Sri Bhakti-sutra yaj jnatva matto bhavati stabdho bhavati atmaramo
bhavati
Codes of Devotional Service
by Srila Narada Muni
Text 1
athato bhaktim vyakhyasyamah
atha - now; atah - therefore; bhaktim - devotional
service; vyakhyasyamah - we shall try to explain.
Now, therefore, I shall try to explain the process of
devotional service.*
Text 2
sa tv asmin parama-prema-rupa
sa - devotional service; tu - but; asmin - in this
description of bhakti; parama - highest stage; prema-
rupa - love of Godhead.
The highest stage if devotional service is pure love
of Godhead.*
Text 3
amata-svarupa ca
amata - eternal; svarupa - nature; ca - also.
Such stage of devotional life is eternal.*
Text 4
yal labdhva puman siddho bhavati amato bhavati tapto
bhavati
yat - which; labdva - having gained; puman -
person; siddhah - perfect; bhavati - becomes; amatah -
immortal; bhavati - becomes; taptah - peaceful; bhavati
- becomes.
Upon achieving that transcendental devotional
service, a man becomes perfect, immortal, and
peaceful.*
Text 5
yat prapya na kincid vanchati na socati na dverti na
ramate notsahi bhavati
yat - which; prapya - having attained; na - not;
kincit - anything; vanchati - desires; na - not; socati -
gives; na - not; dverti - heats; na - not; ramate -
rejoices; na - not; utsahi - one who is materially active;
bhavati - becomes.
A person engaged in pure devotional service does not
desire anything for material sense gratification, does
not lament for any loss, does not hate anything, does
not enjoy anything for his personal account, nor does he
becomes very enthusiastic in material activity.*
Text 6
yat - which; jnatva - having known; mattah -
intoxicated; bhavati - becomes; stabdhah - charm;
bhavati - becomes; atmaramah - self-content bcause of
being engaged in the service of the Lord; bhavati -
becomes.
One who understands perfectly the process of
devotional service becomes intoxicated in its discharge;
he becomes charmed by it and thus enjoys his whole
self, being engaged in the service of the Supreme Self.*
Text 7
sa na kamayamana nirodha-rupatvat
sa - that devotional service; na - not; kamayamana -
like ordinary lust; nirodha - renunciation; rupatvat -
being similar to that.
There is no question of lust in pure devotional
service, because such service is free from all sense
gratification.*
Text 8
nirodhas tu loka-veda-vyapara-nyasah
norodhah - confinement in devotional service; tu -
but; loka - social; veda - ritual; vyapara - activities;
nyasah - renunciation.
Confinement within the boundary of devotional
service means to give up all kinds of social and
religious activities.*
Text 9
tasminn ananyata tad-virodhisudasinata ca
tasmin - for Him; ananyata - exclusive devotion; tat
- to Him; virodhiru - to those who are hostile; udasinata
- aloofness; ca - also.
Confinement within the boundary of devotional
service also means to repose one's love in the Lord
alone and to avoid the nondevotees, who oppose the
service of the Lord.*
Text 10
anyasrayanam tyago 'nanyata
anya - other; asrayanam - of the center (shelters);
tyagah - rejection; ananyata - unflinching faith.
In devotional service one renounces everything and
takes shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
without relying on anyone else for protection.*
Text 11
loke vederu tad-anukulacaranam tad-virodhisudasinata
loke - social and political; vederu - in the Vedic
rituals; tat-anukula - favorable for devotional service;
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acaranam - activities; tat-virodhiru - unfavorable;
udasinata - reluctance.
One should be reluctant to engage in activities that
are not favorable for discharging devotional service,
and one should accept only activities favorable for
devotional service.*
Text 12
bhavatu niscaya-dardhyad urdhvam sastra-rakranam
bhavatu - let there be; niscaya - even in certainty;
dardhyat - with determination; urdhvam - higher than;
sastra - scriptures; rakranam - protection.
When one is fixed with certainty and determination
in the knowledge that devotional service is the only
means for gaining the perfection of life, he must follow
the scriptural injunctions in that direction.*
Text 13
anyatha patityasankaya
anyatha - otherwise; patitya - fall down; asankaya -
possibility.
