Sri Bhakfi-sandarbhaAn Essay on DevofionaI ServiceSome Words of AcknowIedgemenfSiila Gopala llaiia Gosvami, ilc gicai plilosoplci liom ilc souilcin piovinccs wlo gicaily plcascd Siila Rupa Gosvami and Siila Sanaiana Gosvami, lcli many valuablc noics ilai dclcai vaiious plilosoplical misconccpiions. Sysicmaiically aiianging ilcsc noics, and considciing ilcii conicni, Jiva Gosvami wiiics ilis bool.Anuccheda 11 ly ilc picvious loui sandaiblas ilc iclaiionslip (bciwccn Kisna and ilc living cniiiics) was cxplaincd. Tlcic ilc loim ol ilc Supicmc Tiuil was dcsciibcd as laving ilc claiaciciisiics ol pcilcciion, ciciniiy, and iiansccndcnial bliss, and ilc Supicmc was also dcsciibcd as appcaiing in ilicc lcaiuics: lialman, Paiamaima, and llagavan. Ol ilcsc llagavan was piovcd io bc ilc liglcsi. Tlc incainaiions lcadcd by Loid Visnu and oilci incainaiions lcadcd by ilc loui Kumaias wcic slown io bc His avaiaias. Also, Sii Kisna was piovcd io bc ilc oiiginal loim ol llagavan. Also, in ilc dcsciipiion ol Paiamaima, wcic dcsciibcd ilc sullciings in ilc maiciial woild ol ilc individual living cniiiics (jivas), wlo aic ilc Loid's maiginal poicncy, wlo aic spiiiiual in naiuic, and wlo, bccausc ol ignoiancc ol ilc bcginninglcss Supicmc Tiuil and bccausc ol ilc ciimc ol bcing avcisc io Him lad ilc lnowlcdgc ol ilcii oiiginal spiiiiual idcniiiy covcicd by illusion (maya) and wcic placcd in ilc maiciial woild ol ilc modcs ol goodncss, passion and ignoiancc.2 Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad cxplains (Siimad llagavaiam 11.22.3+):"Tlc spcculaiivc aigumcni ol plilosoplcis - "Tlis woild is ical," "No, ii is noi ical" - is bascd upon incomplcic lnowlcdgc ol ilc Supicmc Soul and is simply aimcd ai undcisianding maiciial dualiiics. Alilougl sucl aigumcni is usclcss, pcisons wlo lavc iuincd ilcii aiicniion away liom Mc, ilcii own iiuc Scll, aic unablc io givc ii up."3 Ioi ilcii bcnclii (ilc Loid) vciy mcicilully icaclcs sciipiuics. Somc individual spiiii souls wlo in picvious biiils pciloimcd icligious ccicmonics and bccamc puiilicd in oidci io diiccily scc ilc Loid, and oilci individual spiiii souls wlo aiiaincd ilc mcicy ol gicai souls by ilcii glancc oi in anoilci way, simply by lcaiing ilc dcsciipiion ol ilc pcilcci qualiiics ol ilc Supicmc Tiuil, scc Him lacc-io-lacc. Tlis is dcsciibcd in Siimad llagavaiam (1.1.2):"Tlis bcauiilul llagavaiam, compilcd by ilc gicai sagc Vyasadcva (in lis maiuiiiy), is sullicicni in iiscll loi God icalisaiion. Wlai is ilc nccd ol any oilci sciipiuic' As soon as onc aiicniivcly and submissivcly lcais ilc mcssagc ol llagavaiam, by ilis culiuic ol lnowlcdgc ilc Supicmc Loid is csiablislcd wiilin lis lcaii."Tlis docs noi lappcn wiil any oilci icacling. Many oilci icaclings may bc lcaid, bui ii is ilc lcaiing ol naiiaiions ilai bcgin wiil ilc Supicmc Tiuil's pasiimcs ilai malcs onc ycain io iasic ilc ncciai ol ilc Loid. Sii Piallada and oilci dcvoiccs aic cxamplcs lcic. Hcaiing aboui ilc Loid givcs ilc sccd (io scc ilc Loid lacc-io-lacc), and ii also dcsiioys ilc sccd ol lusi and a losi ol viccs.+ Sii Piallada cxplains (Siimad-llagavaiam 7.9.39)"My dcai Loid ol ilc Vailunila plancis, wlcic ilcic is no anxiciy, my mind is cxiicmcly sinlul and lusiy, bcing somciimcs so-callcd lappy and somciimcs so-callcd disiicsscd. My mind is lull ol lamcniaiion and lcai, and ii always sccls moic and moic moncy. Tlus ii las bccomc mosi polluicd and is ncvci saiislicd in iopics conccining You. I am ilcicloic mosi lallcn and pooi. In sucl a siaius ol lilc, low slall I bc ablc io discuss Youi aciiviiics'"ly lollowing ilc cxamplc ol ilcsc woids ol Sii Piallada, wlo ilinls Himscll vciy lallcn and lowly, many oilcis lavc also aiiaincd ilc Loid.5 Tlis is cxplaincd in lialma-vaivaiia Puiana"As mucl as ii is polluicd wiil sins, io ilai cxicni ilc lcaii cannoi placc iis laiil in ilc Vcdic sciipiuics oi ilc bona-lidc spiiiiual masici.6 "ly lcaiing ilc Vcdic sciipiuics in ilc associaiion ol sainily dcvoiccs lovc loi ilc Loid is manilcsi. Tlai is ilc gicai icsuli ol laving pciloimcd many pious dccds in many picvious biiils."7 Now ilai ilc Supicmc Tiuil las bccn clcaily dcsciibcd accoiding io ilc diicci dcsciipiions (ol ilc Vcdic liiciaiuic), (onc may asl:) "Wlai may bc said (ablidlcya) aboui (ilc iclaiionslip bciwccn ilc Supicmc Tiuil and ilc individual spiiii souls) and wlai is ilc linal goal (piayojana) ol ilai (iclaiionslip)' Tlcsc iwo may bc cxplaincd accoiding io ilc indiicci dcsciipiions (ol ilc Vcdic liiciaiuic). lccausc ii is ilc opposiic ol bcing avcisc io ilc Supicmc, ilai iclaiionslip is onc ol iuining onc's lacc ol ilc Loid and ii is claiaciciiscd by scivicc io ilc Loid. Iiom ilai scivicc lnowlcdgc ol ilc Loid bccomcs manilcsicd. Tlc linal goal is ilai scivicc is diiccily sccing ilc Loid and ilai is claiaciciiscd by ilc Loid's maling Himscll visiblc wiilin and wiiloui. Wlcn ilai lappcns onc bccomcs licc ol all sullciings. loil aic cxplaincd in an ancicni sioiy. Hcaiing "Tlcic is a iicasuic (liddcn) in youi lousc", a povciiy siiiclcn man scaiclcd loi ilc iicasuic and cvcniually lound ii. Tlcsc iwo ilings aic lilc ilai. Tlis sioiy is iold io dispcl wcalncss (ol lcaii in ilc dcvoiccs). Lxplaining ilai bcing unwilling io bc awaic ol ilc pcilcci and bcginninglcss Supicmc Tiuil is ilc causc ol sullciing, (ilc sciipiuics) icacl scivicc io ilc Loid, wlicl is ilc mcdicinc io cuic ilc discasc (ol maiciial lilc).S (Tlis is cxplaincd in Siimad-llagavaiam 11.2.37):"Wlcn ilc living cniiiy is aiiiacicd by ilc maiciial cncigy, wlicl is scpaiaic liom Kisna, lc is ovcipowcicd by lcai. lccausc lc is scpaiaicd liom ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad by ilc maiciial cncigy, lis conccpiion ol lilc is icvciscd. In oilci woids, insicad ol bcing ilc cicinal scivicc ol Kisna, lc bccomcs Kisna's compciiioi. Tlis is callcd vipaiyayo smiiil. To nullily ilis misialc, onc wlo is aciually lcaincd and advanccd woislips ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad as lis spiiiiual masici, woisliplul Dciiy, and souicc ol lilc. Hc ilus woislips ilc Loid by ilc pioccss ol unalloycd dcvoiional scivicc."9 Siidlaia Svami commcnis: "Tlc lcai lcic is cicaicd by ilc Loid's maiciial cncigy. 'ludlal' mcans 'an iniclligcni pcison', and 'ablajci' mcans 'slould woislip'. Icai is cicaicd by absoipiion (ablinivcsaial) in maiciial ilings bcginning wiil ilc maiciial body. Ii is cicaicd by ilc lalsc-cgo ol idcniilying wiil ilc maiciial body and oilci maiciial ilings. Ii is cicaicd bccausc ilc oiiginal spiiiiual loim ol ilc living cniiiy is noi manilcsi. Wly docs ilc maiciial cncigy (maya) do ilis' lccausc ilc living cniiiy las iuincd away liom ilc Supicmc Loid (isad apciasya), ilc maiciial cncigy malcs lim loigci (asmiiil) and ilus lis own oiiginal spiiiiual loim is no longci manilcsicd. Iiom ilis comcs ilc misidcniilicaiion (vipaiyayal) ol ilinling 'I am ilis body'. Tlus, liom bcing absoibcd in somciling oilci ilan ilc Supicmc Loid (dviiiyablinivcsaial) lcai (blayam) is cicaicd. In ilis way ii is piovcd ilai lcai is cicaicd by ilc maiciial cncigy (maya). Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad Himscll cxplains (llagavad-giia 7.1+):10 "Tlis divinc cncigy ol Minc, consisiing ol ilc ilicc modcs ol maiciial naiuic, is dilliculi io ovcicomc. lui ilosc wlo lavc suiicndcicd unio Mc can casily cioss bcyond ii."11 "Tlcicloic wiil unalloycd (claya) dcvoiion onc slould woislip ilc Loid. In ilc woid 'Guiu-dcvaiaima' ilc woid 'dcvaia' mcans 'masici', and 'aima' mcans 'dcaimosi'. In ilis way ilc spiiiiual masici slould bc sccn. Tlai is ilc mcaning."Tlis vcisc is spolcn by Sii Kavi io ilc ling ol Vidcla.Anuccheda 21 Iuiilcimoic, Siimad-llagavaiam (2.2.6) cxplains:"Tlus bcing lixcd, onc musi icndci scivicc unio ilc Supcisoul siiuaicd in onc's own lcaii by His omnipoicncy. lccausc Hc is ilc Almigliy Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, cicinal and unlimiicd, Hc is ilc uliimaic goal ol lilc, and by woislipping Him onc can cnd ilc causc ol ilc condiiioncd siaic ol cxisicncc."2 Siidlaia Svami commcnis: "Wlai, ilcn, slould bc donc' Loid Haii slould bc scivcd. Hcic wiil woid 'cvam' (ilus) mcans 'bcing icnounccd'. In ilai way onc slould scivc ilc Loid (iam blajcia). Tlc icasons wly Hc slould bc woislippcd lollow: 1. Hc is siiuaicd in onc's lcaii by His omnipoicncy (sva-ciiic svaia cva siddlal). 