Bhakti Sandarbha is the fifth book of the Six Sandarbhas. It offers a thorough analysis of Bhakti, or devotion, on the basis of Srimad Bhagavatam. Jiva Gosvami states that the Bhagavatam prescribes Bhakti as the most efficacious and universal process (abhidheya) for realizing the absolute. Bhakti has never been established as abhidheya so systematically and emphatically as in this book. Earlier Bhakti was generally considered as one among various spiritual processes, including karma-yoga, jnana-yoga and astanga-yoga. Moreover it was usually regarded as a precursor to jnana, which ultimately leads to liberation. Rarely was Bhakti viewed as an independent process. In contrast to this, Jiva Gosvami asserts that Bhakti is the complete abhidheya, and as such all other processes become futile when bereft of devotion. Other practices have enduring significance only through contact with devotion. Even realization of Brahman is possible only by the grace of Bhakti. Bhakti is the most blissful process both in practice and in perfection.
About the Author:
Dr. Satya Narayana Dasa earned his graduate degrees, B. Tech. & M. Tech. In engineering, from IIT Delhi, and worked as a software engineer in USA for a few years.
He gave up a promising carrier in this field to pursue the inner quest for truth. He studied Sanskrit and the six systems of Indian philosophy under various traditional Gurus in Vrndavana. He also studied the entire range of Gaudiya Vaisnava literature from his Guru. Sri Haridas Sastri, one of the eminent scholars and saints of India.
Dr. Satya Narayana Dasa (PhD. Sanskrit) founded Jiva Institute to promote Vedic culture, philosophy and ayurveda through education. He regularly gives classes on Gaudiya Vaisnava literature, and has authored many books on the subject. He has contributed to the twenty-five volume work brought out by the project of history of Indian science, philosophy and culture.
Bruce Martin has been studying the systems of Indian philosophy, especially that of the Chaitanya School, for over twenty-five years. Besides English, he is conversant in French, Sanskrit, Bengali and Hindi. He has translated and edited several Vaisnava works, including Bhagavad-gita, Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu-bindu, Siksastaka and Mana-siksa. He is well read in both modern and traditional systems of philosophy and is particularly concerned with bringing out the relevance of ancient wisdom traditions for modern practitioners.
Back of Book:
How is it that the living being
who is trapped in a material body
created by his own karma is a
part of the unlimited Lord?
This is described in the verse by the compound abahirantara-samvaranam, meaning that in reality the living being is devoid of external and internal coverings. It is covered only by the designations with which it identifies. Therefore the living being is exclusively a part of the Lord, who is also devoid of all coverings. Knowing this truth, that the living being characterized above is by nature under the shelter of the Lord and that the Lord is his very life, the learned, being full of faith, worship only the Lord's feet.
Therefore, although the jivas are eternally under the Lord's shelter, they experience material misery because their attention is directed towards the world of material phenomena and away from the Lord. The material miseries sun away of their own accord when one turns one's attention towards the Lord. This is the significance of the word abhavam, "in which there is no existence of the material world," which also qualifies the Lord's feet. This means that when one turns to the Lord, material existence comes to an end.
| Abbreviations | ix | |
| Abbreviations (Devanagari) | x | |
| Introduction | xxiii | |
| A methodology for realization of the Absolute (Anu 1-9) | 17 | |
| Anu 1 Review of the principles of sambandha | 17 | |
| Ignorance is the cause of bondage | 18 | |
| Instructions are for those in ignorance | 19 | |
| The need for a methodology and goal | 20 | |
| Shifting awareness towards the Absolute is the methodology | 21 | |
| Anu 2 Bhakti is the methodology that cuts bondage | 22 | |
| Anu 3 Bhakti is the complete method of focusing on the Absolute | 23 | |
| Bhakti is the supreme duty of humanity | 24 | |
| Anu 4 Knowledge and detachment follow in the wake of bhakti | 26 | |
| Anu 5 Dharma is fruitful only when it leads to bhakti | 26 | |
| Anu 6 Dharma is meant for ultimate liberation, known as bhakti | 28 | |
| Universal referent for the Absolute | 29 | |
| Anu 7 Bhakti bestows complete realization of the Absolute | 30 | |
| Anu 8 Bhakti is the supreme fruit of duty | 31 | |
| Anu 9 Suta advocates direct bhakti | 32 | |
| The ease of devotion: Five stages of progression (Anu 10-17) | 38 | |
| Anu 10 A taste for hearing topics of the Absolute-the first step in bhakti | 38 | |
| Anu 11 Association of devotees leads to taste in hearing | 39 | |
| Anu 12 Hearing uproots unwanted desire from the heart | 40 | |
| Anu 13 Becoming established in devotional fixity | 40 | |
| Anu 14 Spiritual awareness illumines the heart | 41 | |
| Anu 15 Direct experience of the Absolute | 41 | |
| Anu 16 Side-effects of awakening | 42 | |
| Anu 17 Devotion is the activity of the awakened | 43 | |
| Devotion intended for Sri Krsna, the complete whole (Anu 18-32) | 59 | |
| Disregard for the worship of other gods (Anu 18-20) | ||
| Anu 18 Brahma and Siva promote rajas and tamas | 59 | |