Otherwise, there is every possibility of falling
down.*
Text 14
loko 'pi tavad eva bhojanadi-vyaparas tv asarira-
dharanavadhi
lokah api - in social behavior also; tavat eva - as
much as possible; bhojana - in the matter of eating; adi
- beginning with; vyaparah - activities; tu - but; asarira-
dharana - body; avadhi - until then.
One should act socially and politically, and in the
matter of eating, just enough to keep the body fit till the
end of life.*
Text 15
tal-lakranani vacyante nana-mata-bhedat
tat - that; lakranani - symptoms; vacyante - being
described; nana - various; mata - opinion; bhedat -
differences.
The symtoms of devotional service are described
below, in accordance with various authoritative
opinions.*
Text 16
pujadirv anuraga iti parasaryah
puja - worship; adiru - beginning with; anuragah -
attachment; iti - thus; parasaryah - Vyasa's opinion.
Vyasa defines devotional service as attachment to the
worship and service of the Supreme Personality of
Godhead.
Text 17
kathadirv iti gargah
katha - the topics; adiru - beginning with; iti - thus;
gargah - Garga Muni's opinion.
Garga Muni defines devotional service as
attachment to hearing narrations about the Supreme
Personality of Godhead.
Text 18
atma-ratya-virodheneti sandilyah
atma - for the Supreme Personality of Godhead;
ratya - with love; virodhena - overwhelmed; iti - thus;
sandilyah - Sandilya's opinion.
Sandilya defines devotional service as overwhelming
love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Text 19
naradas tu tad-arpitakhilacarata tad-vismarane parama-
vyakuleti
naradah - Narada's opinion; tu - indeed; tat - to the
Supreme Personality of Godhead; arpita - offered;
akhila - all; acarata - activities; tat - of Him; vismarane
- in forgetfulness; parama - supreme; vyakulata -
distress; iti - thus.
Narada defines devotional service as offering all
activities to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and
being very concerned to never forget Him.
Text 20
asty evam eva
asti - it is; evam - in this way; eva - certainly.
All these definitions are correct.
Text 21
yatha vraja-gopikanam
yatha - just as; vraja - of Vraja; gopikanam - of the
gopis.
These aspects of devotional service may be seen in
the gopis of Vraja.
Text 22
tatraapi na mahatmya-jnana-vismaty-apavadah
tatra api - still; na - not; mahatmya - of the glory;
jnana - knoeledge; vismati - forgetfulness; apavadah -
fault.
Even though the gopis were filled with devotion for
Lord Krsna, they remained unaware of His glorious
position as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. For
them this was not a defect.
Text 23
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tad-vihinam jaranam iva
tat - this; vihinam - without; jaranam - a paramour;
iva - like.
Unaware of Lord Krsna's exalted position, the gopis
loved Him like a paramour.
Text 24
nasty eva tasmims tat-sukha-sukhitvam
na - not; asti - is; eva - certainly; tasmin - in this; tat
- of Him; sukha - in the happiness; sukhitvam - finding
happiness.
For this there is not fault on the gopis' part. They
were completely surrendered to the Lord. Their only
happiness was in seeing that He is happy.
Text 25
sa tu karma-jnana-yogebhyo 'py adhikatara
sa - this; tu - indeed; karma - to fruitive action;
jnana - speculative knowledge; yogebhyah - and mystic
yoga; api - also; adhikatara - is better.
Devotional service is better than fruitive work
(karma), speculative knowledge (jnana), and mystic
yoga.
Text 26
phala-rupatvat
phala - of the fruit; rupatvat - because of being the
form.
Devotional service is itself the benediction attained
by the devotee. For this reason it is better than karma,
jnana, or yoga.
Text 27
isvarasyapy abhimana-dvesitvad-dainya-priyatvac ca
isvarasya - of the Supreme Personality of Godhead;
api - also; abhimana - of pride; dvesitvat - because of
hatred; dainya - of humility; priyatvat - because of love;
ca - also.