2. Hc is ilc Supcisoul (aima), 3. Hc is vciy dcai (piiyal), +. Dcvoiional scivicc io Him, ilc dcai onc, is lull ol lappincss, 5. Hc is ilc uliimaic icaliiy (aiilal), 6. Hc is noi lalsc, as ilai wlicl is noi aima is, 7. Hc is ilc Loid, wlosc iiansccndcnial qualiiics aic woislipablc (blagavan), and S. Hc is cicinal (ananial). lccausc Hc is lilc ilis, onc slould woislip Him (iam blajcia)."'Niyaiaiilal' mcans 'ilc uliimaic goal ol lilc'. lccausc by sccing lim onc bccomcs lull ol bliss, Hc is callcd 'niiviial' (bliss). As a icsuli ol pciloiming dcvoiional scivicc, His blisslul loim is icvcalcd. Iuiilcimoic, wlcn (yaiia) ilcic is dcvoiional scivicc, ilcn ilc ignoiancc ilai is ilc causc ol ilc condiiioncd siaic ol cxisicncc (samsaia-lciol) is dcsiioycd (upaiamal)."Iiom ilc woid "ca" lcic ilai aiiainmcni slould bc undcisiood. Siila Suladcva Gosvami spcals ilis vcisc.Anuccheda 31 Alilougl ilc spiiiiual aciiviiics ol jnana-yoga, wlicl bcgin wiil lcaiing and mcdiiaiion malc onc lavouiablc iowaids ilc Supicmc bccausc ilcy givc onc diicci pciccpiion ol His lialman lcaiuic, and alilougl sanllya-yoga, asianga-yoga, and laima-yoga also, cacl in iis own way, malc onc also lavouiablc iowaids ilc Supicmc, and alilougl ilcy do insiil, io a cciiain cxicni, somc dcvoiion loi ilc Loid, laima-yoga by laving onc lollow ilc Loid's oidcis and malc ollciings io ilc Loid, and jnana-yoga by laving onc, among oilci ilings, bccomc dciaclcd liom cvciyiling bui ilc Loid, and alilougl ilcsc linds ol yoga aic ilcicloic ilc liicnds ol dcvoiional scivicc, siill ilc picvious vciscs quoicd liom Siimad-llagavaiam (11.2.37 and 2.2.6) wlicl cxplain "Onc slould woislip ilc Loid by cngaging in dcvoiional scivicc", do noi considci ilcm vciy impoiiani. Tlcsc vciscs say ilai onc slould woislip ilc Loid by diiccily cngaging in dcvoiional scivicc, wlicl las many aciiviiics bcginning wiil lcaiing and claniing ol ilc Loid's gloiics. Tlis, along wiil an cxplanaiion ol ilc icasons wly, is sccn in ilc bcginning ol Sii Suia Gosvami icaclings, lound in Siimad-llagavaiam bcginning wiil 1.2.6 and cnding wiil 1.2.22. Tlcic ii is said (Siimad-llagavaiam 1.2.6):2 "Tlc supicmc occupaiion (dlaima) loi all lumaniiy is ilai by wlicl mcn can aiiain io loving dcvoiional scivicc unio ilc iiansccndcnial Loid. Sucl dcvoiional scivicc musi bc unmoiivaicd and uniniciiupicd io complcicly saiisly ilc scll."3 In ilc bcginning ol ilc gicai Siimad-llagavaiam Puiana (1.1.11) ilc qucsiion was aslcd: "Wlai is ilc csscncc ol all sciipiuics' Plcasc cxplain ii." Tlai qucsiion is addicsscd in Siimad-llagavaiam 1.2.6 (wlicl was quoicd in ilc picvious icxi). Tlcic ilc woid "yaial" mcans "by ilai occupaiion", and "adlolsajc blaliil" mcans "aiiiaciion loi ilc aciiviiics (ol dcvoiional scivicc), wlicl bcgin wiil lcaiing naiiaiions aboui ilc Loid" bccausc a liiilc laici ilc opposiic (ol ilai aiiiaciion) will bc slown in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 1.2.S):"Tlc occupaiional aciiviiics a man pciloims accoiding io lis own posiiion aic only so mucl usclcss laboui il ilcy do noi piovolc aiiiaciion loi lcaiing ilc mcssagc ol ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad."In Siimad-llagavaiam 1.2.6. (quoicd in ilc picvious icxi) ilc woids "sa vai" mcan "cciiainly ilai". Tlc "ilai" mcniioncd lcic mcans "ilc bcsi ol all occupaiional duiics, wlicl mcans ilai wlicl is donc ol ilc saiislaciion ol ilc Loid." Tlis is so bccausc ii will bc said (Siimad llagavaiam 1.2.13):"Ii is ilcicloic concludcd ilai ilc liglcsi pcilcciion onc can aclicvc by disclaiging ilc duiics picsciibcd loi onc's own occupaiion accoiding io casic divisions and oidcis ol lilc is io plcasc ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad."lccausc ii is noi avcisc io, oi apaii liom ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, dcvoiional scivicc is noi mcicly icnunciaiion. Tlis is cxplaincd by Naiada Muni in ilcsc woids (Siimad-llagavaiam 1.5.12):"Knowlcdgc ol scll-icalisaiion, cvcn ilougl liccd liom all maiciial alliniiy, docs noi lool wcll il dcvoid ol ilc conccpiion ol ilc inlalliblc (God). Wlai, ilcn, is ilc usc ol liuiiivc aciiviiics, wlicl aic naiuially painlul liom ilc vciy bcginning and iiansicni by naiuic, il ilcy aic noi uiiliscd loi ilc dcvoiional scivicc ol ilc Loid'"Tlis will bc dcsciibcd in Siimad-llagavaiam 1.2.13. Tlc mcaning is ilai unalloycd dcvoiional scivicc is ilc bcsi ol spiiiiual pails. ly ilis vcisc, ilcicloic, ii is said ilai dcvoiional scivicc is bciici ilan ilc aciiviiics ol vainasiama-dlaima. ncxi lc (Suia Gosvami) dcsciibcs ilc naiuic ol dcvoiional scivicc. Hc says ilai bccausc dcvoiional scivicc is naiuially and sponiancously blisslul, ii is unmoiivaicd (alaiiuli), wlicl mcans ii is dcvoid ol ilc scaicl loi any icsuli oilci ilan ilc scivicc iiscll, and ii is uniniciiupicd (apiaiilaia), wlicl mcans bccausc ii docs noi lind ciilci lappincss oi disiicss in anyiling oilci ilan dcvoiional scivicc, ilcicloic ii cannoi bc sioppcd by anyiling. Wlcn dcvoiional scivicc is claiaciciiscd by aiiiaciion (iuci) io (ilc Loid), ilcn dcvoiional scivicc in piaciicc (sadlana-blalii), wlicl bcgins wiil lcaiing (aboui ilc Loid), las bcgun.Anuccheda +1 Siimad-llagavaiam (5.1S.12) cxplains:"All ilc dcmigods and ilcii cxalicd qualiiics, sucl as icligion, lnowlcdgc, and icnunciaiion, bccomc manilcsi in ilc body ol onc wlo las dcvclopcd unalloycd dcvoiion loi ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Vasudcva."Tlcicloic lnowlcdgc ol ilc Loid's loim and qualiiics naiuially biings icnunciaiion ol cvciyiling clsc. Tlis is dcsciibcd (in Siimad llagavaiam 1.2.7):2 "ly icndciing dcvoiional scivicc unio ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Sii Kisna, onc immcdiaicly acquiics causclcss lnowlcdgc and dciaclmcni liom ilc woild."3 Tlis vcisc mcans ilai simply by biiclly lcaiing aboui Kisna (asu) dcvoiional scivicc cicaics (janayaii) ilc lnowlcdgc icvcalcd in ilc Upanisads (jnanam), wlicl is bcyond ilc splcic ol ilosc mcilods ilai bcgin wiil diy logic (alaiiulam).Anuccheda 51 Tlc icsuli ol ilc abscncc ol dcvoiional scivicc is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad-llagavaiam 1.2.S):"Tlc occupaiional aciiviiics a man pciloims accoiding io lis own posiiion aic only so mucl usclcss laboui il ilcy do noi piovolc aiiiaciion loi ilc mcssagc ol ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad."2 Il (yadi) onc docs noi plcasc Loid Vasudcva, ilcn ilcic will noi bc (na uipadayci) aiiiaciion (iaiim) io ilc dcsciipiions ol ilc Loid's vaiious iiansccndcnial pasiimcs. Tlcn ilc only icsuli will bc usclcss laboui (siaml). Tlis is said bccausc ol ilc gicai supciioiiiy and supicmc impoiiancc ol aiiiaciion io lcaiing aboui ilc Loid. Hcic also is linicd a dcsciipiion ol aiiiaciion io dcvoiional scivicc. Tlc woid "cva" lcic mcans ilai ilc liuiis ol maiciial laboui aic icmpoiaiy. Tlc woid "li" lcic is cxplaincd in Clandogya Upanisad (S1.16), "Tlc icsidcncc in a lcavcnly maiciial planci ilai is aiiaincd by maiciially pious woil is icmpoiaiy and will cnd." Tlc woid "lcvalam" is dclincd in Amaia-losa, "Kcvalam mcans conclusion". Tlc conclusion lcic is ilai ilc cicinal bcnclii cannoi bc aiiaincd by ciilci mcic pious icnunciaiion oi by spcculaiivc lnowlcdgc. Lvcn wlcn ilcsc aic pcilccicd ilcy biing only a icmpoiaiy bcnclii. Tlis is linicd lcic by ilc woid "li" and ii is also conliimcd by Svciasvaiaia Upanisad (6.23):"Only unio ilosc gicai souls wlo lavc implicii laiil in boil ilc Loid and ilc spiiiiual masici aic all ilc impoiis ol Vcdic lnowlcdgc auiomaiically icvcalcd."Ii is again conliimcd in Siimad-llagavaiam (1.5.12):"Knowlcdgc ol scll-icalisaiion, cvcn ilougl licc liom all maiciial alliniiy, docs noi lool wcll il dcvoid ol a conccpiion ol ilc inlalliblc (God). Wlai, ilcn is ilc usc ol liuiiivc aciiviiics, wlicl aic naiuially painlul liom ilc vciy bcginning and iiansicni by naiuic, il ilcy aic noi uiiliscd loi ilc dcvoiional scivicc ol ilc Loid."Ii is again conliimcd in Siimad-llagavaiam (10.1+.+):"My dcai Loid, dcvoiional scivicc unio You is ilc only auspicious pail. Il onc givcs ii up simply loi spcculaiivc lnowlcdgc oi ilc undcisianding ilai ilcsc living bcings aic spiiii souls and ilc maiciial woild is lalsc, lc undcigocs a gicai dcal ol iioublc. Hc only gains iioublcsomc and inauspicious aciiviiics. His cndcavouis aic lilc bcaiing a lusl ilai is alicady dcvoid ol iicc. Onc's laboui bccomcs liuiilcss."Ii is again conliimcd in Siimad-llagavaiam (10.2.32):"O loius-cycd Loid, alilougl non-dcvoiccs wlo acccpi scvcic ausiciiiics and pcnanccs io aclicvc ilc liglcsi posiiion may ilinl ilcmsclvcs libciaicd, ilcii iniclligcncc is impuic. Tlcy lall down liom ilcii posiiion ol imagincd supciioiiiy bccausc ilcy lavc no icgaid loi Youi loius lcci."3 Tlcsc iwo vciscs slow ilai dcvoiional scivicc docs noi dcpcnd on anyiling clsc. Indccd, spcculaiivc lnowlcdgc and diy icnunciaiion dcpcnd on dcvoiional scivicc. Tlcicloic ii is ilc picscncc ol dcvoiional scivicc ilai malcs oilci spiiiiual piaciiccs succcsslul.Anuccheda 61 Somc ilinl ilc icsuli ol pciloiming icligious iiiuals oi occupaiional duiics is ilc aiiainmcni ol cconomic dcvclopmcni , and ilc icsuli ol cconomic dcvclopmcni is scnsc giaiilicaiion, and bccausc onc aiiains scnsc giaiilicaiion in ilis way, onc is inclincd io pciloim icligious iiiuals and occupaiional duiics, in ilai way siaiiing again ilc cyclc ol aciiviiics bcginning wiil icligious iiiuals and occupaiional duiics. Tlai (ilc iiuil) is oilci ilan ilis is cxplaincd in ilc lollowing iwo vciscs (Siimad-llagavaiam 1.2.9-10):2 "All occupaiional cngagcmcnis aic cciiainly mcani loi uliimaic libciaiion. Tlcy slould ncvci bc pciloimcd loi maiciial gain. Iuiilcimoic, accoiding io sagcs, onc wlo is cngagcd in ilc uliimaic occupaiional scivicc slould ncvci usc maiciial gain io culiivaic scnsc giaiilicaiion."3 "Lilc's dcsiics slould ncvci bc diiccicd iowaid scnsc giaiilicaiion. Onc slould dcsiic only a lcalily lilc, oi scll-picscivaiion, sincc a luman bcing is mcani loi inquiiy aboui ilc Absoluic Tiuil. Noiling clsc slould bc ilc goal ol onc's woils."