| Visnu alone promotes sattva | 60 | |
| Krsna's form is pure sattva | 61 | |
| Anu 19 Worship of other gods is for those with desire | 61 | |
| Anu 20 Worship of other gods conducted under rajas and tamas | 62 | |
| Devotion is meant for the entity who embodies complete synthesis (Anu 21-32) | ||
| Anu 21 All scripture culminates in the worship of Krsna | 62 | |
| Anu 22 Krsna is the complete synthesis | 64 | |
| Anu 23 Awareness without devotion lacks beauty | 64 | |
| Desireless action without devotion is stripped of beauty | 65 | |
| Bhakti is all-auspicious, even if not completed | 65 | |
| Anu 24 Devotion unto Ultimate Reality is existential methodology | 67 | |
| Anu 25 Devotion is meant for the master and Soul of all | 67 | |
| Anu 26 Devotion is meant for the witness of all phenomena | 68 | |
| Meditation on the cosmos culminates in worship of Narayana | 69 | |
| The Lord is the agent even of dreams | 69 | |
| Anu 27 Meditation on the cosmos is advised until devotion manifests | 70 | |
| Anu 28 Jnana: the path of immediate liberation | 71 | |
| Yoga: the path of gradual liberation | 71 | |
| Bhakti: the path of true liberation | 71 | |
| Anu 29 Devotion is the essence of all the Vedas | 72 | |
| Only the complete whole can synthesize all the Vedas | 73 | |
| Anu 30 Devotion awakens love for Sri Krsna | 73 | |
| Anu 31 Bhakti is the methodology even for those with desire | 74 | |
| Anu 32 Bhakti is the supreme fruit of the worship of other gods | 76 | |
| Life without devotion is meaningless (Anu 33-40) | 82 | |
| Anu 33 Devotion transcends the debilitating effects of time | 82 | |
| Anu 34-35 Human life devoid of significance when stripped of devotion | 82 | |
| Anu 36-40 Bodily limbs lose their splendor without devotion | 83 | |
| Meditation on the cosmos leads to Visnu-bhakti | 85 | |
| Bhakti is the topic of discussion between teacher and student in the Bhagavata (Anu 41-94) | 136 | |
| Brahma instructs Narada in bhakti (Anu 41-42) | ||
| Anu 41 Brahma's ecstacy to disclose the Lord's pastimes | 136 | |
| Anu 42 Narayana is the ultimate destination | 137 | |
| Maitreya and Vidura discuss bhakti (Anu 43-45) | ||
| Anu 43 Bhakti is the path of joy | 138 | |
| Anu 44 Bhakti is the easy path of transcendence | 138 | |
| Anu 45 Devotees bring virtue to their environment | 139 | |
| Kapila teaches the yoga of devotion (Anu 46-47) | ||
| Anu 46 Bhakti is the best path for the yogis | 139 | |
| Anu 47 Bhakti confers equanimity of mind | 140 | |
| The Kumaras advocate bhakti to Prthu (Anu 48-49) | ||
| Anu 48 Bhakti cuts the knot of karma | 140 | |
| Anu 49 Prthu practiced jnana only as a component of bhakti | 141 | |
| Rudra spoke of bhakti to the Pracetas (Anu 50) | ||
| Anu 50 Dedications of mind and speech to Lord Hari | 142 | |
| Narada instructed the Pracetas on bhakti (Anu 51-52) | ||
| Anu 51 All faculties meant for the Soul of all beings | 143 | |
| Krsna is the Soul of all beings | 144 | |
| Anu 52 Devotion is meant for the root of all existence | 145 | |
| Rsabhadeva instructs his sons in devotion; | ||
| Jada Bharata instructs King Rahugana (Anu 53-54) | ||
| Anu 53 Devotees have no goal other than bhakti | 145 | |
| Anu 54 Association of devotees is the fruit of human life | 146 | |
| Sarikarsana instructs King Citraketu; Prahlada instructs his schoolmates (Anu 55-57) | ||
| Anu 55 Jnana recommended only as an instrument to bhakti | 147 | |
| Bhakti is the significance of human life | 147 | |
| All practices are meaningful when they assist devotion | 148 | |
| Anu 56 Bhakti is the best method of uprooting karma | 149 | |
| Anu 57 Bhakti continues for those who have transcended karma | 149 | |
| Narada instructs King Yudhisthira (Anu 58) | ||
| Anu 58 Lord Hari is the root of all dharma | 150 | |
| The self finds completion only through bhakti | 151 | |
| Dharma is not the cause of bhakti | 151 | |
| Bhakti is distinct from dharma | 152 | |
| The nine Yogendras instruct King Nimi (Anu 59-65) | ||
| Anu 59 Bhakti is ultimate welfare | 153 | |
| Anu 60 Bhakti is a continuity | 154 | |
| Anu 61 Bhakti is direct glorification of the Lord | 156 | |
| Anu 62 The Vedas teach in a concealed manner | 156 | |
| Karma prescribed for those lacking knowledge and faith | 158 | |
| Naiskarmya: The gradual path of freedom from karma | 159 | |
| Bhakti: The immediate path of freedom from karma | 160 | |
| Anu 63 Worship of the Supreme Lord is the sole requirement | 161 | |
| Anu 64 All varnas are meant to worship the Lord | 162 | |
| Devotees surpass all obstacles | 162 | |
| Degradation ensues from non-devotion | 163 | |
| Anu 65 The Lord is worshiped in all ages | 163 | |
| Krsna and Uddhava discuss bhakti (Anu 66-85) | ||
| Anu 66 Devotees abandon attachment through devotion | 164 | |
| Devotees are distinguished from jnanis | 164 | |
| Anu 67 Awareness cannot be perfected without devotion | 165 | |
| Anu 68-69 Vedic utterances devoid of lila-katha are of no value | 166 | |
| Anu 70 Awareness is effective when it leads to devotion | 168 | |
| Anu 71 Where jnana fails bhakti succeeds | 169 | |
| Anu 72 Pure devotion free from jnana | 170 | |
| Anu 73-74 Faith develops through association and taste | 171 | |
| Anu 75 Ascertaining the true path of ultimate welfare | 172 | |
| Anu 76-77 Why different interpretations of the Veda exist | 173 | |
| Anu 78-79 Subsidiary processes do not yield ultimate welfare | 174 | |