Devotional service is better because it makes the
devotees humble; whereas karma, jnana, and yoga bring
pride to the karmis, jnanis and yogis. The Supreme
Personality of Godhead likes humility and hates pride.
For this reason devotional service is better than karma,
jnana, or yoga.
Text 28
tasya jnanam eva sadhanam ity eke
tasyah - of devotional service; jnanam - speculative
knowledge; eva - certainly; sadhanam - the means of
attainment; iti - thus; eke - some.
Some philosophers think that evotional service is
attained only by cultivating speculative knowledge.
Text 29
anyonyasrayatvam ity anye
anyonya - mutual; asrayatvam - of the state of being
the shelter; iti - thus; anye - others.
Other philosophers think that by cultivatinf
speculative knowledge devotional service is attained,
and by cultivating devotional service one makes
progress in speculative knowledge.
Text 30
svayam phala-rupateti brahma-kumarah
svayam - itself; phala - the result; rupata - the state
of having a form; iti - thus; brahma - of Lord Brahma;
kumarah - the sons.
The sons of Lord Brahma (Narada and the four
Kumaras) teach that devotional service is the only
means of attaining devotional service. By practicing
devotional service one attains devotional service.
Text 31
raja-gaha-bhojanadiru tathaiva dartatvat
raja-gaha - the king's palace; bhojana - the meal;
adiru - beginning with; tatha - in that way; eva -
certainly; dartatvat - because of the example.
That devotional service is attained only by practicing
devotional service may be understood from varios
examples, such as th example of the king's palace and
the example of the meal.
Text 32
na tena raja-paritorah krudha-santir va
na - not; tena - by this; raja - of the king; paritorah -
satisfaction; krudha - of hunger; santih - pacification;
va - or.
Knowledge of the location of the king's palace does
not bring the king's pleasure on the knower, nor does
knowledge of the natuure of food satisfy hunger. Only
sonething beyond passive knowledge will bring the
king's pleasure or the satisfaction of hunger.
Text 33
tasmat saiva grahya mumukrubhih
tasmat - therefore; sap this; eva - certainly; grahya -
should be accepted; mumukrubhih - by those desiring
liberation.
From this example it may be understood that passive
knowledge is not sufficient to bring liberation. Those
who desire liberation should accept the path of
devotional service.
Text 34
tasyah sadhanani gayanty acaryah
tasyah - of devotional service; sadhanani - the
methods of attaining; gayanti - describe; acaryah - the
saintly teachers.
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The saintly teachers (acaryas) have described the
means by which one attains devotional service.
Text 35
tat tu visaya-tyagat sanga-tyagac ca
tat - that; tu - indeed; visaya - of the objects of sense
gratification; tyagat - from renunciation; sanga - of
association with worldly-minded people; tyagat - from
renunciation; ca - also.
Devoational service is attained by renouncing the
object of sense gratification and renouncing association
with worldly-minded nondevotees.
Text 36
avyavata-bhajanat
avyavata - unobstructed; bhajanat - from worship.
Devotional service is attained by undeterred,
constant worship and service of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead.
Text 37
loke 'pi bhagavad-guna-sravana-kirtanat
loke - in the material world; api - even; bhagavat -
of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; guna - of the
transcendental qualities; sravana - from hearing;
kirtanat - and chanting.
Even in this material world devotional service is
attained by hearing and glorifying the transcendental
qualities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Text 38
mukhyatas tu mahat-kapayaiva bhagavat-kapa-lesad va
mukhyatah - primarily; tu - but; mahat - of the
devotee of the Lord; kapaya - by the mercy; eva -
certainly; bhagavat - of the Supreme Personality of
Godhead; kapa - of mercy; lesat - from a small particle;
va - or.
Devotional service is attained by the mercy of the
pure devotee or by a drop of the mercy of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. These are the two most
important ways to attain devotional service.
Text 39
mahat-sangas tu durlabho 'gamyo 'moghas ca
mahat - with pure devotees; sangah - association; tu
- indeed; durlabhah - rare; agamyah - difficult to find;
amoghah - very powerful; ca - also.