+ Libciaiion is dcsciibcd in Siimad-llagavaiam 5.19.19-20:"Il onc's posiiion is ascciiaincd by a bona-lidc spiiiiual masici and onc is piopcily iiaincd io cngagc in ilc scivicc ol Loid Visnu accoiding io ilc loui social divisions (bialmana, lsaiiiya, vaisya, and sudia) and ilc loui spiiiiual divisions (bialmacaii, gilasila, vanapiasila, and sannyasa), onc's lilc bccomcs pcilcci. Alici many, many biiils, wlcn ilc icsulis ol onc's pious aciiviiics maiuic, onc gcis an oppoiiuniiy io associaic wiil puic dcvoiccs. Tlcn onc is ablc io cui ilc lnoi ol bondagc io ignoiancc, wlicl bound lim bccausc ol vaiicd liuiiivc aciiviiics. As a icsuli ol associaiing wiil dcvoiccs, onc giadually icndcis scivicc io Loid Vasudcva, wlo is iiansccndcnial, licc liom aiiaclmcni io ilc maiciial woild, bcyond ilc mind and woids, and indcpcndcni ol cvciyiling clsc. Tlai blalii-yoga, dcvoiional scivicc io Loid Vasudcva, is ilc ical pail ol libciaiion."Accoiding io ilis piosc passagc ol ilc Iilil Canio dcvoiional scivicc is ilc ical pail ol libciaiion. Tlis is also cxplaincd in ilc lollowing woids ol ilc Slanda Puiana, Rcva-llanda:5 "O Loid Janaidana, unwavciing dcvoiional scivicc io You is ilc samc as libciaiion. O Loid Visnu, O Loid Haii, Youi dcvoiccs aic alicady libciaicd."6 Tlcsc passagcs dcsciibc dcvoiional scivicc. Siila Siidlaia Svami commcnis (on Siimad llagavaiam 1.2.9-10 in icxis 2 and 3):"Tlc woid 'aiila' lcic mcans 'loi maiciial gain', and 'nopalalpaic' mcans 'is noi mcani'. Tlcicloic, ilc icgulai pciloimancc ol occupaiional duiics is noi (na li) mcani loi maiciial gain (lamo lablaya). Tlis is dcsciibcd (smiial) by ilc sagcs wlo lnow ilc iiuil. Tlc liuiis ol woil aic noi mcani loi maiciial plcasuics (lamasya indiiya-piiiii lablal). Railci, as long as onc livcs (yavaia jivcia) onc slould dcsiic (lamasya lablal) only a lcalily lilc, oi scll-picscivaiion (jivasya). Onc slould noi usc ilc pciloimancc ol occupaiional duiics (laimablil ya ila) in onc's lilc (jivasya) as a mcans io aiiain maiciial goals, sucl as aiiaining Svaigalola. Railci, ilcy slould bc uscd loi inquiiy aboui ilc Absoluic Tiuil (iaiiva-jijnasa)."In ilis way (Siila Siidlaia Svami) cxplains ilai lnowlcdgc ol ilc Absoluic Tiuil is only a by-pioduci ol dcvoiional scivicc. Tlc main icsuli ol dcvoiional scivicc is dcvoiional scivicc iiscll.Wlai is ilc Absoluic Tiuil' Tlai is cxplaincd in ilc lollowing vcisc (Siimad-llagavaiam 1.2.11):7 "Lcaincd iiansccndcnialisis wlo lnow ilc Absoluic Tiuil call ilis non dual subsiancc lialman, Paiamaima oi llagavan."S ly using ilc woid "advayam", wlicl lcic mcans "noi dividcd inio paiis", and by ilus inicnding ilai (ilcsc ilicc aspccis ol ilc Supicmc) aic noi dillcicni liom cacl oilci, ilc naiuic ol ilc Loid as ilc masici ol poicncics is acccpicd. Tlc poicncy ol ilc lnowlcdgc ol oncncss, wlicl is bcyond ilc naiuic ol ilc oilci poicncics, is iclaicd io ilc lialman lcaiuic (bialma sabdyaic). Tlc maiciial maya poicncy and ilc cii poicncy ol iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc aic iclaicd io ilc Supcisoul (paiamaima). Tlc bcsi ol all pcilcci poicncics is iclaicd io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad (blagavan). Tlis las bccn cxplaincd in ilc picvious ilicc sandaiblas.Anuccheda 71 Tlai ilc ilicc-lold Absoluic Tiuil is diiccily icaliscd by dcvoiional scivicc is cxplaincd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 1.2.12):2 "Tlc sciiously inquisiiivc siudcni oi sagc, wcll cquippcd wiil lnowlcdgc and dciaclmcni, icaliscs ilai Absoluic Tiuil by icndciing dcvoiional scivicc in icims ol wlai lc las lcaid liom ilc Vcdania-siuii."3 Tlis vcisc mcans, "Wiil ilc gicai spiiiiual lovc (blaliya) boin liom aiiiaciion io lcaiing aboui ilc Loid, ilcy scc (pasyanii) in ilcii puic lcaiis (aimani) ilc Absoluic Tiuil (iai), wlicl was dcsciibcd in ilc picvious (quoic liom Siimad-blagavaiam)." Wlai is ilc impoiiancc ol lnowlcdgc (in compaiison io ilis') Tlcy diiccily scc (ilc Loid). Tlai is ilc mcaning. Wlai is ilc Loid lilc' Hc is dcsciibcd wiil ilc woid "aimanam", wlicl mcans "ilc slclici ol ilc poicncics namcs svaiupa (inicinal), jiva (individual living cniiiics), and maya (maiciial illusion).""jnana-vaiiagya-yuliaya' mcans 'by dcvoiional scivicc, wlicl is scivcd by ilc lnowlcdgc and icnunciaiion ii las iiscll cicaicd." Tlc sagcs (munayal), accoiding ilcii own individual dcsiics, diiccily scc (pasyanii) ilc Loid.Tlc woids "siuia-giliiaya" (by lcaiing liom ilc Vcdania-siuii), "munayal" (ilc sagcs), and "siaddadlanal" (sciiously inquisiiivc) icvcal ilai dcvoiional scivicc is iaic and dilliculi io aiiain.Il onc lcais liom a bona lidc spiiiiual masici ilc conclusions ol ilc all Vcdic sciipiuics, wlicl bcgin wiil Vcdania suiia, lc will undcisiand ilai onc absoluicly musi icndci dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Loid. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad-llagavaiam 2.2.3+):+ "Tlc gicai pcisonaliiy lialma, wiil gicai aiicniion and conccniiaiion ol ilc mind, siudicd ilc Vcdas ilicc iimcs, and alici sciuiinizingly cxamining ilcm, lc ascciiaincd ilai aiiiaciion loi Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad Sii Kisna is ilc liglcsi pcilcciion ol icligion."5 Il lc icnounccs wlai is opposcd io dcvoiional scivicc, and insicad cngagcs in mcdiiaiion on ilc Loid and bccomcs aiiaclcd io ilc Loid, ilcn, by woislipping ilc Loid, a laiillul pcison will aiiain dcvoiional scivicc. Tlis is conliimcd in ilc Siuii-sasiia, wlicl cxplains (lilad-aianyala Upanisad +.5.6.):"Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad slould bc sccn, lcaid ol, mcdiiaicd on, and woislippcd."Hcic ilc woid "nididlyasiiavyal" mcans "woislippcd". Tlai ilc Loid slould bc sccn mcans ilai Hc will diiccily appcai bcloic onc's vision.Anuccheda 81 ly pciloiming onc's own occupaiional duiics loi ilc plcasuic ol Loid Haii, onc aiiains ilis iaic and dilliculi io aiiain dcvoiional scivicc. Tlcicloic ilc uliimaic icsuli ol pciloiming onc's occupaiional duiics is bcing ablc io plcasc Loid Haii. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad-llagavaiam 1.2.13):2 "O bcsi among ilc iwicc-boin, ii is ilcicloic concludcd ilai ilc liglcsi pcilcci onc can aclicvc by disclaiging ilc duiics picsciibcd loi onc's own occupaiion accoiding io casic divisions and oidcis ol lilc is io plcasc ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad."3 Tlc woid "svanusiliiasya" lcic mcans ilai gicai clloiis io aiiain insignilicani maiciial goals, sucl as ilc aiiainmcni ol Svaigalola, slould noi bc donc. Tlai is ilc mcaning.Anuccheda 91 Il in ilis way ilc pciloimancc ol occupaiional duiics io plcasc Loid Haii biings as iis icsuli dcvoiional scivicc, wlcic onc is aiiiacicd io ilc dcvoiional aciiviiics ilai bcgin wiil lcaiing aboui ilc Loid, ilcn mcic lnowlcdgc, icnunciaiion and oilci similai aciiviiics aic suboidinaic io dcvoiional scivicc, and ii is dcvoiional scivicc, wlicl bcgins wiil lcaiing aboui ilc Loid, ilai slould bc pciloimcd. Wlai is ilc usc ol pciloiming ilcsc oilci (non-dcvoiional) aciiviiics' All ilis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad-llagavaiam 1.2.1+):2 "Tlcicloic, wiil onc-poinicd aiicniion, onc slould consianily lcai aboui, gloiily, icmcmbci and woislip ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo is ilc pioiccioi ol ilc dcvoiccs."3 Hcic "clcna" mcans "wiiloui ilosc aciiviiics ilai bcgin wiil liuiiivc woil." Insicad onc slould lcai aboui ilc Loid's namcs, qualiiics, and oilci lcaiuics, and onc slould also gloiily ilcm.Anuccheda 101 To dcsciibc dcvoiional scivicc, wlicl liom iis liisi io iis lasi siagc is casy io pciloim, and wlicl cvcn in iis liisi siagc cicaics aiiiaciion loi lcaiing ilc iopics ol Loid Haii and is licc ol ilc many iioublcs inlcicni in liuiiivc pious woil oi oilci aciiviiics, Siimad-llagavaiam (1.2.15) cxplains:2 "Wiil swoid in land, iniclligcni mcn cui iliougl ilc binding lnois ol icaciionaiy woil (laima) by icmcmbciing ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Tlcicloic, wlo will noi pay aiicniion io His mcssagc'"3 Hcic ilc woid "lovidal" mcans "iniclligcni", "yulial" mcans "wiil a coniiollcd mind", "anudlya" mcans "icmcmbciing Loid Haii", and "asi" mcans "swoid". Wiil ilai swoid onc cuis (clindanii) ilc lnois (gianilim) ol icaciionaiy woid (laima), wlicl aic ilc lalsc cgo ilai binds onc in vaiious maiciial bodics. Wlo (lal) will (luiyai) noi (na) pay aiicniion (iaiim) io ilc mcssagc (lailayam) ol ilc Loid wlo ilus liccs onc liom gicai sullciings'Anuccheda 111 "Is ii noi so ilai ilc unloiiunaic mass ol pcoplc will noi bc aiiiacicd io lcai ilc Loid's mcssagc'" Icaiing ilai somconc would iaisc ilis objcciion, in ilc ncxi livc vciscs (1.2.16-20) (ilc spcalci ol Siimad-llagavaiam) says ilai dcvoiional scivicc, cvcn up in iis liglcsi siagc ol unalloycd dcvoiion, is casy io pciloim. Tlc liisi ol ilcsc vciscs (Siimad-llagavaiam 1.2.16) is givcn lcic:2 "O iwicc-boin sagcs, by sciving ilosc dcvoiccs wlo aic complcicly liccd liom all vicc, gicai scivicc is donc. ly sucl scivicc, onc gains alliniiy loi lcaiing ilc mcssagcs ol Vasudcva."3 Siimad-llagavaiam 10.S7.35 cxplains:"Sagcs licc liom piidc livc on ilis caiil by licqucniing ilc sacicd pilgiimagc siics and ilosc placcs wlcic ilc Supicmc Loid displaycd His pasiimcs. lccausc sucl dcvoiccs lccp You loius lcci wiilin ilcii lcaiis, ilc waici ilai waslcs ilcii lcci dcsiioys all sins. Anyonc wlo cvcn oncc iuins lis mind iowaid You, ilc cvci-blisslul soul ol all cxisicncc, no longci dcdicaics limscll io sciving lamily lilc ai lomc, wlicl simply iobs a man ol lis good qualiiics."Siila Siidlaia Svami commcnis on ilis vcisc:"Tlc mosi impoiiani lcaiuic ol ilis vcisc is ilc dcsciipiion ol associaiion wiil gicai dcvoiccs."Taling inio considciaiion ilis vcisc and commcni, ilc vcisc quoicd in Tcxi 2 (1.2.16) slould bc undcisiood io mcan: "ly sciving ilosc dcvoiccs wlo aic complcicly liccd liom all vicc (punya-iiiila-niscvanai), gicai scivicc (malai-scva) is donc. ly sucl scivicc, onc gains alliniiy loi lcaiing ilc mcssagcs ol