| Anu 80 Bhakti alone brings ultimate welfare | 174 | |
| Anu 81 Renunciation automatically follows devotion | 175 | |
| Anu 82 Freedom from bondage through devotion | 176 | |
| Anu 83 Jnana and vairagya not generally beneficial | 176 | |
| Anu 84 All fruits available through devotion | 177 | |
| Desire for fruit as an instrument to devotion | 178 | |
| Anu 85 The unique result of bhakti | 179 | |
| Sri Suka prescribed bhakti to King Pariksit (Anu 86) | ||
| Anu 86 Hearing is primary methodology | 180 | |
| Suta taught bhakti to Saunaka (Anu 87-92) | ||
| Anu 87 Knowledge without devotion is a limitation | 185 | |
| Anu 88 Conventional religion yields only material wealth | 185 | |
| Anu 89 Bhakti awards transcendence | 186 | |
| Anu 90 Devotion is the highest fortune | 186 | |
| Anu 91 Devotion arouses eagerness | 187 | |
| Anu 92 Bhakti is discussed by all teachers in the Bhagavata | 188 | |
| Bhakti is the methodology given in other dialogues of the Bhagavata (Anu 92-94) | ||
| Anu 92 Bhakti is the supreme duty of humanity | 189 | |
| Anu 93 Bhakti is the path of fearlessness | 189 | |
| Anu 94 Bhakti is the fruit of hearing scripture | 189 | |
| Bhakti is the culmination of all methods (Anu 95-105) | 209 | |
| Anu 95 All duties culminate in devotion | 209 | |
| Anu 96 Devotion includes awareness | 210 | |
| Anu 97 Bhakti is the source of all perfection | 211 | |
| Anu 98 Bhakti is independent of all methods | 213 | |
| Bhakti awards the supreme fruit | 214 | |
| Anu 99 Success in bhakti is assured, not in karma | 215 | |
| Anu 100 Inauspiciousness never ensues from devotion | 217 | |
| Devotion promotes an outcast beyond brahmanism | 217 | |
| Anu 101 Brahmanism is devoid of value without devotion | 219 | |
| Anu 102 Bhakti surpasses karma | 220 | |
| Anu 103 Bhakti surpasses yoga | 222 | |
| Anu 104 Bhakti surpasses jnana | 222 | |
| Bhakti subdues the Lord | 224 | |
| Anu 105 Jnana cannot be accomplished without bhakti | 225 | |
| Taking shelter of the complete whole (Anu 106-107) | 249 | |
| Anu 106 One should not seek shelter in any partiality | 249 | |
| Brahman and Siva should be worshiped as Vaisnavas | 251 | |
| Nondistinction relates to undifferentiated awareness | 252 | |
| Vaisnavas acknowledge distinction, not merely oneness | 253 | |
| Incidental worship of Bhagavan through Siva | 254 | |
| Worship of Visnu distinguished from that of Siva | 256 | |
| Allowances for the worship of other gods | 258 | |
| Krsna is not attained through independent worship of other gods | 259 | |
| One should not disrespect the devas | 260 | |
| Disrespect of Siva is a severe offence | 261 | |
| One should not disrespect any living being | 262 | |
| Worship performed by neophytes | 263 | |
| Malice is reprehensible | 264 | |
| The neophyte's worship has utility | 266 | |
| One should abandon the separatist mentality | 267 | |
| The highest stage of awareness | 268 | |
| Devotees naturally honor all beings | 270 | |
| All is included within worship of the complete whole | 271 | |
| Anu 107 The nature of the entity of highest shelter | 273 | |
| Bhakti is intrinsic duty (Anu 108-113) | 284 | |
| The defect of nondevotion (Anu 108-110) | ||
| Anu 108 Wastage of human potentiality | 284 | |
| Anu 109 Absence of virtue | 285 | |
| Anu 110 Disregard for the sage void of devotion | 286 | |
| The mystery of dharma hidden even from the sage | 287 | |
| Devotion meets the criteria of perpetuity (Anu 111-113) | ||
| Anu 111 Devotion surpasses yoga | 289 | |
| Devotion is the intrinsic duty of all | 289 | |
| The defect of nonfulfillment of intrinsic duty | 290 | |
| Anu 112 Bhakti continues even at the stage of liberation | 293 | |
| Anu 113 Bhakti is incumbent even upon the gods | 294 | |
| The Bhagavata discloses bhakti's essential nature as complete methodology (Anu 114-120) | 310 | |
| Anu 114 Bhakti established through the six criteria of scripture | 310 | |
| Anu 115 Bhakti is one of the ten primary subjects of the Bhagavata | 314 | |
| Bhakti is the import of the four seed verses of the Bhagavata | 315 | |
| Definitive character of true methodology | 316 | |
| Approval by affirmation and negation | 316 | |
| Universal pervasion of bhakti | 317 | |
| Bhakti lends perfection even to grammar | 323 | |
| Timelessness of bhakti | 323 | |
| The pointlessness of nondevotion | 325 | |
| Bhakti affirmed for all time and space | 327 | |
| Only bhakti meets the criteria of true methodology | 328 | |
| Anu 116-119 The Bhagavata was manifested to reveal bhakti | 329 | |
| Anu 120 Even the Lord is beautified by disclosing devotion | 331 | |
| Purifying power of devotion (Anu 121-130) | 347 | |
| Anu 121 Devotion is the sole requirement for all | 347 | |
| Bhakti destroys inauspiciousness | 349 | |
| Bhakti removes all obstacles | 349 | |
| Anu 122 Even the beginning devotee is unobstructed | 351 | |
| Anu 123-124 Bhakti removes all fear | 352 | |
| Anu 125-126 Bhakti destroys all sins | 353 | |
| Anu 127 Bhakti surpasses jnana in purification of sin | 356 | |
| Bhakti is direct purification, not a device of atonement | 357 | |
| Anu 128 Bhakti destroys even manifest reactions (prarabdha) | 357 | |
| Anu 129 Bhakti purifies the heart of desire | 360 | |
| Anu 130 Bhakti dispels ignorance | 361 | |
| Nourishing power of devotion (Anu 131-132) | 365 | |
| Anu 131 Bhakti nourishes all | 365 | |
| Anu 132 Bhakti bestows virtue and bliss | 366 | |
| Bhakti is nirguna (Anu 133-138) | 376 | |