Association with pure devotees is very rare and
difficult to attain. That association is a very powerful
method of attaining devotional service.
Text 40
labhyate 'pi tat-kapayaiva
labhyate - is attained; api - also; tat - of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead; kapaya - by the mercy; eva -
certainly.
By the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
association with a pure devotee is attained.
Text 41
tasmims taj-jane bhedabhavat
tasmin - in this; tat-jane - in the devotee; bheda -
difference; abhavat - because of nonexistence.
The pure devotee is always in harmony with the
wishes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. They
are never in disagreement. For this reason association
with a pure devotee is a very powerful method of
attaining devotional service.
Text 42
tad eva sadhyatam tad eva sadhyatam
tat - this; eva - certainly; sadhyatam - should be
done; tat - this; eva - certainly; sadhyatam - should be
done.
For this reason one should associate with pure
devotees. For this reason one should associate with pure
devotees.
Text 43
duhsangam sarvathaiva tyajyah
duhsangam - association with nondevotees; sarvatha
- in all respects; eva - certainly; tyajyah - should be
abandoned.
Association with nondevotees should be completely
abandoned.
Text 44
kama-krodha-moha-smatibhramsa-buddhinasa-
sarvanasa-karanatvat
kama - lust; krodha - anger; moha - bewilderment;
smati - of memory; bhramsa - destruction; buddhi - of
intelligence; nasa - destruction; sarva - of everything;
nasa - of the destruction; karanatvat - because of being
the cause.
One should renounce association with nondevotees,
because their association is the cause of lust,
bewilderment, destruction of memory, destruction of
intelligence, and destruction of all other virtues and
advantages.
Text 45
tarangayita apime sangat samudrayani
tarangayita - the status of waves; api - although; ime
- these; sangat - from association; samudrayanti -
become oceans.
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 Although these evils may be only small waves in the
beginning, by continued association with nondevotees
they becomes like great oceans.
Text 46
kas tarati kas tarati mayam. yah sangams tyajati yo
mahanubhavam sevate nirmamo bhavati
kah - who?; tarati - crosses; kah - who?; tarati -
crosses; mayam - illusion; yah - one who; sangan -
associtation with nondevotees; tyajati - abandons; yah -
one who; maha-anubhavam - a great soul; sevate -
service; nirmamah - free from material possessiveness;
bhavati - becomes.
Who crosses beyond the illusory potency (maya)?
Who crosses beyond the illusory potency? One who
abandons association with nondevotees, serves the
devotees of the Lord, and remains free from material
possessiveness crosses beyond the influence of maya.
Text 47
yo vivikta-sthanam sevate yo loka-bandham unmulayati
nistraigunyo bhavati yoga-kremam tyajati
yah - one who; vivikta-sthanam - in a solitary place
where there are no nondevotees; sevate - accepts
residence; yah - one who; loka - of the world; bandham
- the bondage; unmulayati - uproots; nistraigunyah -
free from the influence of the three modes of material
nature; bhavati - becomes; yoga-kremam - material
advantages; tyajati - abandons.
One who does not live with nondevotees, who
uproots the bondage of materialism, who becomes free
from the influence of the three modes of material nature
(goodness, passion, and ignorance), and who gives up
the thought of his own material benefit, crosss beyond
the influence of maya.
Text 48
yah karma-phalam tyajati karmany sannyasyati tato
nirdvandvo bhavati
yah - one who; karma - of work; phalam - the fruit;
tyajati - abandons; karmani - works; sannyasyati -
renounces; tatah - then; nirdvandvah - free from
material duality; bhavati - becomes.
One who renounces the fruits of his work, gives up all
material activities, and becomes free from material
duality crosses beyond the influence of maya.
Text 49
vedan api sannyasyati kevalam avicchinnanuragam
labhate
vedan - the Vedas; api - even; sannyasyati -
renounces; kevalam - exclusive; avicchinna - unbroken;
anuragam - devotional love; labhate - attains.