Vasudcva (vasudcva-laila-iucil syai)."Tlis vcisc also mcans ilai by sccing, ioucling, convcising wiil, and in oilci ways sciving ilc gicai souls wlo iiavcl io oi pcimancnily icsidc in ilc loly placcs ol pilgiimagc, onc dcvclops laiil in ilc gicai souls. Onc ilcn ilinls, "Wly do ilcy iall among ilcmsclvcs aboui ilc iopics ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad' I slould also lcai aboui ilosc iopics." In ilis way ilc dcsiic io lcai aboui ilc Loid is boin, and by lcaiing aboui Him onc bccomcs aiiiacicd io Him. ly lcaiing in ilis way liom ilc gicai souls onc ai oncc aiiains ilc ical goal ol lilc. Tlis is dcsciibcd by Loid Kapiladcva (Siimad llagavaiam 3.25.25):"In ilc associaiion ol puic dcvoiccs, discussion ol ilc pasiimcs and aciiviiics ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is vciy plcasing and saiislying io ilc cai and ilc lcaii. ly culiivaiing sucl lnowlcdgc onc giadually bccomcs advanccd on ilc pail ol libciaiion, and ilcicalici lc is liccd, and lis aiiiaciion bccomcs lixcd. Tlcn ical dcvoiion and dcvoiional scivicc bcgin."Anuccheda 121 Siimad llagavaiam (1.2.17) cxplains:"Sii Kisna, ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo is ilc Paiamaima (Supcisoul) in cvciyonc's lcaii and ilc bcnclacioi ol ilc iiuillul dcvoicc, clcanscs dcsiic loi maiciial cnjoymcni liom ilc lcaii ol ilc dcvoicc wlo las dcvclopcd ilc uigc io lcai His mcssagcs, wlicl aic in ilcmsclvcs viiiuous wlcn piopcily lcaid and clanicd."2 Tlis vcisc mcans ilai wlcn onc lcais aboui Him ilc Loid cnicis ilc lcaii (anial-silal). Hc cnicis by walling ilcic on ilc pail ol (ilc dcvoicc's) mcdiiaiion on Him. Tlc inauspicious ilings (abladiani) in ilc lcaii (lidi) aic maiciial dcsiics.Anuccheda 131 Tlcn Siimad-llagavaiam (1.2.17) cxplains:"ly icgulai aiicndancc in classcs on ilc llagavaiam and by icndciing ol scivicc io ilc puic dcvoicc, all ilai is iioublcsomc io ilc lcaii is almosi complcicly dcsiioycd, and loving scivicc unio ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo is piaiscd wiil iiansccndcnial songs, is csiablislcd as an iiicvocablc laci."2 Tlc woids "nasia-piaycsu" mcan "almosi complcicly dcsiioycd". Tlcy aic noi dcsiioycd in ilis way by mcic culiivaiion ol impcisonal lnowlcdgc. In ilis way ilc limiilcss powci ol dcvoiional scivicc is dcsciibcd. Tlc woid "llagavaia" lcic mcans ciilci "ilc dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid" oi "ilc sciipiuic Siimad-llagavaiam". ly sciving (scvaya) ilcm onc aiiains cicinal (naisilili) dcvoiional scivicc (blaliil) wlcic onc mcdiiaics on ilc Loid.Anuccheda 1+1 Siimad llagavaiam (11.2.53) cxplains:"Tlc loius lcci ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad aic sougli cvcn by ilc gicaicsi ol dcmigods, sucl as lialma and Siva, wlo lavc all acccpicd ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad as ilcii lilc and soul. A puic dcvoicc ol ilc Loid can ncvci loigci ilosc loius lcci in any ciicumsianccs. Hc will noi givc up lis slclici ai ilc loius lcci ol ilc Loid loi a singlc momcni-indccd, noi loi lall a momcni-cvcn in cxclangc loi ilc bcncdiciion ol iuling and cnjoying ilc opulcncc ol ilc cniiic univcisc. Sucl a dcvoicc ol ilc Loid is io bc considcicd ilc bcsi ol ilc Vaisnavas."Tlis vcisc cxplains ilai wlcn all maiciial dcsiics aic dcsiioycd ilc lcaii bccomcs plungcd inio puic goodncss. Ai ilai iimc ilc lcaii is qualilicd io icccivc ilc diicci appcaiancc ol ilc Loid. Tlis is dcsciibcd in Siimad llagavaiam 1.2.19:2 "As soon as iiicvocablc loving scivicc is csiablislcd in ilc lcaii, ilc cllccis ol naiuic's modcs ol passion and ignoiancc, sucl as lusi, dcsiic and lanlciing, disappcai liom ilc lcaii. Tlcn ilc dcvoicc is csiablislcd in goodncss, and lc bccomcs complcicly lappy."3 Tlc woid "blaval" lcic mcans ilai passion and ignoiancc aicilc causcs ol lusi and ilc oilci viccs. Tlc woid "ciail" iclcis io ilcm. Tlai is ilc mcaning lcic.Anuccheda 151 Tlcn Siimad-llagavaiam (1.2.20) cxplains:Tlus csiablislcd in ilc modc ol unalloycd goodncss, ilc man wlosc mind las bccn cnlivcncd by coniaci wiil dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Loid gains posiiivc scicniilic lnowlcdgc ol ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad in ilc siagc ol libciaiion liom all maiciial associaiion."2 Tlis vcisc mcans, "As was picviously dcsciibcd (cvam) by cngaging in dcvoiional scivicc onc bccomcs cnlivcncd (piasanna-manasal) and libciaicd liom associaiion (mulia-sangasya) wiil lusi and oilci viccs. In ilai way is manilcsicd (jayaic) posiiivc lnowlcdgc (jnanam), wlcic ilc Loid appcais in ilc lcaii, oi, wiiloui ilc pioccss ol mcdiiaiion, appcais ouisidc ilc lcaii."Anuccheda 161 Tlcn Siimad-llagavaiam (1.2.21) dcsciibcs ilc icsuli obiaincd wlcn ilc indcpcndcni and supicmcly blisslul Loid diiccily appcais:2 "Tlus ilc lnoi in ilc lcaii is piciccd, and all misgivings aic cui io picccs. Tlc clain ol liuiiivc aciions is iciminaicd wlcn onc sccs ilc scll as masici."3 Hcic ilc pliasc "lnoi in ilc lcaii" (lidaya-gianili) iclcis io ilc maiciial misidcniilicaiion ol lalsc cgo. Tlc woids "all misgivings aic cui io picccs" (saiva-samsayal clidyanic) mcan ilai by cngaging in ilc dcvoiional aciiviiics ilai bcgin wiil lcaiing and claniing ilc Loid is diiccily sccn. Ai ilai iimc all doubis aic dcsiioycd. ly lcaiing aboui ilc Loid all ilcoiics ilai opposc dcvoiional scivicc aic cui io picccs and by mcdiiaiing on ilc Loid all mcdiiaiions ilai opposc dcvoiional scivicc (aic cui io picccs). Wlcn ilc Loid pcisonally appcais (ilc dcvoicc's pcisonal) disqualilicaiions (aic also cui io picccs). Tlc woid "lsiyanic" mcans "complcicly dcsiioycd". Simply by ilc Loid's wisl noi ilc sliglicsi iiacc ol ilcsc ilings icmains.Anuccheda 171 Rcvcaling ilc dcvoiccs' aciiviiics, Siimad-llagavaiam (1.2.22) concludcs ilis iopic in ilcsc woids:2 "Cciiainly ilcicloic sincc iimc immcmoiial, all iiansccndcnialisis lavc bccn icndciing dcvoiional scivicc io Loid Kisna, ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wiil gicai dcligli, bccausc sucl dcvoiional scivicc is cnlivcning io ilc scll."3 Hcic ilc woid "aima-piasadanim" mcans "puiilicaiion ol ilc lcaii". Tlai, lowcvci, is noi ilc only lcaiuic ol dcvoiional scivicc. Tlis vcisc cxplains ilai dcvoiional scivicc is pciloimcd wiil gicai dcligli (paiamaya muda). Maiciialisiic aciiviiics biing only sullciing. Wlcn ilcy aic pciloimcd ilcy biing sullciing and wlcn onc aiiains ilc icsulis ilcy ollci again ilcic is only sullciing. Dcvoiional scivicc, on ilc coniiaiy, biings only lappincss. Wlcn onc is aspiiing loi advanccmcni in dcvoiional scivicc ilcic is lappincss and wlcn onc bccomc pcilcci in dcvoiional scivicc ilcic is only lappincss.Tlcsc vciscs liom Siimad-llagavaiam wcic spolcn by Sii Suia Gosvami.Anuccheda 181 Ioi ilcsc icasons onc slould abandon liuiiivc woil, impcisonal spcculaiion, and diy icnunciaiion and insicad cngagc in dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Onc slould noi do any woil oilci ilan dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Loid. Tlis will bc dcsciibcd in ilc ncxi scvcn vciscs (Siimad llagavaiam 1.2.23-29 quoicd in Anucclcdas 1S-21).Wlai may bc said ol oilci woils' lccausc ilcy aic noi ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Loid Visnu, wlo appcais as a guna-avaiaia, bccausc ilcy aic noi in iclaiionslip wiil ilc modc ol goodncss, wlicl alonc can lclp spiiiiual piogicss, and bccausc ilcy cxpand ilc inllucncc ol ilc modcs ol passion and ignoiancc, lialma and Siva aic noi woislippcd by ilcy wlo aspiic loi wlai is aciually bcnclicial. Tlis is cxplaincd in ilc lollowing iwo vciscs (Siimad-llagavaiam 1.2.23-2+) wlicl wcic picviously quoicd in ilc Paiamaima-sandaibla:2 "Tlc iiansccndcnial Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is indiiccily associaicd wiil ilc ilicc modcs ol maiciial naiuic, namcly passion, goodncss and ignoiancc, and jusi loi ilc maiciial woild's cicaiion, mainicnancc and dcsiiuciion Hc acccpis ilc ilicc qualiiaiivc loims ol lialma, Visnu and Siva. Ol ilcsc ilicc, all luman bcings can dciivc uliimaic bcnclii liom Visnu, ilc loim ol ilc qualiiy ol goodncss."3 "Iiicwood is a iiansloimaiion ol caiil, bui smolc is bciici ilan ilc iaw wood. And liic is iill bciici, loi by liic wc can dciivc ilc bcncliis ol supciioi lnowlcdgc (iliougl Vcdic saciiliccs). Similaily, passion (iajas) is bciici ilan ignoiancc (iamas) bui goodncss (iaiiva) is bcsi bccausc by goodncss onc can comc io icalisc ilc Absoluic Tiuil."