| Anu 133 Even karma offered to the Lord is saguna | 376 | |
| Anu 134 Knowledge of Bhagavan is nirguna | 377 | |
| Knowledge of Brahman is saguna | 380 | |
| Knowledge and action are potencies belonging to Paramatma | 382 | |
| Anu 135 The residence of Bhagavan is nirguna | 384 | |
| Anu 136 Action for Bhagavan is nirguna | 386 | |
| Anu 137 Faith that impels devotion is nirguna | 386 | |
| Anu 138 Dharma rooted in Bhagavan is nirguna | 387 | |
| Bhakti is a unique aspect of the internal potency (Anu 139-144) | 393 | |
| Anu 139 Bhakti is self-manifest | 393 | |
| Anu 140 Bhakti is blissful | 394 | |
| Anu 141 Bhakti bestows love of God | 395 | |
| Anu 142 Bhakti is the supreme aspect of the delight-giving potency | 397 | |
| Anu 143 Bhakti magnifies the Lord's inherent bliss | 398 | |
| Anu 144 The Lord is the sole cause of devotion | 399 | |
| Bhakti bestows inconceivable results (Anu 145-148) | 410 | |
| Anu 145 Bhakti is the sole basis of God realization | 410 | |
| Anu 146 Bhakti enables one to attain the Lord | 410 | |
| Anu 147 Even sadhana-bhakti captivates the Lord | 411 | |
| Anu 148 Bhakti promotes even karma to the level of supreme dharma | 415 | |
| Bhakti transports a devotee beyond the jurisdiction of Yama | 415 | |
| Participation once in bhakti opens to perfection (Anu 149-164) | 444 | |
| Anu 149-150 The power of a single act of devotion | 444 | |
| Anu 151 Bhakti remains potent under all circumstances | 446 | |
| Even indirect devotion brings about perfection | 449 | |
| Anu 152 Even a semblance of devotion transports one to the abode of God | 450 | |
| Anu 153 Even as offence bearing a semblance of devotion carries power | 452 | |
| The glories of bhakti are real | 453 | |
| Offences obstruct devotion | 454 | |
| Repetition prescribed to eliminate offences | 456 | |
| Five effects of offences | 457 | |
| Anu 153-154 Crookedness | 458 | |
| Anu 155-156 Faithlessness | 459 | |
| Anu 157 Distraction | 461 | |
| Anu 158 Sometimes the Lord provokes one through desire | 462 | |
| Anu 159 Slackening of devotion | 462 | |
| Pride | 164 | |
| Anu 159-160 A single act of devotion bears fruit in the offenceless heart | 464 | |
| Anu 161 Direct vision of the Lord is positive attainment of His abode | 465 | |
| Anu 162 Ajamila's first utterance of the names was effective | 466 | |
| Anu 163-164 Bhakti manifests results in proportion to a devotee's qualification | 468 | |
in Natural Attraction (Anu 165-178) | ||
| The exclusivity of devotion (Anu 165-169) | 480 | |
| Anu 165 Direct devotion is the ultimate shift in awareness | 480 | |
| Unalloyed devotion entails freedom from extraneous desire | 482 | |
| Anu 166 The Lord and the devotee are desireless | 483 | |
| Anu 167 Worship is for the benefit of the worshiper | 484 | |
| Anu 168 Devotion tainted with desire is mere show | 485 | |
| Anu 169 Devotion constituted of nine limbs is the methodology | 488 | |
| Assessment of devotion through the eligibility of its performers (Anu 170-176) | 511 | |
| Anu 170 Three methods to shift awareness | 511 | |
| Anu 171 Sources of eligibility | 512 | |
| Anu 172 Faith: The sole requirement for unalloyed devotion | 514 | |
| General devotion is independent of faith | 516 | |
| Faith is an attribute of the performer | 518 | |
| Universal autonomy of devotion | 518 | |
| Characteristics of the candidate eligible for devotion | 519 | |
| Non-indulgence in the profane | 519 | |
| Anu 173 Jnana and bhakti are independent of karma | 522 | |
| Faith in bhakti concludes the jurisdiction of karma | 522 | |
| Surrender: The symptom of faith in ananya-bhakti | 524 | |
| Symptoms of faith in bhakti | 526 | |
| True faith and conventional faith | 528 | |
| Eligibility and ineligibility to give up karma | 531 | |
| Anu 174-175 Karma can become a means to shift awareness | 532 | |
| Anu 176 Three manifestations of the Absolute realized through awareness and devotion | 534 | |
| Bhakti includes and surpasses jnana | 538 | |
| Defects in worship of the qualified aspect | 539 | |
| Unalloyed devotion is absolute methodology | 540 | |
| Devotion born of natural attraction is true methodology (Anu 177-178) | 546 | |
| Anu 177 Devotion born of natural attraction transcends sin and piety | 546 | |
| Anu 178 Bhakti is the natural methodology for living beings | 547 | |
| The living being is a part of Paramatma | 548 | |
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Bhakti Sandarbha is the fifth book of the Six Sandarbhas. It offers a thorough analysis of Bhakti, or devotion, on the basis of Srimad Bhagavatam. Jiva Gosvami states that the Bhagavatam prescribes Bhakti as the most efficacious and universal process (abhidheya) for realizing the absolute. Bhakti has never been established as abhidheya so systematically and emphatically as in this book. Earlier Bhakti was generally considered as one among various spiritual processes, including karma-yoga, jnana-yoga and astanga-yoga. Moreover it was usually regarded as a precursor to jnana, which ultimately leads to liberation. Rarely was Bhakti viewed as an independent process. In contrast to this, Jiva Gosvami asserts that Bhakti is the complete abhidheya, and as such all other processes become futile when bereft of devotion. Other practices have enduring significance only through contact with devotion. Even realization of Brahman is possible only by the grace of Bhakti. Bhakti is the most blissful process both in practice and in perfection.