One who rejects the material piety taught in the four
Vedas, and instead develops unbroken love for the
Supreme Personality of Godhead alone, crosses beyond
the influence of maya.
Text 50
sa tarati sa tarati sa lokams tarayati
sah - he; tarati - crosses; sah - he; tarati - crosses; sah -
he; lokan - the people; tarayati - causes to cross.
He crosses beyond the influence of maya. He crosses
beyond the influence of maya. He makes the people in
general also cross the influence of maya.
Text 51
anirvacaniyam prema-svarupam
anirvacaniyam - difficult to be described; prema - of
pure love of God; svarupam - the nature.
Pure love of God cannot be easily described.
Text 52
mukasvadanavat
muka - of the silent; asvadana - the tasting; vat -
like.
It is like a feast tasted by a silent person who will
not describe his experience to others.
Text 53
prakasate kvapi patre
prakasate - is manifest; kva api - to some; patre -
object.
Pure love of God becomes manifest in some rare
souls.
Text 54
guna-rahitam kamana-rahitam pratikrana-
vardhamanam avicchinnam sukrmataram anubhava-
rupam
guna - material qualities; rahitam - without; kamana
- material desires; rahitam - without; pratikrana - at
every moment; vardhamanam - increasing;
avicchinnam - unbroken; sukrmataram - spiritual;
anubhava-rupam - directly perceived.
Pure love of God is free from material qualities and
material desires. At each moment it grows greater and
greater. It is never broken. It is spiritual and free from
material contact. This pure love of God is directly
experienced by the great devotees.
Text 55
tat prapya tad evavalokayati tad eva sanoti tad eva
bhasayati tad eva cintayati
tat - that; prapya - attaining; tat - that; eva -
certainly; avalokayati - sees; tat - that; eva - certainly;
sanoti - hears; tat - that; eva - certainly; bhasayati -
speaks; tat - that; eva - certainly; cintayati - meditates.
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 When one attains pure love of God, he sees the Lord
everywhere. He always hears about the Lord, speaks
about Him, and think about Him.
Text 56
gauni tridha guna-bhedad artadi-bhedad va
gauni- - secondary; tridha - in three ways; guna - of
the modes of nature; bhedat - from the divisions; arta -
the distressed; adi - beginning with; bhedat - from the
divisions; va - or.
The beginning stage of bhakti (devotional service),
may be classified in three divisions. The three divisions
may be according to the three modes of material nature
(ignorance, passion, and goodness), or they may be
according to the divisions arta (the distressed), artharthi
(those in need of money), and jijnasu (the curious).
Text 57
uttarasmad uttarasmat purva-purva sreyaya bhavati
uttarasmat - from the following; uttarasmat - from
thek following; purva - the preceding; purva - the
preceding; sreyaya - for a better result; bhavati - is.
In these two sets of three divisions, wach stage is
better than the preceding one. In this way bhakti in
passion is better than bhakti in ignorance, and bhakti in
sdgoodness is better than bhakti in passion. In the same
way bhakti performed by the arthathi is better than
bhakti performed by the arta, and bhakti performed by
the jijnasu is better than bhakti performed by the
arthathi.
Text 58
anyasmat saulabhyam bhaktau
anyasmat - than others; saulabhyam - easiness;
bhaktau - in bhakti.
Bhakti is easier than other spiritual paths.
Text 59
pramanantarasyanapekratvat svayam-pramanatvat
pramana - proof; antarasya - other; anapekratvat -
because of not needing; svayam-pramanatvat - because
of being self-manifest.
Devotioanl service is easier than other paths,
because it does not require the help of any activities
outside of devotional service. Devotional service is
easier, because simply by engaging in the activities of
devotional service, devotion becomes autimatically
manifest.
Text 60
santi-rupat paramananda-rupac ca
santi - of peace; rupat - because of being the form;
parama - transcendental; ananda - of bliss; rupat -
because of being the form.
Devotional service is easier than other paths,
because it brings peacefulness. Devotional service is
easier than other path, because it brings transcendental
bliss.