+ Hcic "saiiva-ianol" mcans "ilc poicncy ol goodncss", and "iiayimayal" mcans :ilc many aciiviiics dcsciibcd in ilc ilicc Vcdas". Tlc "wood" is ilc modc ol ignoiancc, ilc "smolc" is ilc modc ol passion, and ilc "liic" is ilc modc ol goodncss. Tlc "ilicc ilings" wlcic ilcsc aic dcsciibcd aic ilc Vcdas. Smolc is bciici ilan iaw wood, and liic is bciici ilan smolc. Raw wood is noi lilc liic. In iaw wood ilc aciiviiics ol ilc ilicc Vcdas aic manilcsicd only vciy sliglily. In ilc samc way passion is bciici ilan ignoiancc and goodncss is bciici ilan passion. Ignoiancc is noi lilc liic. In ignoiancc ilc aciiviiics ol ilc ilicc Vcdas aic manilcsicd only vciy sliglily. Howcvci, in liic ilc aciiviiics ol ilc ilicc Vcdas aic manilcsi diiccily. Only in goodncss, and noi in ilc iwo oilci modcs ol naiuic, is ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad diiccily manilcsicd. Tlai is ilc mcaning. Tlai ilc gicai souls abandon oilci dciiics and cngagc in dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is dcsciibcd in (Siimad llagavaiam 1.2.25):5 "Picviously all ilc gicai sagcs icndcicd scivicc unio ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad duc io His cxisicncc abovc ilc ilicc modcs ol maiciial naiuic. Tlcy woislippcd Him io bccomc licc liom maiciial condiiions and ilus dciivc ilc uliimaic bcnclii. Wlocvci lollows sucl gicai auiloiiiics is also cligiblc loi libciaiion liom ilc maiciial woild."6 Hcic ilc woid "aila" mcans "loi ilis icason". "Saiivam visuddlam blagavaniam" mcans "ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo is ilc loim ol ilc modc ol puic goodncss." Tlai is ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is bcyond maiciial goodncss las alicady bccn cxplaincd in Sii llagavai-sandaibla (Anucclcda 100). Tlc woids "lscmaya lalpanic yc nu ian ila" mcan "Tlcy woislippcd Him io dciivc ilc uliimaic bcnclii in ilis maiciial woild."Anuccheda 191 Hcic somconc may objcci: "Is ii noi sccn ilai many oilcis woislip oilci dciiics lcadcd by Loid Siva'"I icply: Tlai is iiuc, bui ilcsc aic pcisons lillcd wiil maiciial dcsiics. Tlcy wlo dcsiic libciaiion, wlai io spcal ol ilcy wlosc only goal in lilc is dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Loid, do noi woislip anyonc bui ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 1.2.26):2 "Tlosc wlo aic sciious aboui libciaiion aic cciiainly non cnvious, and ilcy icspcci all. Yci ilcy icjcci ilc loiiiblc and glasily loims ol ilc dcmigods and woislip only ilc all-blisslul loims ol Loid Visnu and His plcnaiy poiiions."3 Hcic ilc woid "bluia-paiin" iclcis io ilc piias, piajapaiis and ilc oilci dcmigods lilc ilcm. "Anasuyaval" mcans ilai ilc sainily dcvoiccs do noi ollcnd ilcsc oilci dciiics.Annucheda 201 Hcic somconc may objcci: Il by woislipping Loid Naiayana onc aiiains wlai is dcsiiablc, ilcn wly do ilcsc pcoplc woislip oilci dciiics'"Tlc lollowing vcisc (Siimad llagavaiam 1.2.27) cxplains:2 "Tlosc wlo aic in ilc modcs ol passion and ignoiancc woislip ilc loiclailcis, oilci living bcings and ilc dcmigods wlo aic inclaigc ol cosmic aciiviiics, loi ilcy aic uigcd by a dcsiic io bc maiciially bcncliiicd wiil womcn, wcalil, powci and piogcny."3 Hcic ilc woid "sama-silal" mcans ilai ilcsc woislippcis lavc ilc samc naiuic as ilc piias and oilci dcmigods, wlo aic also undci ilc inllucncc ol ilc modcs ol passion and ignoiancc. lccausc ilcsc woislippcis lavc ilc samc naiuic ilcy woislip ilcsc dcmigods.Anuccheda 211 In ilis way ii is said ilai Loid Visnu slould bc woislippcd. Tlai ilis is ilc conclusion ol all Vcdic sciipiuics is conliimcd in ilc lollowing iwo vciscs (Siimad llagavaiam 1.2.2S-29).2 "In ilc icvcalcd sciipiuics, ilc uliimaic objcci ol lnowlcdgc is Sii Kisna, ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Tlc puiposc ol pciloiming saciilicc is io plcasc Him. Yoga is loi icalising Him. All liuiiivc aciiviiics aic uliimaicly icwaidcd by Him only. Hc is supicmc lnowlcdgc, and all scvcic ausiciiiics aic pciloimcd io lnow Him. Rcligion (dlaima) is icndciing loving scivicc unio Him. Hc is ilc supicmc goal ol lilc."3 Siila Siidlaia Svami commcnis:"In ilis way Loid Vasudcva is ilc uliimaic iopic dcsciibcd by ilc Vcdas. Icaiing ilai somconc may say, "Do noi ilc Vcdas dcsciibc vaiious yajnas' ilis vcisc siaics ilai bccausc all mcilods ol woislip aic diiccicd io Him, ilcicloic ilc Vcdic saciiliccs aic pciloimcd io plcasc Him. Icaiing ilai somconc may say, "Do noi ilc yoga-sasiias dcsciibc only ilc yogic aciiviiics, bcginning wiil siiiing posiuics and bicail-coniiol'" ilis vcisc siaics ilai ilcsc aciiviiics aic mcilods cmploycd io aiiain Loid Vasudcva. Icaiing ilai somconc may say, "Do noi ilc jnana-sasiias dcsciibc iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc'" ilis vcisc siaics ilai Loid Vasudcva is ilc liglcsi iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc. Wlai was said ol lnowlcdgc may also bc said ol ausiciiiics. Icaiing ilai somconc may say, "Do noi ilc dlaima-sasiias dcsciibc pious aciiviiics bcginning wiil claiiiy and vows, aciiviiics by wlicl onc aiiains Svaigalola and oilci lcavcnly icalms'" ilis vcisc siaics ilai ilcsc icsulis aic uliimaicly dcpcndcni on Loid Vasudcva. Tlc woid "gaiil" (goal), wlicl comcs liom ilc vcib "gam" (io go), iclcis io ilc aiiainmcni ol Svaigalola and ilc oilci lcavcnly plancis. Tlai goal is dcpcndcni on Loid Vasudcva bccausc ii is manilcsicd liom a iiny poiiion ol His iiansccndcnial bliss. Tlis vcisc cxplains ilai bccausc Loid Vasudcva is ilc iooi liom wlicl cvciyiling las giown, cvciyiling is mcani loi Him. lcaiing ilai somconc may say, "Is ii noi so ilai ilc Vcdas aic aboui many dillcicni ilings, sucl as saciiliccs, yoga, pious dccds, and ilcy aic noi aboui onc iling only'" ilis vcisc cxplains ilai ilcsc ilings bcginning wiil Vcdic saciiliccs aic dcpcndcni on and mcani loi Loid Vasudcva."+ Dcvoiional scivicc is ilc liicnd and guidc ol ilc ilings, bcginning wiil yoga, mcniioncd lcic. Tlai is ilc piimaiy mcaning lcic. Tlc Vcdas cciiainly dcsciibc pious liuiiivc aciions (laima-landa), bui in somc paiis ol ilc Vcdas ilc supciioiiiy ol dcvoiional scivicc is also sccn. Tlis is dcsciibcd in Svciasvaiaia Upanisad (6.23):5 "Only io ilosc gicai souls wlo lavc implicii laiil in boil ilc Loid and ilc spiiiiual masici aic all ilc impoiis ol Vcdic lnowlcdgc auiomaiically icvcalcd."Anuccheda 221 Now ilai lc las slown ilai dcvoiional scivicc slould bc pciloimcd, (ilc auiloi ol Siimad-llagavaiam) piovcs ilai ii is ilc conclusion ol all Vcdic liiciaiuics. Hc bcgins lis cxplanaiion wiil ilcsc woids (Siimad-llagavaiam 1.2.30):2 "In ilc bcginning ol ilc maiciial cicaiion, ilai Absoluic Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad (Vasudcva), in His iiansccndcnial posiiion, cicaicd ilc cncigics ol causc and cllcci by His own inicinal cncigy."3 Siila Siidlaia Svami commcnis:"Somconc may objcci, Is ii noi so ilai all Vcdic sciipiuics dcsciibc ilc aciiviiics ilai bcgin wiil naiuic's cicaiion, cniiancc inio, and coniiol ol ilc maiciial univciscs' How can ii bc ilai ilc sciipiuics dcsciibc Loid Vasudcva' To answci ilis objcciion ilc auiloi ol Siimad llagavaiam spcals ilcsc loui (1.2.30-33) vciscs."+ Hcic ilc woid "idam" iclcis io ilc maiciial woild bcginning wiil ilc malai-iaiiva and icacling io ilc dcmigod lialma. Tlc aciiviiics ilai bcgin wiil (ilc Loid's) cniiancc inio ilc maiciial univcisc aic sccn in ilc vciscs lollowing ilai quoic (Siimad llagavaiam 1.2.30). Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Sii Suia Gosvami io Sii Saunala Rsi.Anuccheda 231 Tlis is also dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing vcisc in a convcisaiion, ilc convcisaiion ilai was io givc biiil io Siimad-llagavaiam, bciwccn Sii Naiada and Sii Vyasa, (Siimad-llagavaiam 1.5.12):2 "Knowlcdgc ol scll-icalisaiion, cvcn ilougl liccd liom all maiciial alliniiy, docs noi lool wcll il dcvoid ol a conccpiion ol ilc inlalliblc (God). Wlai ilcn, is ilc usc ol liuiiivc aciiviiics, wlicl aic naiuially painlul liom ilc vciy bcginning and iiansicni by naiuic, il ilcy aic noi uiiliscd loi ilc dcvoiional scivicc ol ilc Loid'"3 Siila Siidlaia Svami commcnis: "Tlc woid 'naislaimyam' mcans "lialman-lnowlcdgc. wlicl bccausc ol iis oncncss is licc liom liuiiivc aciions'. 'Niianjanam', wlicl is dciivcd liom ilc vcib 'aj', mcans 'licc liom maiciial dcsignaiions'. Tlis lind ol lnowlcdgc, il dcvoid (vaijiiam) ol lovc (blava) loi ilc inlalliblc Loid (acyuic) docs noi (alam na) lool wcll (soblaic). In ilis way ii is noi possiblc io scc ilc Loid. Tlai is ilc mcaning. Iiuiiivc aciiviiics aic always (sasvai), ilai is boil wlcn onc is woiling io aiiain a goal and wlcn ilc goal is aiiaincd, painlul (abladiam). How can cvcn non-liuiiivc aciions, wlcn noi ollcicd io ilc Loid, lool wcll' Tlis is so bccausc sucl aciions, duc io bcing cxicinal and iiiclcvani, do noi puiily ilc scll."+ In ilis way iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc and liuiiivc woil, il dcvoid ol dcvoiional scivicc, aic boil usclcss. (Howcvci, dcvoiional scivicc is noi usclcss. Siila Naiada Muni cxplains io Siila Vyasa, in Siimad llagavaiam 1.5.15-17):"Tlc pcoplc in gcncial aic naiuially inclincd io cnjoy, and you lavc cncouiagcd ilcm in ilai way in ilc namc ol icligion. Tlis is vciily condcmncd and in quiic unicasonablc. lccausc ilcy aic guidcd undci youi insiiuciions, ilcy will acccpi sucl aciiviiics in ilc namc ol icligion and will laidly caic loi piolibiiions."Tlc Supicmc Loid is unlimiicd. Only a vciy cxpcii pcisonaliiy, iciiicd liom ilc aciiviiics ol maiciial lappincss, dcscivcs io undcisiand ilis lnowlcdgc ol spiiiiual valucs. Tlcicloic ilosc wlo aic noi so wcll siiuaicd, duc io maiciial aiiaclmcni, slould bc slown ilc ways ol iiansccndcnial icalisaiion, by Youi goodncss, iliougl dcsciipiions ol ilc iiansccndcnial aciiviiics ol ilc Supicmc Loid."5 "Onc wlo las loisalcn lis maiciial occupaiions io cngagc in ilc dcvoiional scivicc ol ilc Loid may somciimcs lall down wlilc in an immaiuic siagc, yci ilcic is no dangci ol lis bcing unsucccsslul. On ilc oilci land, a non dcvoicc, ilougl lully cngagcd in occupaiion duiics, docs noi gain anyiling."6 Siila Siidlaia Svami commcnis:"Considciing wlai may lappcn wlcn onc, ignoiing lis icgulai and spccial maiciial duiics, cngagcs only in dcvoiional scivicc io Loid Haii, (Naiada) spcals ilis vcisc."Hcic somconc may objcci: 'Il, alici abandoning lis maiciial occupaiional duiics, onc bccomcs pcilcci in dcvoiional scivicc, and ilus aiiains ilc goal ol lilc and bccomcs succcsslul, ilcn loi lim ilcic is no anxiciy. lui il onc dics bcloic lc aiiains dcvoiional pcilcciion, oi il onc lalls down liom dcvoiional scivicc, ilcn lis abandonmcni ol occupaiion duiics is a misialc.""Icaiing ilai somconc migli say ilis, (Naiada Muni) says lcic ilai cvcn il a dcvoicc lalls down liom dcvoiional scivicc oi dics (bcloic lc can aiiain pcilcciion), siill, bccausc lc las iasicd ilc ncciai ol dcvoiional scivicc, ilcic is no lcai ilai lc will bc pui inio disiicss bccausc lc abandoncd lis maiciial occupaiional duiics. In ilis way (Naiada) spcals ilis vcisc. Tlc woid 'va' (oi) lcic is in ilc scnsc ol a sccpiical glancc. Hc says, 'How can onc wlo las iasicd ilc ncciai ol dcvoiional scivicc aiiain an inauspicious siiuaiion in a low biiil'' Tlc mcaning lcic is ilai sucl a siiuaiion will ncvci lappcn. Tlis will noi lappcn bccausc ol ilc dcsiic loi dcvoiional scivicc in lis lcaii. Tlai is ilc mcaning. lui wlai will ilcy wlo do noi cngagc in dcvoiional scivicc gain liom ilcii pciloimancc ol maiciial occupaiional duiics' Tlc woid 'ablajaiam' lcic is in ilc posscssivc casc bccausc ii indicaics ilc iclaiionslip io anoilci woid."Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Sii Naiada io Sii Vyasa.Anuccheda 2+1 Tlc siaicmcni "Dcvoiional scivicc slould bc pciloimcd" is discusscd in ilc convcisaiion ol Siila Suladcva Gosvami and Malaiaja Paiilsii. (Siila Suladcva Gosvami said, in Siimad-llagavaiam 2.1.2):2 "Tlosc pcisons wlo aic maiciially cngiosscd, bcing blind io ilc lnowlcdgc ol uliimaic iiuil, lavc many subjcci maiicis loi lcaiing in luman sociciy, O cmpcioi."3 Tlc pliasc "gilcsu gila-mcdlinam" linis ilai ilc pcoplc dcsciibcd lcic aic maiciialisis lai liom spiiiiual lilc. Tlc woid "aima-iaiivam" lcic mcans "ilc iiuil ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad". Tlis is so bccausc ol wlai will bc cxplaincd in ilc ncxi vcisc.Anuccheda 251 Hc cxplains (Siimad llagavaiam 2.1.5):"O dcsccndcni ol King llaiaia. onc wlo dcsiics io bc licc liom all misciics musi lcai aboui, gloiily, and also icmcmbci ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo is ilc Supcisoul, ilc coniiollci, and ilc savioui liom all misciics."2 Siila Siidlaia Svami commcnis: "ly using ilc woid 'saivaima' lcic ilc spcalci says ilai ilc Loid is mosi dcai io cvciyonc. ly ilc woid 'isvaia' lc says ilai ilc Loid's will cannoi bc ilwaiicd. ly ilc woid 'laiil' lc says ilai ilc Loid icmovcs ilc bondagc (ol icpcaicd maiciial cxisicncc). Tlc pliasc 'ablayam icclaia' lcic mcans 'ilcy wlo dcsiic libciaiion'."Libciaiion mcans aiiaining ilc Loid and ilus bccoming licc ol all misciics.Anuccheda 261 Alici ilis lc dcsciibcs mcdiiaiion on ilc univcisal loim ol ilc Loid, and ilcn, spcaling againsi ilai mcdiiaiion, lc dcsciibcs dcvoiional scivicc (Siimad-llagavaiam 2.1.39):2 "Onc slould conccniiaic lis mind upon ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo alonc disiiibuics Himscll in so many manilcsiaiions jusi as oidinaiy pcisons cicaic ilousands ol manilcsiaiions in dicams. Onc musi conccniiaic ilc mind on Him, ilc only all-blisslul Absoluic Tiuil. Oilciwisc onc will bc mislcd and will causc lis own dcgiadaiion."3 Siila Siidlaia Svami commcnis:"Tlis vcisc mcans ilai onc slould conccniiaic lis mind on ilc Loid (iam cva saiyam blajcia) wlo alonc disiiibuics Himscll in so many manilcsiaiions (sa clal saiva-dli-viiiy-anubluia-saival). Onc slould noi bc aiiaclcd io anyonc oi anyiling clsc (na anyaiia sajjci) bccausc liom ilai aiiaclmcni (yaial) onc lalls (aima-paial) inio ilc maiciial woild ol icpcaicd biiil and dcail. Tlc Loid alonc cxpciicnccs cvciyiling (anubluia-saival) wiil His scnscs. Tlc cxamplc is givcn lcic ol wlai is sccn (ilsiia) by slccping pcisons (svapna-jananam). Somciimcs in a dicam an oidinaiy living cniiiy cicaics many dillcicni bodics and is ablc io scc ilcm all wiil lis scnscs. In ilc samc way ilc Supicmc Loid sccs cvciyiling wiil His scnscs. lccausc Hc is ilc masici ol ilc poicncics ol iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is ncvci bound oi limiicd (in His lnowlcdgc)."+ lccausc wiil ilc aciiviiics ol His mind ilc Loid sccs cvciyiling, Hc is dcsciibcd wiil ilc woids "saiva-dli-viiiy-anubluia-saival". Tlc Siuii-sasiia (lilad-aianyala Upanisad 1.2.5) cxplains ilai bcloic ilc cicaiion ol ilc maiciial mind and scnscs "Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad could scc." As a slccping pcison can cicaic anyiling lc wislcs in lis dicam, so ilc Supicmc Loid, simply by His wisl, can cicaic anyiling. ilai is wlai is said lcic.5 lccausc ilc Loid is ilus awaic ol cvciyiling, Hc is callcd "Saiyam" (ilc Supicmc Tiuil), and bccausc Hc is ilc cicaioi ol cvciyiling Hc slould bc woislippcd (blajcia). Tlai is ilc mcaning. A yogi pcilcci in mcdiiaiion on ilc Loid's univcisal loim, all lis lnowlcdgc-acquiiing scnscs lixcd on ilc univcisal loim, sccs cvciyiling in ilc univcisal loim. In ilis way lc woislips (blajcia) Loid Naiayana, wlo is ilc Supicmc Tiuil (saiyam), an occan ol bliss (ananda-nidlim), ilc univcisal loim, and ilc Supcisoul picscni in cvciyonc's lcaii. Onc slould noi (na) bccomc aiiaclcd (sajjci) io any bcncliis (anyaiia) obiaincd by mcdiiaiing on ilc univcisal loim, loi ilai aiiaclmcni (yaial) will malc onc lall (aima-paial) inio ilc cyclc ol icpcaicd biiil and dcail.An cxamplc is givcn lcic io slow ilc Loid's bcing awaic ol cvciyiling. As an oidinaiy living cniiiy may scc cvciyiling in a dicam so ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad sccs cvciyiling.Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc Vcdic sciipiuics:"(lcloic ilc cicaiion) ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad saw (cvciyiling)."-lilad-aianyala panisad 1.2.5"Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad las all lnowlcdgc and powci."-Svciasvaiaia Upanisad 6.SIn ilis way ilc Siuii-sasiia piovcs ilai ilc Supicmc Loid las iiansccndcnial poicncics, bcginning wiil ilc poicncy ol lnowing cvciyiling.Sii Vcdania-suiia cxplains:"Tlc sciipiuics say ilai ilc Loid cicaicd ilc maiciial woilds as il in a dicam."3.2.1"lccausc ii is noi manilcsicd by ilc Loid's spiiiiual poicncy, ilc maiciial woild is manilcsicd by His illusoiy poicncy (maya).3.2.3In ilcsc quoics liom ilc Nyaya-sasiia ii is slown ilai ilc Loid's cicaiion ol cvciyiling in a dicam is complcicly dillcicni liom ilc walclulncss, dicaming and dicamlcss slccp cxpciicnccd by condiiioncd souls in ilc maiciial woild.ly ilc iwo woids "saiyam" and "ananda-nidlim" ii slould bc undcisiood ilai ilc pcison dcsciibcd lcic is ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad.Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Siila Suladcva Gosvami.Anuccheda 271 In ilc ncxi clapici (Siimad llagavaiam 2.2.1+) lc says:"Unlcss ilc gioss maiciialisi dcvclops a scnsc ol loving scivicc unio ilc Supicmc Loid, ilc scci ol boil ilc iiansccndcnial and maiciial woilds, lc slould icmcmbci oi mcdiiaic upon ilc univcisal loim ol ilc Loid ai ilc cnd ol lis picsciibcd duiics."2 Alici ilc woid "paia" ilc woid "avaia" mcans "ilc placcs ol ilc living cniiiics lcadcd by lialma." Wlo is ilcic' Tlc Supicmc Loid (visvcsvaic) wlo sccs (diasiaii) cvciyiling, bui wlo, bccausc Hc is pcilccily spiiiiual icmains invisiblc io ilc condiiioncd souls. Dcvoiional scivicc (blalii-yogal) is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 2.2.S):"Oilcis conccivc ol ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad icsiding wiilin ilc body in ilc icgion ol ilc lcaii and mcasuiing only cigli inclcs, wiil loui lands caiiying a loius, a wlccl ol a claiioi, a conclslcll and a club icspcciivcly."In ilis way ilc way io malc spiiiiual advanccmcni is dcsciibcd. Tlc woid "liiyavasanc" mcans "ai ilc cnd ol onc's picsciibcd duiics". Onc slould do ilis uniil lc dcvclops a scnsc ol loving dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Loid (blalii-yogal).Anuccheda 281 Alici dcsciibing in Siimad llagavaiam 2.2.15-21 and 2.2.22-32 ilc mcilod ol lnowlcdgc and ilc mcilod ol yoga, by boil ol wlicl onc quiclly oi giadually aiiains libciaiion, and alici cxplaining ilc supciioiiiy ol ilc loim ol dcvoiional scivicc wlcic onc ollcis ilc liuiis ol lis woil io ilc Loid, (ilc spcalci ol Siimad llagavaiam) dcclaics, "How mucl gicaici is diicci dcvoiional scivicc'" Hc says (Siimad llagavaiam 2.2.33):2 "Ioi ilosc wlo aic wandciing in ilc maiciial univcisc, ilcic is no moic auspicious mcans ol dclivciancc ilan wlai is aimcd ai in ilc diicci dcvoiional scivicc ol Loid Kisna."3 Siila Siidlaia Svami commcnis: "In ilc maiciial woild ilcic aic many pcisons sccling ilc pail ol libciaiion by pciloiming ausiciiiics, yoga, and oilci spiiiiual aciiviiics, bui ilcy aic noi ilc iigli pail. Tlai is conliimcd in ilis vcisc by ilc woid "na li" (cciiainly noi). Tlan dcvoiional scivicc (yaio blalii-yogal) no (na) oilci (anyal) pail is (blavci) ilai is auspicious (sival), ilai is io say lappy and licc liom obsiaclcs."