Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu 1.2.2

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tatra sAdhana-bhaktiH -

Rti-sAdhyA bhavet sAdhya-bhAvA sA sAdhanAbhidhA |

nitya-siddhasya bhAvasya prAkaTyaM hRdi sAdhyatA ||2||

 

 

kRti-sAdhyA - sensory emulation of the goal; bhavet - if to manifest;

sAdhya-bhAvA - internalization of the goal; sA - that; sAdhana-abhidhA - is

called "sAdhana"; nitya-siddhasya - to the eternally perfect; bhAvasya - to

bhAva-bhakti; prAkaTyaM - making manifest; hRdi - in the heart; sAdhyatA -

is the nature of the goal.

 

---

Now, Sadhana Bhakti -

 

When the senses emulate the goal of bhakti with the intention to internalize

that goal, it is called sAdhana. The goal is to manifest eternally-perfect

bhAva-bhakti in the heart.

---

 

This sholka defines "sAdhana." To understand this term an initial

fimiliarity with two words is helpful: (1) sAdhya - "the goal," and (2)

sAdhana - "the means to obtain the goal."

 

 

Sadhya - The Goal

 

Rupa Goswami says bhAva-bhakti is the goal of sAdhana. Though bhAva is the

goal of sAdhana, it is not created by sAdhana- it eternally exists "nitya").

Nor does sAdhana

develop bhAva from an imperfect to a perfect state, for bhAva is eternally

perfect ("nitya-siddha").

 

 

What then does sAdhana do? It causes eternally perfect bhAva to manifest

("prAkaTyaM") in the heart ("hRdi"). Though eternally perfect, bhAva-bhakti

is initially unmanifest ("aprakaTa") in the heart - present only in a

potential state. SAdhana causes it to manifest.*

 

 

Sadhana - The Means to Obtain the Goal

 

The term "kRiti-sAdhya" indicates that the means to obtain the goal is to

emulate its expression. Love is an emotion expressed by a variety of

physical, mental, and vocal actions. Emotions and their expressions can be

co-causal. For example, happiness can cause one to smile, and smiling can

cause one to feel happy. In the same way, love may cause one to remember the

beloved, and, conversely, remembering someone with affection may increase

ones love for that person.

 

 

BhAva-bhakti is expressed through the senses in many ways, including hearing

about, talking about, and remembering Krishna. Conversely, emulating those

expressions can cause bhAva-bhakti to manifest in the heart. Thus, the means

to attain the goal of bhAva-bhakti is to emulate the expressions of

bhAva-bhakti with one's physical, mental,

and vocal actions.

 

 

It must be noted that bhakti is both the means and the goal. Bhakti emulated

in the senses ("kRti-sAdhya") is the means, and bhakti internalized in the

heart ("sAdhya-bhAva") is the goal. Thus bhakti has no cause other than

itself. It is not a phenomenon produced by a material cause.

 

 

The term "sAdhya-bhAva" indicates that one's emulation of bhAva-bhakti must

be intended to internaly realize bhAva-bhakti if it is to be counted as

sAdhana. Accidental or coincidental emulation of bhAva-bhakti - though

pious - is not sAdhana.