About the Author:
Dr. Satya Narayana Dasa earned his graduate degrees, B. Tech. & M. Tech. In engineering, from IIT Delhi, and worked as a software engineer in USA for a few years.
He gave up a promising carrier in this field to pursue the inner quest for truth. He studied Sanskrit and the six systems of Indian philosophy under various traditional Gurus in Vrndavana. He also studied the entire range of Gaudiya Vaisnava literature from his Guru. Sri Haridas Sastri, one of the eminent scholars and saints of India.
Dr. Satya Narayana Dasa (PhD. Sanskrit) founded Jiva Institute to promote Vedic culture, philosophy and ayurveda through education. He regularly gives classes on Gaudiya Vaisnava literature, and has authored many books on the subject. He has contributed to the twenty-five volume work brought out by the project of history of Indian science, philosophy and culture.
Bruce Martin has been studying the systems of Indian philosophy, especially that of the Chaitanya School, for over twenty-five years. Besides English, he is conversant in French, Sanskrit, Bengali and Hindi. He has translated and edited several Vaisnava works, including Bhagavad-gita, Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu-bindu, Siksastaka and Mana-siksa. He is well read in both modern and traditional systems of philosophy and is particularly concerned with bringing out the relevance of ancient wisdom traditions for modern practitioners.
Back of Book:
How is it that the living being
who is trapped in a material body
created by his own karma is a
part of the unlimited Lord?
This is described in the verse by the compound abahirantara-samvaranam, meaning that in reality the living being is devoid of external and internal coverings. It is covered only by the designations with which it identifies. Therefore the living being is exclusively a part of the Lord, who is also devoid of all coverings. Knowing this truth, that the living being characterized above is by nature under the shelter of the Lord and that the Lord is his very life, the learned, being full of faith, worship only the Lord's feet.
Therefore, although the jivas are eternally under the Lord's shelter, they experience material misery because their attention is directed towards the world of material phenomena and away from the Lord. The material miseries sun away of their own accord when one turns one's attention towards the Lord. This is the significance of the word abhavam, "in which there is no existence of the material world," which also qualifies the Lord's feet. This means that when one turns to the Lord, material existence comes to an end.
| Abbreviations | ix | |
| Abbreviations (Devanagari) | x | |
| Introduction | xxiii | |
| A methodology for realization of the Absolute (Anu 1-9) | 17 | |
| Anu 1 Review of the principles of sambandha | 17 | |
| Ignorance is the cause of bondage | 18 | |
| Instructions are for those in ignorance | 19 | |
| The need for a methodology and goal | 20 | |
| Shifting awareness towards the Absolute is the methodology | 21 | |
| Anu 2 Bhakti is the methodology that cuts bondage | 22 | |
| Anu 3 Bhakti is the complete method of focusing on the Absolute | 23 | |
| Bhakti is the supreme duty of humanity | 24 | |
| Anu 4 Knowledge and detachment follow in the wake of bhakti | 26 | |
| Anu 5 Dharma is fruitful only when it leads to bhakti | 26 | |
| Anu 6 Dharma is meant for ultimate liberation, known as bhakti | 28 | |
| Universal referent for the Absolute | 29 | |
| Anu 7 Bhakti bestows complete realization of the Absolute | 30 | |
| Anu 8 Bhakti is the supreme fruit of duty | 31 | |
| Anu 9 Suta advocates direct bhakti | 32 | |
| The ease of devotion: Five stages of progression (Anu 10-17) | 38 | |
| Anu 10 A taste for hearing topics of the Absolute-the first step in bhakti | 38 | |
| Anu 11 Association of devotees leads to taste in hearing | 39 | |
| Anu 12 Hearing uproots unwanted desire from the heart | 40 | |
| Anu 13 Becoming established in devotional fixity | 40 | |
| Anu 14 Spiritual awareness illumines the heart | 41 | |
| Anu 15 Direct experience of the Absolute | 41 | |
| Anu 16 Side-effects of awakening | 42 | |
| Anu 17 Devotion is the activity of the awakened | 43 | |
| Devotion intended for Sri Krsna, the complete whole (Anu 18-32) | 59 | |
| Disregard for the worship of other gods (Anu 18-20) | ||
| Anu 18 Brahma and Siva promote rajas and tamas | 59 | |
| Visnu alone promotes sattva | 60 | |
| Krsna's form is pure sattva | 61 | |
| Anu 19 Worship of other gods is for those with desire | 61 | |
| Anu 20 Worship of other gods conducted under rajas and tamas | 62 | |
| Devotion is meant for the entity who embodies complete synthesis (Anu 21-32) | ||
| Anu 21 All scripture culminates in the worship of Krsna | 62 | |
| Anu 22 Krsna is the complete synthesis | 64 | |
| Anu 23 Awareness without devotion lacks beauty | 64 | |
| Desireless action without devotion is stripped of beauty | 65 | |