Text 61
loka-hanau cinta na karya niveditatma-loka-vedatvat
loka - of dfthings in this world; hanasu - in the
destruction; cinta - anxiety; na - not; karya - should be
done; nivedita - surrendered; atma-loka - himself;
vedatvat - because of awareness.
The devotee should always consider that he is a soul
completely surrendered to the Supreme Personality of
Godhead. Thinking in this way, he should not be
concerned about the destruction of the temporary things
in this world.
Text 62
na tad-asiddhau loka-vyavaharo heyah kintu phala-
tyagas tat-sadhanam ca karyam eva
na - not; tat - of devotional service; asiddhau - in the
stagfes prior to perfection; loka - in this world; vyava-
harah - work; heyah - to be renounced; kintu - however;
phala - of the fruits; tyagah - the drenunciation; tat - of
that; sadhanam - the means of attainment; ca - also;
karyam - should be done; eva - certainly.
As long as the perfectional stage of devotional
service is not attained, ordinary work in this world
should not be given up. However, the fruits of work
should be given up, and in this way there will be
progress on the path of devotional service.
Text 63
stri-dhana-nastika-vairi-caritram na sravaniyam
stri - of women; dhana - money; nastika - atheists;
vairi - and enemies; caritram - the activities; na - not;
sravaniyam - shold be heard.
In devotional service one should not hear about
women, money, atheistic philosophy, or blasphemy of
the devotees.
Text 64
abhimana-dambhadikam tyajyam
abhimana - oride; dambha - hypocrisy; adikam -
beginning with; tyajyam - should be abandoned.
Pride, hypocrisy, and other faults should be given
up.
Text 65
tad-arpitakhilacarah san kama-krodhabhimanadikam
tasminn eva karaniyam
tat - to Him; arpita - offered; akhila - all; acarah -
activities; san - being so; kama - lust; krodha - anger;
abhi-mana - pride; adikam - beginning with; tasmin - in
this; eva - certainly; karaniyam - should be done.
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 All activities should be offered to the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. It is even possible to engage
lust, anger, pride, and other inauspicious qualities in the
Lord's service.
Text 66
tri-rupa-bhanga-purvakam nitya-dasa-nitya-kanta-
bhajan-atmakam va premaiva karyam premaiva karyam
tri-rupa - of the three modes of material nature;
bhanga-purvakam - become free; nitya - eternal; dasa -
servant; nitya - eternal; kanta - lover; bhajana -
devotional service; atmakam - self; va - or; prema -
pure love of God; eva - certainly; karyam - should be
done; prema - pure love of God; eva - certainly; karyam
- should be done.
One should become free from the influence of the
three modes of material nature and become the eternal
servant or the eternal lover of the Supreme Personality
of Godhead. In this way one should develop pure love of
God. In this way one should develop pure love of God.
Text 67
bhakta ekadtino mukhyah
bhaktah - devotees; ekantinah - completely
surrendered to the Lord; mukhyah - the best.
Those devotees who are completely surrendered to
the Lord are the best.
Text 68
kanthavarodha-romancasrubhih parasparamn
lapamanah pavayanti kulani pathivim ca
kantha - throats; avarodha - choking; romanca -
hairs standing up; asrubhih - with tears; parasparam -
with each other; lapamanah - conversing; pavayanti -
purify; kulani - families; pathivim - the earth; ca - and.
As they discuss the topics of the Supreme Personality
of Godhead, their voices become choked, they shed
tears, and the hairs of their bodies stand up in ecstasy.
These devotees purify their own families as well as the
entire world.
Text 69
tirthi-kurvanti tirthani sukarmi-kurvanti karmani
sacchastri-kurvanti sastrani
tirthi - places if pilgrimage; kurvanti - make; tirthi -
places of pilgrimage; kurvanti - make; tirthani - places
if pilgrimage; sukarmi - devotional service; kurvanti -
make; karmani - activities; sat-sastri - scriptures;
kurvanti - make; sastrani - scriptures.
Where they go becomes a place if pilgrimage. They
transform work into devotional service. Their words
become the scriptures.
