sutras).
(Sri Ramakrishna Math:
Madras). Provides Sanskrit text translated into English
with a commentary by Swami Prabhavananda. ISBN 817120-506-2.
[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

[19] NBS Verse 80

[20] NBS verse 84

4 Bibliography
Bhakti Ratnavali with the Commentary of Visnu Puri
Text with Translation/ Divine Books, Delhi
Sri Narada Pancaratram - The Jnanamrita Sara
Samhita/ Translated by Swami Vijnananda. Divine
Books, Delhi.
Swami Bhuteshananda. Narada Bhakti Sutras. (Advaita Ashrama: Calcutta, 1999). ISBN 81-7505199-X. Provides Sanskrit text translated into English with a commentary by Swami Bhuteshananda,
the 12th President of the Ramakrishna Math. This
commentary views the work within the context of
Advaita Vedanta.
Swami Chinmayananda (2005), Narada Bhakti Sutra. Central Chinmaya Mission Trust. ISBN
8175973064.
Swami Prabhavananda. Naradas Way of Divine
Love (Narada Bhakti Sutras). (Sri Ramakrishna
Math: Madras). ISBN 81-7120-506-2. Provides
Sanskrit text translated into English with a commentary by Swami Prabhavananda. This commentary views the work within the context of Advaita
Vedanta as understood within the Ramakrishna
Math.
Swami Prabhupada. Narada-bhakti-sutra: The Secrets of Transcendental Love. (Bhaktivedanta Book
Trust: 1998). ISBN 0-89213-273-6. Translation
by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and his
disciple Satsvarupa dasa Goswami. Provides Sanskrit text translated into English with commentary
from a Gaudiya Vaishnava perspective alongside the
Sanskrit text, viewing Naradas teachings within the
context of other devotional scriptures such as the
Bhagavata Purana, emphasizing the role of Krishna.
Swami Sivananda (1997). Narada Bhakti Sutras.
Divine Life Society. ISBN 8170520681.

5
Swami Vivekananda, Narada Bhakti Sutra
Prem Prakash. The Yoga of Spiritual Devotion:
A Modern Translation of the Narada Bhakti Sutras. (Inner Traditions International: Rochester,
Vermont, 1998). ISBN 0-89281-664-3. Provides
Sanskrit text translated into English with a commentary by a Westerner.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Narada Bhakti Sutra. (Art
of Living). Oers interpretation of Narada Bhakti
Sutra in simple to understand words.

External links
Narada Bhakti Sutra Online translation (complete)
(naradabhaktisutra.com)
English Translation of Narada Bhakti Sutra
(sankaracharya.org)

EXTERNAL LINKS

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