| Bhakti is all-auspicious, even if not completed | 65 | |
| Anu 24 Devotion unto Ultimate Reality is existential methodology | 67 | |
| Anu 25 Devotion is meant for the master and Soul of all | 67 | |
| Anu 26 Devotion is meant for the witness of all phenomena | 68 | |
| Meditation on the cosmos culminates in worship of Narayana | 69 | |
| The Lord is the agent even of dreams | 69 | |
| Anu 27 Meditation on the cosmos is advised until devotion manifests | 70 | |
| Anu 28 Jnana: the path of immediate liberation | 71 | |
| Yoga: the path of gradual liberation | 71 | |
| Bhakti: the path of true liberation | 71 | |
| Anu 29 Devotion is the essence of all the Vedas | 72 | |
| Only the complete whole can synthesize all the Vedas | 73 | |
| Anu 30 Devotion awakens love for Sri Krsna | 73 | |
| Anu 31 Bhakti is the methodology even for those with desire | 74 | |
| Anu 32 Bhakti is the supreme fruit of the worship of other gods | 76 | |
| Life without devotion is meaningless (Anu 33-40) | 82 | |
| Anu 33 Devotion transcends the debilitating effects of time | 82 | |
| Anu 34-35 Human life devoid of significance when stripped of devotion | 82 | |
| Anu 36-40 Bodily limbs lose their splendor without devotion | 83 | |
| Meditation on the cosmos leads to Visnu-bhakti | 85 | |
| Bhakti is the topic of discussion between teacher and student in the Bhagavata (Anu 41-94) | 136 | |
| Brahma instructs Narada in bhakti (Anu 41-42) | ||
| Anu 41 Brahma's ecstacy to disclose the Lord's pastimes | 136 | |
| Anu 42 Narayana is the ultimate destination | 137 | |
| Maitreya and Vidura discuss bhakti (Anu 43-45) | ||
| Anu 43 Bhakti is the path of joy | 138 | |
| Anu 44 Bhakti is the easy path of transcendence | 138 | |
| Anu 45 Devotees bring virtue to their environment | 139 | |
| Kapila teaches the yoga of devotion (Anu 46-47) | ||
| Anu 46 Bhakti is the best path for the yogis | 139 | |
| Anu 47 Bhakti confers equanimity of mind | 140 | |
| The Kumaras advocate bhakti to Prthu (Anu 48-49) | ||
| Anu 48 Bhakti cuts the knot of karma | 140 | |
| Anu 49 Prthu practiced jnana only as a component of bhakti | 141 | |
| Rudra spoke of bhakti to the Pracetas (Anu 50) | ||
| Anu 50 Dedications of mind and speech to Lord Hari | 142 | |
| Narada instructed the Pracetas on bhakti (Anu 51-52) | ||
| Anu 51 All faculties meant for the Soul of all beings | 143 | |
| Krsna is the Soul of all beings | 144 | |
| Anu 52 Devotion is meant for the root of all existence | 145 | |
| Rsabhadeva instructs his sons in devotion; | ||
| Jada Bharata instructs King Rahugana (Anu 53-54) | ||
| Anu 53 Devotees have no goal other than bhakti | 145 | |
| Anu 54 Association of devotees is the fruit of human life | 146 | |
| Sarikarsana instructs King Citraketu; Prahlada instructs his schoolmates (Anu 55-57) | ||
| Anu 55 Jnana recommended only as an instrument to bhakti | 147 | |
| Bhakti is the significance of human life | 147 | |
| All practices are meaningful when they assist devotion | 148 | |
| Anu 56 Bhakti is the best method of uprooting karma | 149 | |
| Anu 57 Bhakti continues for those who have transcended karma | 149 | |
| Narada instructs King Yudhisthira (Anu 58) | ||
| Anu 58 Lord Hari is the root of all dharma | 150 | |
| The self finds completion only through bhakti | 151 | |
| Dharma is not the cause of bhakti | 151 | |
| Bhakti is distinct from dharma | 152 | |
| The nine Yogendras instruct King Nimi (Anu 59-65) | ||
| Anu 59 Bhakti is ultimate welfare | 153 | |
| Anu 60 Bhakti is a continuity | 154 | |
| Anu 61 Bhakti is direct glorification of the Lord | 156 | |
| Anu 62 The Vedas teach in a concealed manner | 156 | |
| Karma prescribed for those lacking knowledge and faith | 158 | |
| Naiskarmya: The gradual path of freedom from karma | 159 | |
| Bhakti: The immediate path of freedom from karma | 160 | |
| Anu 63 Worship of the Supreme Lord is the sole requirement | 161 | |
| Anu 64 All varnas are meant to worship the Lord | 162 | |
| Devotees surpass all obstacles | 162 | |
| Degradation ensues from non-devotion | 163 | |
| Anu 65 The Lord is worshiped in all ages | 163 | |
| Krsna and Uddhava discuss bhakti (Anu 66-85) | ||
| Anu 66 Devotees abandon attachment through devotion | 164 | |
| Devotees are distinguished from jnanis | 164 | |
| Anu 67 Awareness cannot be perfected without devotion | 165 | |
| Anu 68-69 Vedic utterances devoid of lila-katha are of no value | 166 | |
| Anu 70 Awareness is effective when it leads to devotion | 168 | |
| Anu 71 Where jnana fails bhakti succeeds | 169 | |
| Anu 72 Pure devotion free from jnana | 170 | |
| Anu 73-74 Faith develops through association and taste | 171 | |
| Anu 75 Ascertaining the true path of ultimate welfare | 172 | |
| Anu 76-77 Why different interpretations of the Veda exist | 173 | |
| Anu 78-79 Subsidiary processes do not yield ultimate welfare | 174 | |
