Narada Bhakti Sutra - Post 65

Sutra 59. Pramaanaantarasyaanapekshatwaat swayam pramaanatwaat.

[Because it (devotion, love) does not depend on any other proof, as it is proof of itself.]

Pramaanaantarasya: of any proof other than itself

Anapekshatwaat: because of non-dependence

Swayam: itself, in itself

Pramaanatwaat: being of the nature of a proof, being evidence.

Because there is no need of any other evidence, as it is self-evident.

The proof of devotion is devotion itself. It requires no other proof. The devotee has direct experience of divine bliss when he is in communion with the Lord. There is no need of any external proof. 

Proof is an instrument of correct knowledge. When one is enjoying a sweet mango fruit, he is not in need of additional proof of the sweetness of mango He does not ask himself for a proof of that state. Even so there is no need of any proof for a devotee who is enjoying the divine bliss directly. He does not enter into logical discussions or intellectual gymnastics like a dry logician.

“Pramaana” is proof. 

“Antara” is ‘external’. 

“Pramaanaantara” is “external proof’.

According to a school of philosophy called Mimamsakas, there are six kinds of Pramaanas viz., Pratyaksham, Anumaanam, Upamaanam, Sabdam, Anupalabdhi and Arthapatti.

Pratyaksham is perception or direct apprehension by the senses.

Anumaanam is inference or the conclusion from given premises.

Upamaanam is the standard of comparison, that to which anything is compared.

Sabdam is verbal authority (Vedas) .

Anupalabdhi is non-perception as proof of the non-existence of a thing.

Arthaapatti is a conclusion, inference, presumption that results from a fact that is known to be true or that has been accepted.

Another school of thought, the Naiyayikas, recognise only the first four, whereas, the Sankhyas accept only Pratyaksha, Anumaana and Sabda.

All these other than the first, i.e., Pratyaksha are dependent upon something other than one's own direct experience. They may be taken to be external evidence or Pramaanaantaram. The Bhakti Marga does not want them. It deals with the direct recognition of the emotion of love.

When you feel hungry, you know it at once. You have direct experience. You do not listen to intellectual arguments about hunger to feel hungry. If someone says, “No, you are not hungry,” you say, “I am hungry. I am an authority to say whether I am hungry or not. No one else can be the authority on this matter.”

When you love your mother, wife, or child, you do not argue, you are not in need of any external proof. You are yourself the authority for this direct experience. That is why the Sutra says, “Swayam Pramaanaraupatwaatcha.”

It does not require a second person to prove to one whether he is happy or miserable It is not necessary to apply any inference to know it. Any amount of argument cannot convince one against one’s own experience. 

Direct experience is the primary and infallible means of all valid knowledge.

Narada says that bhakti does not depend on any other authority for its validity. 

Performing formal Vedic rituals requires scriptural authority. There are rules and regulations; I cannot simply do as I please. 

Upasana requires scriptural authority and karmas require scriptural authority, whereas love is already known to everyone; it is simply the direction of this love that needs to be understood. 

With regard to love, no other authority is required. Love is our nature and self-love is universal; it is self-evident in everyone as the very nature of a human. 

Even animals love themselves. We know this to be true because when there is a threat, they will run for their dear lives. Therefore, love is the easiest place to start. 

The Parama prema, explained in initial sutras in the blog posts, has no prescriptions, no rules, no bench marks, no examples, no indicators and ultimately, it can have no external evidence.

It is the inner most experience and it  stands as its own proof, it stands as its own fulfillment.

That is why, we say, it is Love for love's sake. In Love, we do not aim to achieve anything else which can be shown as proof that we have attained this and this through love.

Love is the start, Love is the Process, love is the end. All is LOVE.

If any one has to approach Mira and ask,"what is the proof of your Love for Krishna?". she can perhaps have only one answer - "Love Krishna as Mira loves Krishna, then come and ask me about the proof of that love, if you still have any doubt on that".

Love.

PS- And, the one who is immersed in God's Love, will never ever open his mouth to express, to explain, leave alone to prove, because, in his inner experience, he comes to realize that unless one loves God as he loves, one cannot understand  or have a glimpse of what he expresses about his experience!!!.

Gulab jamun cannot be described. One has to take it in and enjoy each drop of its essence to know what it actually is!!!!!

Love.