Text 70
tanmayah
tat-mayah - completely surrendered to the Lord.
Such devotees are completely surrendered to the
Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Text 71
modante pitaro natyanti devatah sa-natha ceyam bhur
bhavati
modante - become pleased; pitarah - the pitas
(forefathers); natyanti - dance; devatah - the demigods;
sa-natha - protected; ca - also; iyam - this; bhuh - earth;
bhavati - becomes.
Such devotees make the pitas rejoice and the
demigods dance. The presence of such devotees brings
protection to the earth.
Text 72
nasti teru jati-vidya-rupa-kula-dhana-kriyadi-bhedah
na - not; asti - is; teru - among them; jati - of birth;
vidya - learning; rupa - beauty; kula - family; dhana -
wealth; kriya - occupation; adi - beginning with;
bhedah - distinctions,
For such pure devotees no consideration should be
given to the circumstances of their birth, their academic
attainment, physical beauty, financial status,
occupation, or material situation.
Text 73
yatas tadiyah
yatah - because; tadiyah - completely surrendred to
the Lord.
Because these devotees have completely surrendered
to the Lord, the material distinctions of caste or
material qualification no longer apply to them.
Text 74
vado navalambyah
vadah - speculative debate; na - not; avalambyah -
should be done.
Devotees should not engage in mental speculation,
Text 75
bahulyavakasad anityatvac ca
bahulya-avakasat - because of being a great
labyrinth; anityatvat - because of being in constant flux;
ca - also.
Devotees should not engage in mental speculation,
because it is a labyrinth of many theories and because
the theories produced by speculation are in constant
flux, one moment true and the next false.
Text 76
bhakti-sastrani mananiyani tad-udbodhaka-karmany api
karaniyani
7
 bhakti - describing devotional service; sastrani -
scriptures; mananiyani - worshipable; tat - by them;
udbodhaka - prescribed; karmani - activities; api - also;
karaniyani - should be performed.
Bhakti-sastras (devotional scriptures) should be
worshiped. The activities prescribed by them should be
performed.
Text 77
sukha-duhkheccha-ladhadi-tyakte kale pratikryamane
kranardham api vyartham na neyam
sukha - happiness; duhkha - distress; iccha - desire;
labha - attainment; adi - beginning with; tyakte -
abandoned; kale - that time; pratikryamane - being
awaited; krana - a moment; ardham - half; api - even;
vyartham - uselessly; na - not; neyam - should be
passed.
The time of death, when one must give up material
happiness, distress, desires, property, and a host of other
things, is gradually approaching. Fully aware of this,
one should not waste a moment but always engage in
devotional service.
Text 78
ahimsa-satya-sauca-dayastikyadi-caritryani
paripalaniyani
ahimsa - nonviolence; satya - truthfulness; sauca -
cleanliness; daya - mercy; astikya - faith in God; adi -
beginning with; caritryani - good qualities; pari-pa;a-
niyani - should be developed.
One should endeavor to develop truthfulness,
nonviolence, cleanliness, mercy, faith in God, and other
good qualities.
Text 79
sarvada sarva-bhavena niscintitair bhagavan eva
bhajaniyah
sarvada - always; sarva-bhavena - in all respects;
niscintitaih; with singlke-pointed meditation; bhagavan
- the Supreme Personality of Godhead; eva - certainly;
bhajaniyah - should be worshiped.
Always, in all respects, and with single-pointed
concentration, one should worship and serve the
Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Text 80
sa kirtyamanah sighram evavirbhavati anubhavayati ca
bhaktan
sah - He; kirtyamanah - being glorified; sighram -
quickly; eva - certainly; avirbhavati - appears ; anubha-
vayati - causes to directly perceive; ca - also; bhaktan -
the devotees.
When He is glorified, the Supreme Personality of
Godhead at once appears and allows the devotees to
directly perceive His transcendental form.
Text 81
trisatyasya bhaktir eva gariyasi bhaktir eva gariyasi
trisatyasya - of the Supreme Personality of Godhead;
bhaktih - devotional service; eva - certainly; gariyasi -
os the best; bhaktih - devotional service; eva - certainly;
gariyasi - is the best.
