Discourse on Devotion as the Aim
[The Master continued His address to Sanatan thus]:
"The Vedas teach that Krishna is the sole Essence. Now let me speak of
the signs of the aim (_abhidheya_), from which one can get Krishna and the
treasure of Krishna's love. All the _Shastras_ speak of faith in Krishna
as the aim. Hence the sages declare,
_'We know for certain that thou, O Lord, art our refuge, because the mode
of thy worship that Mother Shruti lays down in answer to our questions,
is also indicated by Sister Smritis and Brother Purans'._
"This truth is taught by the Monist school that Krishna is God Himself;
He dwells in the form of the _Swarup_ power; spreading out in the forms
of _swamsha_ and _bibhinnamsha_, He disports Himself in Ananta,
_Vaikuntha_, and Brahmanda. The four-sided incarnations are His
_swamsha_ extension. The created world is the example of His
_bibhinnamsha_ power. Such creatures are of two classes, _viz._, one
ever liberated, the other ever fettered to the world. The ever liberated
are ever eager for Krishna's feet; they are named Krishna's followers
and they enjoy the bliss of serving Him. The ever fettered are ever
excluded from Krishna, and ever feel the sufferings of Hell; the Fury,
Illusion, ever torments them for that reason; the three internal agonies
scourge them; they are kicked at by Lust, Anger [and other deadly sins]
whose slaves they are. If in the course of their life's wanderings they
meet with a saint as their healer, his teaching like a charm exorcizes
the demon (Illusion) out of them; then they feel _bhakti_ for Krishna
and come to Him. Faith in Krishna is the supreme end (_abhidheya_).
Worthless are the fruits of other kinds of devotion, such as work,
_yog_, and knowledge,--in comparison with the bliss of _bhakti_; the
former cannot give us Krishna unless we have _bhakti_ in Him. _Vide
Bhagabat_ I. v. 12 and II. iv. 16. Knowledge dissociated from _bhakti_
cannot give salvation; but a man devoted to Krishna can gain salvation
without knowledge. _Vide Bhagabat_, X. xiv. 4 and the _Gita_, vii. 14.
"Creation, the eternal slave of Krishna, forgot this fact; hence
Illusion tied a rope round its neck. If a creature adores Krishna and
serves his _guru_, he is released from the meshes of Illusion and
attains to Krishna's feet. If, while observing the rules of his caste, a
man does not adore Krishna, he will be plunged in hell in spite of his
doing his caste-duties. _Vide Bhagabat_, XI. v. 2 & 3. The votary of
knowledge imagines that he has attained to the condition of one
liberated even in earthly life; but in truth his mind cannot be purified
without faith in Krishna. _Vide Bhagabat_, X. ii. 26. Krishna is like
the Sun, while Illusion is as darkness; hence Illusion has no power to
remain where Krishna is. _Vide Bhagabat_, II. v. 13. Even if a man
prays once saying Krishna I am thine, he is saved by Krishna from the
bonds of Illusion. If the seeker after enjoyment, salvation and
attainment (_siddhi_), is wise, he adores Krishna with deep _bhakti_.
_Vide Bhagabat_, II. iii. 10. If a man adores Krishna in longing for
other [material] gains, He gives the votary His own feet unasked,
arguing, 'In adoring me he is soliciting for material joys. What a great
fool is he, in thus begging for poison instead of nectar! I am wiser,
why then should I grant this fool [his coveted] earthly pleasures? Let
me give him the nectar of my feet, so that he may forget earthly joys'.
_Vide Bhagabat_, V. xix. 28. If a man adores Krishna even for fleshly
lusts, he [soon] longs to abandon his desires and become a slave of
Krishna. In going through this worldly life, some are fortunate enough
to gain salvation; just as a log of wood drifting down the current now
and then lands on the bank. _Vide Bhagabat_, X. xxxviii. 4. By good
luck some men's bondage to the world is about to be severed, [when] they
are emancipated by the society of holy men, and are inspired with
devotion to Krishna. _Vide Bhagabat_ X. ii. 35. If Krishna favours any
blessed man, He teaches him as his _guru_ seated in the heart. _Vide
Bhagabat_, XI. xxix. 6. If in the company of holy men a man feels
inclined towards _bhakti_ in Krishna, he gets love, the fruit of
_bhakti_, and is freed from the world. _Vide Bhagabat_, XI. xx. 8.
