Dear All,
The first verse contained the following 4 expressions:
Atha: now
Athah: therefore
Bhaktim: (the doctrine of) devotion,
Vyakhyasyaamah: (we) shall expound.
About the 1st verse, we covered the initial 2 words- Atha & Ahah in previous verse.
Now to the next 2 words- Bhaktim and Vyakhyasyaamah
The term BHAKTI comes from the
root ‘Bhaj’, which means “to be attached to God.” Bhajan, worship, bhakti,
anurag, prem, preethi are synonymous terms. Bhakti is love for love’s sake. The
devotee wants God and God alone. There is no selfish expectation here.
It is for this reason that the Närada-bhakti-sütra begins, "Now, therefore, I shall try to explain the process of Bhakti."
The word "therefore" indicates that this process of devotional service is for the self-realized soul, one who is already liberated. Similarly, the Vedänta-sütra (The Brahma Sutra) begins athäto brahma jigyasa.
The word Brahma Jigyasa refers to inquiry into the Supreme Absolute Truth, and it is recommended for those who have been elevated from the lower stage of addiction to the karma-kända portion of the Vedas to the position of interest in the Jnana-kända portion.
Only when a person is perfectly situated in the realization that he is not the body but a spirit soul can he begin the process of bhakti, or devotional service.
As long as we are in material
existence, we lament for the losses in our life and hanker for that which we do not
have. A self-realized person is joyful because he is free from material lamentation and
hankering.
Bhakti is so sublime that only through bhakti can one understand the constitutional
position of the Lord. That is clearly stated in the Bhagavad-gétä (18.55): bhaktyä mäm
abhijänäti. "One can understand the Supreme Lord through devotional service, and by
no other process."
It is for this reason that the Närada-bhakti-sütra begins, "Now, therefore, I shall try to explain the process of Bhakti."
The word "therefore" indicates that this process of devotional service is for the self-realized soul, one who is already liberated. Similarly, the Vedänta-sütra (The Brahma Sutra) begins athäto brahma jigyasa.
The word Brahma Jigyasa refers to inquiry into the Supreme Absolute Truth, and it is recommended for those who have been elevated from the lower stage of addiction to the karma-kända portion of the Vedas to the position of interest in the Jnana-kända portion.
Only when a person is perfectly situated in the realization that he is not the body but a spirit soul can he begin the process of bhakti, or devotional service.
Vyakhyasyaamah: This means
literally 'shall comment upon’. The posts on this theme not a commentary in the usual
sense of the term. It is a commentary on the actual experiences of the devotees.
It is not a mere speculative
philosophical exposition, based on reason. Nor is it a second-hand knowledge
based on other’s experiences. It is the exposition based on the author’s own
personal experiences, supported by scriptures.
We will move on to the 2nd verse in next post.
Love.
We will move on to the 2nd verse in next post.
Love.