Devotional service (bhakti) to the Supreme
Peresonsality of Godhead is the best of all spiritual
paths. Devotional service is the best of all spiritual
paths.
Text 82
guna-mahatmyasakti-rupasakti-pujasakti-smaranasakti-
dasyasakti-sakhyasakti-kantasakti-vatsalyasakty-
atmanivedanasakti-tanmayatasakti-parama-virahasakti-
rupa ekadhapy edadasadha bhavati
guna - of the transcendental qualities of the Lord;
mahatmya - the glories; asakti - attachment; rupa - to
the form of the Lord; asakti - attachment; puja - to
worship; asakti - attachment; smarana - to remembering
the Lord; asakti - attachment; dasya - to service of the
Lord; asakti - attachment; sakhya - to friendship with
the LOrd; asakti - attachment; kanta - to being a lover
of the Lord; asakti - attachment; vatsalya - to parental
love for the Lord; asakti - attachment; atma-nivedana -
to completely surrender to the Lord; asakti -
attachment; tanumayata - to taking shelter of the Lord;
asakti - attachment; parama-viraha - to loving the Lord
in the mood of separation; asakti - attachment; rupa - in
the form; ekadha - in one way; api - although;
ekadasadha - in eleven ways; bhavati - is.
Although devotional service is one, it may be divided
into the following eleven categories: (1) attachment to
chanting the glories of the Lord's transcendental
qualities, (2) attachment to the transcendental form of
the Lord, (3) attachment to the worship of the Lord, (4)
attachment to always remembering the Lord, (5)
attachment to rendering service to the Lord, (6)
attachment to serving the Lord as a friend, (7)
attachment to serving the Lord as a conjugal lover, (8)
attachment to serving the Lord as a parent, (9)
attachment to surrendering everything to the Lord, (10)
attachment to taking shelter of the Lord, (11)
attachment to loving the Lord in the mood of
separation.
Text 83
ity evam vadanti jana-jalpa-nirbhaya eka-matah
kumara-vyasa - suka-sandilya-garga-visnu-kaundinya-
sesoddhavaruni-bali - hanumad-vibhisanadayo bhakty-
acaryah
iti - thus; evam - in this way; vadanti - speak; jana -
of ordinary people; jalpa - of the talk; nirbhayah -
unafraid; eka-matah - who have fixed their minds on
the Supreme Personality of Godhead; kumara - the four
Kumaras; vyasa - Vyasa; suka - Suka - sandiya -
Sandilya; garga - Garga Muni; visnu - Visnu Svami;
kaundinya - Kaundinya; sesa - Sesa; uddhava -
Uddhava; aruni - Aruni; bali - Bali; hanumat -
Hanuman; vibhisana - Vibhisana; adayah - beginning
8
with; bhakti - of devotional service; acaryah - the
teachers.

The Kumaras, Vyasa, Sukadeva Gosvami, Sandilya

Muni, Garga Muni, Visnu Svami, Kaundinya Muni,
Ananta Sesa, Uddhava, Aruni, Maharaja Bali,
Hanuman, Vibhisana, and other teachers of the path of
devotional service (bhakty-acarya), who are all
completely surrendered to the Lord and unafraid of
what ordinary nondevotees may say to criticize them,
all describe the path of devotional service in this way.

Text 84

ya idam narada-proktam sivanusasanam visvasiti

sraddhatte sa prertham labhate sa prertham labhate iti
yah - one who; idam - this; narada - by Narada
Muni; proktam - spoken; siva - auspicious; anusa-
sanam - instruction; visvasiti - believes; sraddhatte - has
faith; sah - he; prertham - the dearmost Supreme
Personality of Godhead; labhate - attains; sah - he;
prertham - the dearmost Supreme Personality of
Godhead; labhate - attains; iti - thus.

One who has great faith in these auspicious

instructions spoken by Narada Muni, attains the
dearmost Supreme Personality of Godhead. He attains
the dearmost Supreme Personality of Godhead.