Unknown translator
note: I have included these from a document I found called "Vedanta
Yoga Texts". There are no translators on any of the documents, and I've
been hesitant to post this collection of sutras for just this reason.
There does exist, on the net, "free" translations, but aren't to be
considered actual translations.
1. Now, therefore, the doctrine
of devotion we shall expound.
2. That (devotion) is indeed of the
nature of supreme love in (directed towards) God.
3. The supreme love for the Lord, called
devotion divine, is of the nature of immortality also.
4. Having gained this supreme devotion,
the devotee attains perfection and immortality and becomes extremely
satisfied.
5. Having attained which (devotion) he
cares for nothing, never
grieves, never hates, never delights in anything and he finds no urge
or enthusiasm for sense enjoyment.
6. Having known which (devotion) one
becomes intoxicated, silent, and enjoys in the Self.
7. Because it is of the nature of
renunciation there is no element of desire in that love divine.
8. The renunciation, indeed, is in the
total giving up of all secular and religious activities.
9. In the Lord whole-hearted,
single-minded devotion, and in all
else that are contrary to it (devotion), complete indifference -this is
the nature of renunciation. (nirodha).
10. Renunciation of all other supports is
whole-heartedness (in devotion).
11. To perform all secular and religious
functions that are
congenial to Him and (to have) total indifference to all action that
are hostile to Him ... (that is “indifference”).
12. After having thus decided to live the
life of whole-hearted
devotion, let there be protection of the scriptural teachings.
13. Or else, there is the fear of a fall
(from the spiritual path).
14. The worldly duties in the various
social contacts are also to be
performed only to that extent (so long as the consciousness of the
external world continues with us), but activities such as eating, etc.,
indeed will continue as long as the body exists.
15. Its (devotion or bhakti’s)
characteristics are being described now; due to the existence of
different opinions.
16. “In the worship of the Lord with deep
Love and firm attachment”, thus declares the son of Parasara, Sri Veda
Vyasa.
17. “A great attachment to listening to
the stories of His glories etc. is bhakti,” according to Maharshi Garga.
18. “The devotion for God, which is not
opposed to attachment to the
inner-Self is true devotion,” according to Sage Shandilya.
19. According to Devarshi Narada “ total
dedication of all actions
at the altar of the Lord, and at all moments of forgetfulness of the
Lord, excruciating pang” is supreme love-divine (bhakti).
20. Let it be exactly as described above.
21. Just as the love of the Gopis of
Vraja.
22. Even there, in this condition of
total love, there is no danger of forgetting the glory of Lord.
23. Love without the knowledge of His
true nature (is) like the illicit love for the paramour.
24. In the profane love for the paramour
the sense of happiness in
the happiness given to another, surely does not exist at all.
25. The supreme devotion (bhakti) is
indeed, as a technique even
superior to the path of action (karma), the path of knowledge (gyana),
and the path of disciplined contemplation (yoga).
26. Because it is of the nature of the
fruits of all yogas.
27. Also because of God’s dislike for
egoism and because of the love for meekness (devotion alone is
superior).
28. “For the love divine, knowledge alone
is the means”, so say some Acharyas.
29. “Mutually dependent”, declare others.
30. “It (bhakti) is its own fruit” thus
say the sons of Brahma the creator.
31. Because it is seen demonstrated as
such in the examples of places and dinner etc.
32. Because of it (a mere knowledge
alone) neither the favor of the king nor the appeasement of hunger can
ever happen.
33. Therefore, that supreme love for God
alone is to be sought after by seekers of complete Liberation.
34. Ancient teachers sing differently
upon the means of developing this devotion in the human bosom.
35. Indeed the sources of devotion are
explored and exploited fully
through (1) renunciation of sense-objects and also by (2) giving up
attachments to being around.
36. (Also) (3) through continuous tender
and loving service of the Lord.
37. (Again) (4) by hearing and singing
the glories of the Lord, even while engaged in the activities of the
world.
38. Primarily it (pure devotion) is
gained (5) through the grace of great souls, or (6) through a little of
the divine grace.
39. To come in contact with a great soul
is indeed extremely
difficult. It is impossible to know them fully. Yet, it is infallible
in its effect.
40. “Nevertheless, by the grace of God
alone great souls are attained.
41. Because between God and His devotees,
there is no sense of difference.
42. That alone is to be accomplished:
that alone be accomplished.
43. Evil company is only fit to be
renounced by all means.
44. For it is the cause for creating
lust, anger, delusion, loss of
memory, loss of discrimination, and ultimately our utter ruin.
45. Though appearing as a ripple (in the
beginning) these (anger, lust, etc.,) by evil companionship can become
an ocean.
46. “Who crosses maya (illusion)? Who
really crosses maya? (1) He
who gives up all attachments to sense-objects: (2) He who serves the
great devotees and (3) He who renounces all sense of possession in
himself.