Save through the favour of the noble a man cannot feel _bhakti_ in
anything; not to speak of his gaining devotion to Krishna, he is not
even freed from bondage to the world. _Vide Bhagabat_, V. xx. 12 and
VII. v. 25. All _Shastras_ recommend the companionship of the holy. As
soon as such society is resorted to, it gives success in everything.
_Vide Bhagabat_, I. xvii. 13. The gracious Krishna, in addressing Arjun
[in the _Gita_], has laid down instructions for the salvation of
mankind. Vide the _Gita_, xviii. 64 and 65.
"God had first commanded the Vedic religion, work, _yog_, and
knowledge. After these had been observed, He finally commanded
_bhakti_, which must, therefore, be superior [to the former]. If, in
accordance with this [latest] dispensation, a devotee feels _shraddha_,
he leaves all works and adores Krishna. _Vide Bhagabat_, XI. xx. 9. The
term _shraddha_ means firm and unquestioning faith. If one adores
Krishna, it is equivalent to his doing all the prescribed ceremonies [of
religion]. _Vide Bhagabat_, IV. xxxi. 12.
"Men who have _shraddha_ are qualified for bhakti, and are ranked as
superior, average, and inferior, according to the quality of their
_shraddha_. He whose _shraddha_ is confirmed by listening to the
reasoning contained in the _Shastras_ is a superior 'entitled to
_bhakti_', and he is liberated from the world. He whose _shraddha_ is
strong in spite of his ignorance of _shastric_ arguments, is an average
'entitled to _bhakti_'; he, too, is very fortunate. He whose
_shraddha_ requires a visible object [of adoration] is an inferior
'entitled to _bhakti_'; in time he will advance to the stage of a
superior _bhakta_. There are different grades of _bhakti_, according
to differences of ardour and passion, as has been described in the
eleventh _skanda_ of the _Bhagabat_, (XI. ii. 43-45).
"All the high attributes are found in the person of a Vaishnav, because
Krishna's attributes spread to His _bhaktas_. (_Ibid_, V. xviii. 12).
The following qualities mark a Vaishnav; they cannot be exhaustively
named, I only take a rapid view: he is compassionate, spiteless,
essentially true, saintly, innocent, charitable, gentle, pure, humble, a
universal benefactor, tranquil, solely dependent on Krishna, free from
desire, quiet, equable, a victor over the six passions (_sharguna_),
temperate in diet, self-controlled, honouring others and yet not proud
himself, grave, tender, friendly, learned, skilful and silent. _Vide
Bhagabat_, III. xxv. 20, V. v. 2. The society of holy men is the root
of the birth of devotion to Krishna (_Bhagabat_, X. li. 35, XI. ii. 28,
xxv. 22). The principal limb that springs up from it is love of Krishna.
It is proper conduct for a Vaishnav to abjure the society of the wicked.
The man who consorts with women is one kind of sinner, while the man
lacking in faith in Krishna belongs to another kind. (_Bhagabat_ III.
xxxi. 35, 33 & 34). Leaving these [temptations] and the religious system
based on caste, [the true Vaishnav] helplessly takes refuge with
Krishna. _Vide_ the _Gita_, xviii. 66; _Bhagabat_, X. xlviii.
"If a learned man happens to sing Krishna's praise, he adores Krishna to
the exclusion of all other deities, as is proved by the case of Uddhav.
_Vide Bhagabat_, III. ii. The helpless and the refugee [among devotees]
have the same characteristics. Then comes resignation in. After taking
refuge in Krishna, the votary gives himself entirely up to Krishna, who
then elevates him to His own nature. _Vide Hari-bhakti-vilas_, xi. 417
& 418; _Bhagabat_, XI. xxix. 32."
"Give ear, O Sanatan, while I turn to speak of the attainment
(_sadhan_) of _bhakti_, which gives us the rich treasure of love for
Krishna. Hearing [chant] and other acts [of the physical organs] are the
_swarup_ signs of it; while in the _tatastha_ sign love is born. Love
for Krishna is ever an end (_siddha_); it is never a means (_sadhya_).
It is kindled in a pure heart by listening [to Krishna's praise], and
other acts of the organs. The _sadhan_ of _bhakti_ is of two kinds:
one following the ordinances of religion, the other following the
[heart's] inclination. The man without a natural desire [for Krishna]
adores Him in obedience to the bidding of the _Shastras_; such
_bhakti_ is called regular (_baidhi_).
_'King! It is the duty of the men who seeks liberation to hear, to
praise, and to meditate about God, the universal Soul, the supremely
Beautiful, and the Liberator from bondage.'_ (_Bhagabat_, II. i. 5.
and also XI. v. 2.)
