Narada Bhakti Sutra: The Essence of Divine Devotion
Complete lyrics with original text, transliteration, and meaning, 3 sections
Narada Bhakti Sutra Aphorisms Divine Bhagavan other
The Foundation of Devotion
Original
ईश्वरप्रणिधानात् भक्तिः । तस्य प्रणिधानात् सत्त्वशुद्धिः ।
Transliteration
Ishvarapranidhanat bhaktiḥ. Tasya pranidhanat sattva-shuddhiḥ.
Meaning / Translation
Devotion is the total surrender to the Supreme Lord. From that surrender comes the purification of one's inner being (Sattva).
The Path of Purification
Original
सत्त्वशुद्ध्यात् सात्त्विकवेदांतः । सात्त्विकवेदांतात् सात्त्विकभावः ।
Transliteration
Sattva-shuddhyāt sāttvika-vedāntah. Sāttvika-vedāntāt sāttvika-bhāvah.
Meaning / Translation
From the purity of being comes the realization of the highest Divine Truth. From that realization comes a divine and pure disposition.
The Culmination of Love
Original
सात्त्विकभावात् सुस्वादु-भक्तिः । सुस्वादु-भक्त्यात् वैराग्यम् । वैराग्यात् निरतिः । निरति-निरति-साधनात् प्रेम । प्रेमात् ईश्वरप्राप्तिः ।
Transliteration
Sāttvika-bhāvāt susvādu-bhaktih. Susvādu-bhaktyāt vairāgyam. Vairāgyāt niratih. Nirati-nirati-sādhanāt prema. Premāt ishvaraprāptih.
Meaning / Translation
From a divine disposition comes the sweet and blissful experience of devotion. From sweet devotion comes detachment from the worldly. From detachment comes freedom from all mundane desires. From this freedom, the highest Divine Love (Prema) is cultivated. And through that Divine Love, one attains the Supreme Lord.