| Anu 80 Bhakti alone brings ultimate welfare | 174 | |
| Anu 81 Renunciation automatically follows devotion | 175 | |
| Anu 82 Freedom from bondage through devotion | 176 | |
| Anu 83 Jnana and vairagya not generally beneficial | 176 | |
| Anu 84 All fruits available through devotion | 177 | |
| Desire for fruit as an instrument to devotion | 178 | |
| Anu 85 The unique result of bhakti | 179 | |
| Sri Suka prescribed bhakti to King Pariksit (Anu 86) | ||
| Anu 86 Hearing is primary methodology | 180 | |
| Suta taught bhakti to Saunaka (Anu 87-92) | ||
| Anu 87 Knowledge without devotion is a limitation | 185 | |
| Anu 88 Conventional religion yields only material wealth | 185 | |
| Anu 89 Bhakti awards transcendence | 186 | |
| Anu 90 Devotion is the highest fortune | 186 | |
| Anu 91 Devotion arouses eagerness | 187 | |
| Anu 92 Bhakti is discussed by all teachers in the Bhagavata | 188 | |
| Bhakti is the methodology given in other dialogues of the Bhagavata (Anu 92-94) | ||
| Anu 92 Bhakti is the supreme duty of humanity | 189 | |
| Anu 93 Bhakti is the path of fearlessness | 189 | |
| Anu 94 Bhakti is the fruit of hearing scripture | 189 | |
| Bhakti is the culmination of all methods (Anu 95-105) | 209 | |
| Anu 95 All duties culminate in devotion | 209 | |
| Anu 96 Devotion includes awareness | 210 | |
| Anu 97 Bhakti is the source of all perfection | 211 | |
| Anu 98 Bhakti is independent of all methods | 213 | |
| Bhakti awards the supreme fruit | 214 | |
| Anu 99 Success in bhakti is assured, not in karma | 215 | |
| Anu 100 Inauspiciousness never ensues from devotion | 217 | |
| Devotion promotes an outcast beyond brahmanism | 217 | |
| Anu 101 Brahmanism is devoid of value without devotion | 219 | |
| Anu 102 Bhakti surpasses karma | 220 | |
| Anu 103 Bhakti surpasses yoga | 222 | |
| Anu 104 Bhakti surpasses jnana | 222 | |
| Bhakti subdues the Lord | 224 | |
| Anu 105 Jnana cannot be accomplished without bhakti | 225 | |
| Taking shelter of the complete whole (Anu 106-107) | 249 | |
| Anu 106 One should not seek shelter in any partiality | 249 | |
| Brahman and Siva should be worshiped as Vaisnavas | 251 | |
| Nondistinction relates to undifferentiated awareness | 252 | |
| Vaisnavas acknowledge distinction, not merely oneness | 253 | |
| Incidental worship of Bhagavan through Siva | 254 | |
| Worship of Visnu distinguished from that of Siva | 256 | |
| Allowances for the worship of other gods | 258 | |
| Krsna is not attained through independent worship of other gods | 259 | |
| One should not disrespect the devas | 260 | |
| Disrespect of Siva is a severe offence | 261 | |
| One should not disrespect any living being | 262 | |
| Worship performed by neophytes | 263 | |
| Malice is reprehensible | 264 | |
| The neophyte's worship has utility | 266 | |
| One should abandon the separatist mentality | 267 | |
| The highest stage of awareness | 268 | |
| Devotees naturally honor all beings | 270 | |
| All is included within worship of the complete whole | 271 | |
| Anu 107 The nature of the entity of highest shelter | 273 | |
| Bhakti is intrinsic duty (Anu 108-113) | 284 | |
| The defect of nondevotion (Anu 108-110) | ||
| Anu 108 Wastage of human potentiality | 284 | |
| Anu 109 Absence of virtue | 285 | |
| Anu 110 Disregard for the sage void of devotion | 286 | |
| The mystery of dharma hidden even from the sage | 287 | |
| Devotion meets the criteria of perpetuity (Anu 111-113) | ||
| Anu 111 Devotion surpasses yoga | 289 | |
| Devotion is the intrinsic duty of all | 289 | |
| The defect of nonfulfillment of intrinsic duty | 290 | |
| Anu 112 Bhakti continues even at the stage of liberation | 293 | |
| Anu 113 Bhakti is incumbent even upon the gods | 294 | |
| The Bhagavata discloses bhakti's essential nature as complete methodology (Anu 114-120) | 310 | |
| Anu 114 Bhakti established through the six criteria of scripture | 310 | |
| Anu 115 Bhakti is one of the ten primary subjects of the Bhagavata | 314 | |
| Bhakti is the import of the four seed verses of the Bhagavata | 315 | |
| Definitive character of true methodology | 316 | |
| Approval by affirmation and negation | 316 | |
| Universal pervasion of bhakti | 317 | |
| Bhakti lends perfection even to grammar | 323 | |
| Timelessness of bhakti | 323 | |
| The pointlessness of nondevotion | 325 | |
| Bhakti affirmed for all time and space | 327 | |
| Only bhakti meets the criteria of true methodology | 328 | |
| Anu 116-119 The Bhagavata was manifested to reveal bhakti | 329 | |
| Anu 120 Even the Lord is beautified by disclosing devotion | 331 | |
| Purifying power of devotion (Anu 121-130) | 347 | |
| Anu 121 Devotion is the sole requirement for all | 347 | |
| Bhakti destroys inauspiciousness | 349 | |
| Bhakti removes all obstacles | 349 | |
| Anu 122 Even the beginning devotee is unobstructed | 351 | |
| Anu 123-124 Bhakti removes all fear | 352 | |
| Anu 125-126 Bhakti destroys all sins | 353 | |