"The modes of cultivating _bhakti_ are many; I shall only tell you
briefly of the chief of them: [they are] taking refuge at the feet of
the _guru_, initiation, service of the _guru_, inquiry into the true
religion, following the path of saints, renunciation of enjoyment out of
love for Krishna, residence at holy places associated with Krishna,
accepting alms no further than suffices [for one's sustenance], fasting
on the tenth day of the moon, reverence to foster-mothers, fig trees,
kine, Brahmans and Vaishnavs, shunning from a distance all offences
against adoration and the holy name, abjuring the company of
non-Vaishnavs, taking only a few disciples, avoiding the study and
exposition of too many books and arts, looking at loss and gain as
alike, control of grief and other passions, abstention from abusing
other gods and scriptures, never listening to scandal about Vishnu or
Vaishnavs nor to village gossip, giving no shock by thought or speech to
any creature that lives, listening [to chant], hymn-singing, keeping God
in remembrance, worship, adoration [in words], attendance [on idols],
assuming the attitudes of servant and comrade [to Krishna], dedication
of one's own self [to God], dancing, singing, petitioning and
prostration before [Krishna's image], rising to welcome [His image], and
following it as a mark of respect, visiting shrines at _tirthas_,
walking round shrines, hymning, reading scriptures, reciting the holy
name, _sankirtan_, enjoying incense garlands perfumed essence and the
_maha-prasad_, witnessing the grand celebration of _arati_ and the
divine image, giving up whatever is dear to one's own self, meditation,
and serving Him.
"The service of the following four is approved by Krishna:--the _Tulsi_
plant, Vaishnavs, Mathura, and the book _Bhagabat_.
"Direct all your efforts to [the service of] Krishna, witness His
mercies, celebrate His Nativity and other days in the company of
_bhaktas_. Ever fly to him for refuge, celebrate Kartik and other
_bratas_.
"These are the sixty-four modes of cultivating bhakti. The five chief of
them are (1) the society of holy men, (2) _kirtan_ of Krishna's name, (3)
listening to the reading of the _Bhagabat_, (4) dwelling at Mathura, and
(5) reverential service of His image. Even a little of these five
creates love for Krishna.
"Some _bhaktas_ pursue only one of these modes, some many. When the
mind has become steady, the wave of love surges up [in it]. Many
_bhaktas_ have attained to success by following one mode only.
Ambarisha and other _bhaktas_ cultivated many modes. (_Vide Bhagabat_,
IX. iv. 15-17)-The man who by renouncing desire adores Krishna in
obedience to the injunctions of the _Shastras_, is not indebted to the
gods the _Rishis_ or the manes of his ancestors. (_Bhagabat_, XI. v.
37). He who adores Krishna's feet rejecting _shastric_ rites, feels
nevertheless no temptation for forbidden sins. Even if he commits a sin
unwittingly, Krishna purifies him and he need not practise penance for
it. (_Bhagabat_, XL v. 38). Theological knowledge and monachism are not
at all necessary means of cultivating bhakti; Krishna's society gives
inoffensiveness and discipline. _Vide Bhagabat_, XI. xx. 31.
"Hitherto I have held forth on the cultivation of _bhakti_ in
accordance with the shastric teaching. Now, let me tell you, Sanatan,
about _bhakti_ in compliance with natural inclination. This latter kind
of _bhakti_ is chiefly found in the people of Brindaban, and those who
cultivate it are called _raganuga_ ('inclination-led'). A passionate
longing for the object of desire is the _swarup_ characteristic of
inclination (_rag_); absorption in the object of desire is its
_tatastha feature_. The nature of an 'inclination-led' _bhakta_ pays
no heed to _shastric_ reasoning.
"Its two types are _external_ and _internal_. In the external, the
devotee through his physical organs performs listening (to chant) and
chanting, while in his mind he imagines himself to be identical with his
ideal [such as any _sakhi_ or cowherd mate of Krishna], and thus [in
fancy] serves Krishna at Brindaban day and night. With drawing himself
into his own mind, such a votary ever remains close to his object, the
dearest Krishna, and thus serves Him incessantly. In the path of
inclination (_rag_), he takes Krishna as the object of his chief
emotion, _viz._, as master, comrade, child or sweetheart. (_Bhagabat_,
III. xxv. 35)
"From the sprout of love (_prem_) issue two things, _rati_ (addiction)
and _bhab_ (emotion). These two conquer the Lord for us. Thus have I
expounded _ebhidheya_, from which we gain the treasure of love for
Krishna." [Text, canto, 22.]