+ Tlc aciiviiics ilai plcasc ilc Loid aic dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 1.2.6):"Tlc supicmc occupaiion (dlaima) loi all lumaniiy is ilai by wlicl mcn can aiiain io loving dcvoiional scivicc io ilc iiansccndcni Loid. Sucl dcvoiional scivicc musi bc unmoiivaicd and uniniciiupicd io complcicly saiisly ilc scll."Anuccheda 291 Tlai dcvoiional scivicc is ilc conclusion ol all ilc Vcdas is cxplaincd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 2.2.3+):2 "Tlc gicai pcisonaliiy lialma, wiil gicai aiicniion and conccniiaiion ol ilc mind, siudicd ilc Vcdas ilicc iimcs, and alici sciuiinizingly cxamining ilcm, lc ascciiaincd ilai aiiiaciion loi ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad Sii Kisna is ilc liglcsi pcilcciion ol icligion."3 Hcic ilc woid "blagavan" mcans "ilc dcmigod lialma", and "luiasilal" mcans "wiil gicai aiicniion and conccniiaiion ol ilc mind". Tlai is ilc mcaning. "iiil" mcans "ilicc iimcs", "laisinycna" mcans "iloiouglly", "bialma" mcans "ilc Vcdas", and "anvilsya" mcans "cxamining". In ilis way lc ascciiaincd (manisaya adlyavasyai) ilai aiiiaciion (iaiil) loi ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad Sii Kisna (aimani), an aiiiaciion ilai is also callcd dcvoiional scivicc, (is ilc liglcsi pcilcciion ol icligion).Tlc woid "aimani" iclcis io Loid Haii. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc Taniias:"lccausc Hc is all-pcivading (ai) and bccausc Hc is ilc supicmc moilci (ma), ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Loid Haii, is callcd aima."Tlc woid "blagavan" lcic slows ilai ilc dcmigod lialma, wlo is ilc masici ol ilc univcisc, las all-lnowlcdgc and a losi ol viiiucs. Ioi ilis icason lis siudying ilc Vcdas ilicc iimcs is only a pasiimc. Hc mcicly imiiaicd ilc aciions ol oilci siudcnis ol ilc Vcdas. Sccing ilai ilcy coniaincd ilc limiilcss gloiics ol Vailunila and wcic siudicd by numbcilcss lialmas, ilc dcmigod lialma siudicd ilc Vcdas. Tlc woid "luiasilal" mcans ilai wlilc lc was siudying lc manilcsicd only onc loim.Tlc Loid Himscll cxplains (Siimad llagavaiam 11.21.+2):+ "Wlai is ilc diicciion ol all Vcdic liiciaiuics' On wlom do ilcy sci locus' Wlo is ilc puiposc ol all spcculaiion' Ouisidc ol Mc no onc lnows ilcsc ilings."5 Siila Suladcva Gosvami also cxplains (Siimad llagavaiam 11.29.+9):"I ollci my obcisanccs io Loid Kisna, ilc Supicmc Pcison, wlo lilc a bumblcbcc collccicd ilc loncy ol ilc csscncc ol Vcdic lnowlcdgc and, io dcsiioy ilcii lcai ol icpcaicd biiil and dcail, madc His scivanis diinl ii."Anuccheda 301 How docs aiiiaciion loi ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad dcvclop' Tlai is cxplaincd in ilc lollowing qucsiion and answci (Siimad llagavaiam 1.19.3S):"Plcasc lci mc lnow wlai a man slould lcai, clani, icmcmbci and woislip, and also wlai lc slould noi do. Plcasc cxplain all ilis io mc."Tlc answci io ilis qucsiion is givcn in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 2.2.36):2 "O King, ii is ilcicloic csscniial ilai cvciy luman bcing lcai aboui, gloiily and icmcmbci ilc Supicmc Loid, ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, always and cvciywlcic."3 Hcic ilc woid "ca" (and) linis ai a losi ol dcvoiional aciiviiics, bcginning wiil sciving ilc Loid's lcci. Tlc icsuli obiaincd by cngaging wiil dcvoiional aciiviiics, bcginning wiil lcaiing aboui ilc Loid, is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad-llagavaiam 2.2.37):+ "Tlosc wlo diinl iliougl auial icccpiion, lully lillcd wiil ilc ncciaican mcssagc ol Loid Kisna, ilc bclovcd ol ilc dcvoiccs, puiily ilc polluicd aim ol lilc lnown as maiciial cnjoymcni and ilus go bacl io Godlcad, io ilc loius lcci ol Him (ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad)."5 Tlc woid "punanii" (puiily) lcic slows ilai ilc picviously dcsciibcd pail ol mcdiiaiing on ilc Loid's univcisal loim slould bc icjccicd. lccausc dcvoiional scivicc iiscll biings gicai puiilicaiion, onc slould cngagc only in dcvoiional scivicc. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Siila Suladcva Gosvami.Anuccheda 311 Alici, in ilc picvious iwo clapicis (Siimad llagavaiam Canio Onc, Clapicis Onc and Two), cxplaining ilai dcvoiional scivicc is bciici ilan liuiiivc woil, yoga, and impcisonal spcculaiion, in ilc ncxi clapici (Canio Onc, Clapici Tlicc) lc cxplains ilai dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Loid is bciici ilan ilc woislip ol ilc dcmigods. Iiisi lc says (Siimad llagavaiam 3.2.3-9):"Onc wlo dcsiics io bc absoibcd in ilc impcisonal bialmajyoii cllulgcncc slould woislip ilc masici ol ilc Vcdas (Loid lialma oi lilaspaii, ilc lcaincd piicsi), onc wlo dcsiics powcilul scx slould woislip ilc lcavcnly ling, India, and onc wlo dcsiics good piogcny slould woislip ilc gicai piogcniiois callcd ilc piajapaiis. Onc wlo dcsiics good loiiunc slould woislip Duiga-dcvi, ilc supciinicndcni ol ilc maiciial woild. Onc dcsiiing io bc vciy powcilul slould woislip liic, and onc wlo aspiics only alici moncy slould woislip ilc Vasus. Onc slould woislip ilc Rudia incainaiions ol Loid Siva il lc wani io bc a gicai lcio. Onc wlo wanis a laigc siocl ol giains slould woislip Adiii. Onc wlo dcsiics io aiiain ilc lcavcnly plancis slould woislip ilc sons ol Adiii. Onc wlo dcsiics a woildly lingdom slould woislip Visvadcva, and onc wlo wanis io bc populai wiil ilc gcncial mass ol populaiion slould woislip ilc Sadlya dcmigod. Onc wlo dcsiics a long span ol lilc slould woislip ilc dcmigods lnows as ilc Asvini-lumaias, and a pcison dcsiiing a siiongly buili body slould woislip ilc caiil. Onc wlo dcsiics siabiliiy in lis posi slould woislip ilc loiizon and ilc caiil combincd. Onc wlo dcsiics io bccomc bcauiilul slould woislip ilc bcauiilul icsidcnis ol ilc Gandlaiva planci, and onc wlo dcsiics a good wilc slould woislip ilc apsaias and ilc uivasi sociciy giils ol ilc lcavcnly lingdom. Onc wlo dcsiics dominaiion ovci oilcis slould woislip Loid lialma, ilc lcad ol ilc univcisc. Onc wlo dcsiics iangiblc lamc slould woislip ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, and onc wlo dcsiics a good banl balancc slould woislip ilc dcmigod Vaiuna. Il onc dcsiics io bc a gicaily lcaincd man lc slould woislip Loid Siva, and il onc dcsiics a good maiiial iclaiion lc slould woislip ilc clasic goddcss Uma, wilc ol Loid Siva."2 Tlcn lc says (Siimad llagavaiam 3.2.10):"A pcison wlo las bioadci iniclligcncc, wlcilci lc bc lull ol all maiciial dcsiic, wiiloui any maiciial dcsiic, oi dcsiiing libciaiion, musi by all mcans woislip ilc supicmc wlolc, ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad."3 Siila Siidlaia Svami commcnis:"Hcic ilc woid 'alamal' mcans 'puic dcvoicc', 'saiva-lamal' mcans 'onc wlo las all dcsiics, wlcilci ilosc mcniioncd bcloic oi oilci dcsiics', and 'puiusam paiam' mcans 'ilc pcilcci and limiilcss Supicmc Pcison'.""Tivicna" mcans "liimly", "naiuially" and "casily". Tlc dcvoicc's dcsiics aic auiomaiically lullillcd. Tlis is cxplaincd in Malablaiaia:+ "Tlc dcvoiccs cnjoy a gicai lcsiival ol scivicc io Loid Visnu. Tlcy scivc Him and mcdiiaic on Him, givc claiiiy io Him and ollci ilc lood in ilcii lomcs io Him. In ilis way ilcy aiiain a icsuli cvcn ilc dcmigods lcadcd by India cannoi aiiain."5 Tlc Supicmc Loid Himscll said io Sii Kaidama Muni (Siimad llagavaiam 3.21.2+):"My dcai isi, O lcadci ol ilc living cniiiics, loi ilosc wlo scivc Mc in dcvoiion by woislipping Mc, cspccially pcisona lilc you wlo lavc givcn up cvciyiling unio Mc, ilcic is ncvci any qucsiion ol liusiiaiion."6 Tlcicloic wlaicvci dcsiics onc may lavc, onc slould caincsily (iivicna) woislip (yajcia) ilc Loid. Tlai woislip will cvcniually lcad io puic dcvoiional scivicc. Tlai is claboiaicly iaugli lcic.Wlo aic liglci: ilc puic dcvoiccs, oi onc wlo ycains loi impcisonal libciaiion' Tlc answci is givcn in ilc woids "A pcison lull ol all maiciial dcsiics (saiva-laima) slould siill woislip ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad." Tlai is ilc linal conclusion.Anuccheda 321 Ii is also said (Siimad-llagavaiam 2.3.11):"All ilc dillcicni linds ol woislippcis ol muliidcmigods can aiiain ilc liglcsi pcilcciional bcncdiciion, wlicl is sponiancous aiiiaciion unllinclingly lixcd upon ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, only by ilc associaiion ol ilc puic dcvoicc ol ilc Loid."2 Siila Siidlaia Svami commcnis:"Hcic lc cxplains low ilc picviously dcsciibcd woislippcis ol ilc many dcmigods can aiiain dcvoiional scivicc. Tlc woislippcis (yajaiam) ol India and ilc oilci dcmigods, by, in ilc couisc ol ilcii dcmigod-woislip (ila), associaiing wiil (sangaial) dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid (blagavaia), aiiain unllincling (acalal) dcvoiion (blaval) loi ilc Loid (blagavaii). In ilis way ilcy aiiain (udayal) ilc supicmc goal ol lilc (nilsicyasa). All oilci ilings aic insignilicani in compaiison io wlai ilcy aiiain."3 In Siimad-llagavaiam 2.3.2-9 many icsulis, bcginning wiil cxpciiisc in cnjoying ilc scnscs, wcic dcsciibcd. Laici ilc dcvoiion io ilc Loid ilai is aiiaincd by associaiion wiil a dcvoicc is also dcsciibcd. In ilis way ilc woislippcis ol ilc dcmigods aiiain a icsuli mucl gicaici ilan wlai is aiiaincd by maling ollciings on a yupa ol lladiia wood.Anuccheda 331 Laici, Sii Saunala Rsi conliimcd ilc impoiiancc ol dcvoiional scivicc. Hc said (Siimad llagavaiam 2.3.17):2 "loil by iising and by sciiing, ilc sun dccicascs ilc duiaiion ol lilc ol cvciyonc, cxccpi onc wlo uiiliscs ilc iimc by discussing iopics ol ilc all-good Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad."3 In ilis vcisc "asau" mcans "ilc sun", "udyan" mcans iising, "asiam" mcans "sciiing", and "laiaii" mcans "loicibly dcsiioys, bccausc ii malcs ii usclcss." Tlis lappcns io ilc lilc (ayul) ol all cxccpi (iic) onc wlo uiiliscs ilc iimc )lsano niial) by discussing iopics ol ilc all-good Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad (uiiama-slola-vaiiaya). Tlis is so bccausc (ilc laiici pcisons, ilc dcvoiccs), aiiain all succcss. Tlai is ilc mcaning.Anuccheda 3+1 Hcic somconc may objcci: "Is ii noi so ilai ilis also