47. …(4) he who keeps himself in a
solitary place of quietude, (5)
he who plucks off his bondage with the world by the roots, (6) (he who)
goes beyond the influences of his “gunas”, (7) (he who) renounces all
his anxieties for acquiring and maintaining.
48. … (8) he who relinquishes the fruits
of actions, (9) who
renounces all ego-centric actions, and thus (10) becomes free from the
play of the pairs of opposites.
49. … (11) he who renounces even the
Vedas and (12) gains a pure unbroken flow of devotion.
50. …he crosses, indeed he crosses. He
helps others also to cross.
51. The nature of devotion is
indescribable, indefinable.
52. Like the taste enjoyed by the dumb.
53. In some rare ones who are fit
recipients this (such pure love) is found to manifest.
54. (This pure love) without attributes,
without the poison of
desires, every moment increasing, unbroken, subtlest, of the nature of
sheer immediate experience…
55. Having reached the supreme love
(that), the devotee sees (feels,
comprehends) that alone, hears that alone, speaks of that alone, and
thinks (contemplates upon) that alone.
56. The secondary devotion is of three
kinds - according to the
difference in the mental disposition (of the devotee) or according to
the type of discontentment (in the devotees).
57. Than each succeeding one, each
preceding one become the nobler (the greater).
58. Than all other paths (yogas) devotion
is readily available-easily attainable…….
59. …because love depends on no other
proof, it in itself being of the nature of a proof, love is
self-evident.
60. …also because love is of the nature
of peace and it is of the nature of supreme bliss.
61. No worry or anxiety should be
entertained at the worldly losses,
as it is the nature of a true devotee to constantly surrender his
limited-self and all its secular and sacred activities to the Lord of
his heart.
62. Till such a consummate love is not
gained or on attaining the
consummate love -worldly activities are not to be abandoned. But
certainly we must diligently pursue love and learn to renounce our
anxiety to enjoy the fruit of our activities.
63. (The seeker should not) listen to
descriptions of women, wealth, atheists and enemies.
64. Pride vanity, and such other negative
urges of the mind should be given up.
65. Having dedicated all activities unto
Him, one, should turn all his desire, anger, pride, etc., towards him
alone.
66. Going beyond the three-factors of
experiences, love, consisting
of constant service, as in the case of a devoted servant or wife, alone
should be practiced.
67. Devotees, whose sole, single goal is
the Lord Himself and whose
single-pointed devotion towards the Lord is for its on sake, are the
primary (best).
68. When (they) with throats choked with
emotion, body covered with
horripulation and tears flowing down, converse with each other in
broken words, they sanctify their family and tribe, nay, the very earth
itself they come to glorify.
69. (They) sanctify the sacred places of
pilgrimage, add glory to actions, and lend authority to the scriptures.
70. (For) they live absorbed in Him.
71. The past generations rejoice in their
fulfillment, the divine
beings in heaven dance in joy and this earth itself becomes endowed
with a spiritual Savior.
72. Among them (the perfected saints)
there are no distinctions
based upon caste, culture, beauty, family, wealth or profession.
73. For they are of His own nature divine.
74. Vain disputation and discussion
should not be entered into.
75. (Vain disputations are to be given
up) because there can be
endless, diverse views and all mere arguments become ultimately
inconclusive only.
76. Books on devotion should be reflected
upon and their instructions must be pursued diligently.
77. Waiting for a propitious time, when
pleasure, pain, desire,
profit etc. are not troubling you, even half a second should not be
wasted.
78. Virtues, like non-injury to others,
truthfulness, cleanliness,
compassion, faith in Lord, etc., should be consistently cultivated.
79. Always, free from, in all mental
anxiety, the Lord alone is to
be invoked and sought after, with all factors of our personality.
80. When invoked, He indeed reveals
Himself and makes the devotee realize His absolute nature divine.
81. Of the three “truths” (time or paths)
devotion alone is the greatest; indeed, devotion alone is the greatest.
82. (1) Love for glorifying His
qualities, (2) love for His divine
form, (3) love for worshipping Him, (4) love for remembering Him, (5)
love for doing service for Him, (6) love for friendship in Him, (7)
love for the Lord as one’s own child, (8) love as that to a beloved,
(9) love for a total self-offering at His Feet, (10) love for complete
absorption in Him, (11) and love as expressed in the pang of separation
from Him -thus though love is one only, it is expressed in eleven
different modes.
83. Thus declare they, who are fearless
of other people and their
prattlings, their unanimous opinion- they who are masters of the path
of devotion, such as Sanatkumara Vyasa, Suka, Shandilya, Garga, Vishnu,
Kaundinya, Sesha, Uddhava, Aruni, Bali, Hanuman, and Vibhishana.
84. He who believes and has faith in this
exposition, given out by
Narada as taught (commanded) by Lord Siva, he gains the love of God and
attains his objective, aye, attains his beloved goal.