| Anu 127 Bhakti surpasses jnana in purification of sin | 356 | |
| Bhakti is direct purification, not a device of atonement | 357 | |
| Anu 128 Bhakti destroys even manifest reactions (prarabdha) | 357 | |
| Anu 129 Bhakti purifies the heart of desire | 360 | |
| Anu 130 Bhakti dispels ignorance | 361 | |
| Nourishing power of devotion (Anu 131-132) | 365 | |
| Anu 131 Bhakti nourishes all | 365 | |
| Anu 132 Bhakti bestows virtue and bliss | 366 | |
| Bhakti is nirguna (Anu 133-138) | 376 | |
| Anu 133 Even karma offered to the Lord is saguna | 376 | |
| Anu 134 Knowledge of Bhagavan is nirguna | 377 | |
| Knowledge of Brahman is saguna | 380 | |
| Knowledge and action are potencies belonging to Paramatma | 382 | |
| Anu 135 The residence of Bhagavan is nirguna | 384 | |
| Anu 136 Action for Bhagavan is nirguna | 386 | |
| Anu 137 Faith that impels devotion is nirguna | 386 | |
| Anu 138 Dharma rooted in Bhagavan is nirguna | 387 | |
| Bhakti is a unique aspect of the internal potency (Anu 139-144) | 393 | |
| Anu 139 Bhakti is self-manifest | 393 | |
| Anu 140 Bhakti is blissful | 394 | |
| Anu 141 Bhakti bestows love of God | 395 | |
| Anu 142 Bhakti is the supreme aspect of the delight-giving potency | 397 | |
| Anu 143 Bhakti magnifies the Lord's inherent bliss | 398 | |
| Anu 144 The Lord is the sole cause of devotion | 399 | |
| Bhakti bestows inconceivable results (Anu 145-148) | 410 | |
| Anu 145 Bhakti is the sole basis of God realization | 410 | |
| Anu 146 Bhakti enables one to attain the Lord | 410 | |
| Anu 147 Even sadhana-bhakti captivates the Lord | 411 | |
| Anu 148 Bhakti promotes even karma to the level of supreme dharma | 415 | |
| Bhakti transports a devotee beyond the jurisdiction of Yama | 415 | |
| Participation once in bhakti opens to perfection (Anu 149-164) | 444 | |
| Anu 149-150 The power of a single act of devotion | 444 | |
| Anu 151 Bhakti remains potent under all circumstances | 446 | |
| Even indirect devotion brings about perfection | 449 | |
| Anu 152 Even a semblance of devotion transports one to the abode of God | 450 | |
| Anu 153 Even as offence bearing a semblance of devotion carries power | 452 | |
| The glories of bhakti are real | 453 | |
| Offences obstruct devotion | 454 | |
| Repetition prescribed to eliminate offences | 456 | |
| Five effects of offences | 457 | |
| Anu 153-154 Crookedness | 458 | |
| Anu 155-156 Faithlessness | 459 | |
| Anu 157 Distraction | 461 | |
| Anu 158 Sometimes the Lord provokes one through desire | 462 | |
| Anu 159 Slackening of devotion | 462 | |
| Pride | 164 | |
| Anu 159-160 A single act of devotion bears fruit in the offenceless heart | 464 | |
| Anu 161 Direct vision of the Lord is positive attainment of His abode | 465 | |
| Anu 162 Ajamila's first utterance of the names was effective | 466 | |
| Anu 163-164 Bhakti manifests results in proportion to a devotee's qualification | 468 | |
in Natural Attraction (Anu 165-178) | ||
| The exclusivity of devotion (Anu 165-169) | 480 | |
| Anu 165 Direct devotion is the ultimate shift in awareness | 480 | |
| Unalloyed devotion entails freedom from extraneous desire | 482 | |
| Anu 166 The Lord and the devotee are desireless | 483 | |
| Anu 167 Worship is for the benefit of the worshiper | 484 | |
| Anu 168 Devotion tainted with desire is mere show | 485 | |
| Anu 169 Devotion constituted of nine limbs is the methodology | 488 | |
| Assessment of devotion through the eligibility of its performers (Anu 170-176) | 511 | |
| Anu 170 Three methods to shift awareness | 511 | |
| Anu 171 Sources of eligibility | 512 | |
| Anu 172 Faith: The sole requirement for unalloyed devotion | 514 | |
| General devotion is independent of faith | 516 | |
| Faith is an attribute of the performer | 518 | |
| Universal autonomy of devotion | 518 | |
| Characteristics of the candidate eligible for devotion | 519 | |
| Non-indulgence in the profane | 519 | |
| Anu 173 Jnana and bhakti are independent of karma | 522 | |
| Faith in bhakti concludes the jurisdiction of karma | 522 | |
| Surrender: The symptom of faith in ananya-bhakti | 524 | |
| Symptoms of faith in bhakti | 526 | |
| True faith and conventional faith | 528 | |
| Eligibility and ineligibility to give up karma | 531 | |
| Anu 174-175 Karma can become a means to shift awareness | 532 | |
| Anu 176 Three manifestations of the Absolute realized through awareness and devotion | 534 | |
| Bhakti includes and surpasses jnana | 538 | |
| Defects in worship of the qualified aspect | 539 | |
| Unalloyed devotion is absolute methodology | 540 | |
| Devotion born of natural attraction is true methodology (Anu 177-178) | 546 | |
| Anu 177 Devotion born of natural attraction transcends sin and piety | 546 | |
| Anu 178 Bhakti is the natural methodology for living beings | 547 | |
| The living being is a part of Paramatma | 548 | |
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