naradabhakthisuthra=adhyaya1-suthra1

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Naradabhakthisuthra-adhyaya-1-Parabhakthisvarupam

 

 

 

suthra-1

 

 

 

aTHAtho bhakthim vyAkyAsyAmah

 

 

 

Now, therefore, we shall expound the divine love.

 

 

 

Suthras are aphorisms which tell the truths in short form like a

formula. Brahma suthra by Vyasa serves the purpose of establishing the

real purport of the upanishads while Dharmasuthra by Jaimini relates to

the karamamarga or ritualistic discipline and the Pathanjali yoga suthra

outlines the yoga discipline.

 

 

 

Narada extolled the path of bhakthi to Vyasa to pursuade him to write

Bhagavathapurana. He begins with the words 'then therefore' as in the

other works on the suthras. The word 'aTHa, then ,' denotes the

Anantharya or the sequential action to something that precedes the

knowledge of bhakthi. It refers to the necessary qualification of one

who desires to follow the path of Bhakthimarga.Devotion cannot be

instilled in any one at random but the person should already have the

inclination for it.The arTHithva, intense desire to learn, the capacity

shakthathva,to understand and exposure free from obstacles

aparyudhasthathva should be present to make the study of any subject

effective.

 

 

 

The path of bhakthi is open to all irrespective of caste,creed etc.who

have belief in the grace of the Lord and faith in the path of devotion

as an effective means of freeing one from the cycle of birth and death

which causes the suffering in samsara.This fact is confirmed by Lord

Krishna in Gita by saying that even those who have been born in lowliest

of birth will attain the highest goal by taking refuge in Him.

 

 

 

Ramanuja mentions in sribhashya seven requisites for pursuing the path

of devotion.They are:

 

1.vivEka, discrimination,

 

2.vimOka ,freedom from desires,

 

3.abhyAsa , practice,

 

4.kriya , doing good to others,

 

5.kalyaNa- auspicious qualities like nonviolence, straight forwardness,

mercy etc.

 

6.anavasAdha,cheerfulness and

 

7. anuddharsha- absence of excessive hilarity.

 

 

 

These are explained exaustively in sribhshya of Ramanuja.

 

 

 

The next word in the suthra athah,therefore gives the reason for

explaining the bhakthi suthra by Naradha. Bhakthi is the easiest means

of attaining salvation . it is easily followed. it is the only path

available to all. It is necessary even to those who acquire jnana for

the simple reason that it softens heart of even a stoic vedantin without

which he will dry up.Narada who has experienced it, wishes to share the

joy of it with the world.

 

 

 

Then he says 'bhakthim vyAkhyAsyAmaha, we shall explain the pathof

devotion.' Here the word 'we' is not used in the sense of reverence but

it means that he is going to explain something which has been expounded

and experienced by others before him and hence it is used in the plural

sense only.By this it is implied that this is not a discourse on

principles based on reason but an exposition based on actual

experience.