lappcns io ilc lilc ol ilc (dcvoiccs)' To answci ilis, lc says (Siimad llagavaiam 2.3.1S):2 "Do ilc iiccs noi livc' Do ilc bcllows ol ilc blaclsmiil noi bicailc' All aiound us, do ilc bcasis noi cai and disclaigc scmcn'"3 "Na mclanii" mcans "Do ilcy noi cnjoy scx'" Tlinling ilc maiciialisiic luman bcings io bc aciually animals, lc iclcis io ilcm wiil ilc woid "apaic" (oilci animals).Anuccheda 351 Tlcn lc says (Siimad llagavaiam 2.3.19):"Mcn wlo aic lilc gods, logs, camcls and asscs piaisc ilosc mcn wlo ncvci lisicn io ilc iiansccndcnial pasiimcs ol Loid Sii Kisna, ilc dclivcici liom cvils."2 Hcic lc dcsciibcs an animal lilc luman bcing (puiusal pausul) wlo is piaiscd by lis lollowcis, wlo aic lilc dogs (sva) oi oilci animals. Il among ilcsc pcisons somconc is vciy gicai oi powcilul lc is siill only a big animal. Tlai is ilc mcaning.Anuccheda 361 In ilc ncxi livc vciscs lc cxplains ilai ilc paiis ol sucl a pcison's body aic all usclcss. Hc says (Siimad llagavaiam 2.3.20):2 "Onc wlo las noi lisicncd io ilc mcssagcs aboui ilc piowcss and maivcllous acis ol ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad and las noi sung oi clanicd loudly ilc woiily songs aboui ilc Loid is io bc considcicd io posscss cailolcs lilc ilc lolcs ol snalcs and a ionguc lilc ilc ionguc ol a liog."3 "Na sinvaial" mcans "noi lcaiing". Ol sucl a pcison ilc cais aic lilc usclcss lolcs. "Dusia" lcic mcans "wiclcd".Anuccheda 371 Tlcn lc says (Siimad llagavaiam 2.3.21):"Tlc uppci poiiion ol ilc body, ilougl ciowncd wiil a sill iuiban, is only a lcavy buidcn il noi bowcd down bcloic ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad wlo can awaid mulii (liccdom). And ilc lands, ilougl dccoiaicd wiil gliiiciing banglcs, aic lilc ilosc ol a dcad man il noi cngagcd in ilc scivicc ol ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Haii."2 Hcic "paiia-liiiia-jusiam" may mcan ciilci "wcaiing a sill iuiban" oi "wcaiing a ciown."Anuccheda 381 Tlc lc says (Siimad llagavaiam 2.3.22):"Tlc cycs wlicl do noi lool ai ilc symbolic icpicscniaiions ol ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad Visnu (His loims, namc, qualiiy, cic.) aic lilc ilosc piinicd on ilc plumcs ol ilc pcacocl and ilc lcgs wlicl do noi movc io ilc loly placcs (wlcic ilc Loid is icmcmbcicd) aic considcicd io bc lilc iicc iiunls."2 Tlcii biiil is lilc ilai ol ilc iiccs. Tlcy aic cqual io iiccs. Tlai is ilc mcaning.Anuccheda 391 Tlcn lc says (Siimad llagavaiam 2.3.23):"Tlc pcison wlo las noi ai any iimc icccivcd ilc dusi ol ilc lcci ol ilc Loid's puic dcvoicc upon lis lcad is cciiainly a dcad body. And ilc pcison wlo las ncvci cxpciicnccd ilc aioma ol ilc iulasi lcavcs liom ilc loius lcci ol ilc Loid is also a dcad body, alilougl bicailing."2 Hcic "sii-visnu-padyal" mcans "clinging io His lcci."Anuccheda +01 Tlcn lc says (Siimad llagavaiam 2.3.2+):"Cciiainly ilai lcaii is siccl-liamcd wlicl, in spiic ol onc's claniing ilc loly namc ol ilc Loid wiil conccniiaiion, docs noi clangc wlcn ccsiasy ialcs placc, icais lill ilc cycs and ilc laiis siand on cnd."2 Hcic ilc woid "asma-saiam" (siccl-liamcd) mcans "vciy laid". Tlc sympioms ol ccsiasy aic dcsciibcd in ilc pliasc bcginning wiil ilc woid "aila" (ilus). Tlc vcisc says ilai wlcn (yada) ccsiasy (vilaial) is noi picscni ilcn icais (jalam) do noi lill ilc cycs (nciic) and oilci ccsiaiic sympioms aic noi picscni in oilci paiis ol ilc body. Tlai is ilc mcaning. Tlc ling will conliim ilis wlcn lc says (Siimad llagavaiam 10.S0.3-+):"Tlc capaciiy loi ialling can bc pcilccicd only by dcsciibing ilc iiansccndcnial qualiiics ol ilc Loid. Tlc capaciiy loi woiling wiil onc's lands can bc succcsslul only wlcn onc cngagcs limscll in ilc scivicc ol ilc Loid wiil ilosc lands. Similaily onc's mind can bc pacilicd only wlcn lc simply ilings ol Kisna in lull Kisna consciousncss. Hc sccs cvciywlcic ilc picscncc ol His woislipablc Loid in His paiamaima lcaiuic. Tlc lunciion ol ilc cai can bc pcilccicd by simply by cngagcmcni in lcaiing ilc iiansccndcnial aciiviiics ol ilc Loid."Tlc lunciion ol ilc lcad can bc lully uiiliscd wlcn ilc lcad is cngagcd in bowing down bcloic ilc Loid and His icpicscniaiivc. Il onc is ablc io do noiling moic, lc can simply bow down bcloic ilc Loid and His icpicscniaiivc and diinl ilc caianamiia, ilc waici ilai las waslcd ilc loius lcci ol ilc Loid oi His dcvoicc."In ilis way, in ilc liisi ilicc clapicis ol Siimad-llagavaiam (Canio Onc, Clapicis Onc, Two and Tlicc), ii is cxplaincd ilai onc slould cngagc in dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Loid.3 Siila Siidlaia Svami commcnis in lis piclaccs io ilc Iiisi, Sccond and Tliid Clapicis ol ilc Sccond Canio:"In ilc liisi clapici mcdiiaiion on ilc Loid's univcisal loim by cngaging in dcvoiional aciiviiics bcginning wiil lcaiing and claniing aboui ilc Loid is dcsciibcd."+ "In ilc sccond clapici ilc mind's abandoning mcdiiaiion on ilc Loid's univcisal loim and acccpiing insicad mcdiiaiion on Loid Visnu, wlo is ilc wiincss ol cvciyiling and ilc masici ol all, is dcsciibcd."5 "In ilc iliid clapici ilc supciioiiiy ol scivicc io Loid Visnu, wlicl is pciloimcd wiil gicai dcvoiion, and wlicl consisis ol many aciiviiics bcginning wiil lcaiing aboui ilc Loid, is dcsciibcd as ilc sagc lisicns."Tlis vcisc is spolcn by Sii Saunala Rsi io Sii Suia Gosvami.Anuccheda +1Also in ilc convcisaiion ol lialma and Naiada (Siimad llagavaiam 2.5.9):"Loid lialma said: My dcai boy Naiada, bcing mcicilul io all (including mc) you lavc aslcd all ilcsc qucsiions bccausc I lavc bccn inspiicd io scc inio ilc piowcss ol ilc Almigliy Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad."Anuccheda +21 Tlai dcvoiional scivicc is ilc conclusion ol all Vcdic sciipiuics is also conliimcd by ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 2.5.15-16):"Tlc Vcdic liiciaiuics aic madc by and aic mcani loi ilc Supicmc Loid, ilc dcmigods aic also mcani loi sciving ilc Loid as paiis ol His body, ilc dillcicni plancis aic also mcani loi ilc salc ol ilc Loid, and dillcicni saciiliccs aic pciloimcd jusi io plcasc Him."All dillcicni iypcs ol mcdiiaiion oi mysiicism aic mcans loi icalising Naiayana. All ausiciiiics aic aimcd ai aclicving Naiayana. Culiuic ol iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc is loi gciiing a glimpsc ol Naiayana and uliimaicly salvaiion is cniciing ilc lingdom ol Naiayana."2 Tlis vcisc mcans ilai bccausc Loid Naiayana is ilc supicmc objcci ol woislip ilcicloic Hc is ilc subjcci maiici dcsciibcd in ilc Vcdas. Hcic somconc may objcci: "Is ii noi so ilai ilc Vcdas also dcsciibc oilci dciiics wlo aic also woiily ol woislip'" Tlai is iiuc. Tlcicloic ilis vcisc cxplains ilai ilc oilci dciiics, ilc dcmigods, aic mcani loi sciving ilc paiis ol Loid Naiayana's body (naiayanangajal). Tlc dillcicni plancis aic also mcani io aiiain His lcci, and ilc dillcicni saciiliccs aic pciloimcd jusi io plcasc Him. Tlcsc ilings aic donc io givc a liiilc plcasuic io Loid Naiayana. Tlai is ilc mcaning. Yoga, ilai is asianga-yoga and sanllya-yoga, aic mcans io aiiain Him. Ausiciiiy, wlicl mcans conccniiaiion ol ilc mind, is a mcans io aiiain Him, and ilc culiuic ol iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc is a mcans io aiiain Him. Tlc culiuic ol iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc, yoga, and ausiciiiy aic mcans io aiiain Him. Wlai moic nccd bc said' Hc is ilc supicmc goal (gaiil) io bc aiiaincd, ilc Supicmc lialman. Tlis is so bccausc all ilcsc ilings aic manilcsicd liom Him and dcpcndcni on Him.3 Tlcicloic Loid Maisyadcva said io Saiyaviaia (Siimad llagavaiam S.2+.3S):"You will bc iloiouglly adviscd and lavouicd by Mc, and bccausc ol youi inquiiics, cvciyiling aboui My gloiics, wlicl aic lnown as paiam bialma, will bc manilcsi wiilin youi lcaii. Tlus you will lnow cvciyiling aboui Mc."Tlc liisi vcisc quoicd lcic was spolcn by Loid lialma io Sii Naiada Muni.Anuccheda +31 In ilc convcisaiion Viduia and Maiiicya ilc lollowing qucsiion was aslcd (Siimad llagavaiam 3.5.+):"Tlcicloic, O gicai sagc, plcasc givc mc insiiuciion on ilc iiansccndcnial dcvoiional scivicc ol ilc Loid, so ilai Hc wlo is siiuaicd in ilc lcaii ol cvciyonc can bc plcascd io impaii liom wiilin, lnowlcdgc ol ilc Absoluic Tiuil in icims ol ilc ancicni Vcdic piinciplcs dclivcicd only io ilosc wlo aic puiilicd by ilc pioccss ol dcvoiional scivicc."2 Siila Siidlaia Svami commcnis:"Hcic ilc woids 'sam vaiima' mcan 'auspicious pail'.""llalii-puic" mcans "puiilicd by lovc", and "sa-iaiivam jnanam" mcans "lnowlcdgc ol ilc Loid's manilcsiaiions, wlicl bcgins wiil lialman, llagavan and Paiamaima." Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Sii Viduia io Sii Maiiicya.Anuccheda ++1 Tlc boin and unboin dcmigods piaycd (Siimad llagavaiam 3.5.+6-+7):"O Loid, pcisons wlo, bccausc ol ilcii sciious aiiiiudc, aiiain ilc siagc ol cnliglicncd dcvoiional scivicc aclicvc ilc complcic mcaning ol icnunciaiion and lnowlcdgc and aiiain ilc Vailunilalola in ilc spiiiiual sly by diinling ilc ncciai ol Youi iopics.2 "Oilcis, wlo aic pacilicd by mcans ol iiansccndcnial scll-icalisaiion and lavc conqucicd ovci ilc modcs ol naiuic by dini ol siiong powci and lnowlcdgc, also cnici inio You, bui loi ilcm ilcic is mucl pain, wlcicas ilc dcvoicc simply disclaigcs dcvoiional scivicc and ilus lccls no pain."3 Siila Siidlaia Svami commcnis:"Tlc woid 'alunila-dlisnyam' mcans 'Vailunilalola'.""Visadasayal" mcans "abandoning all dupliciiy and acccpiing dcvoiional scivicc as ilc only goal ol lilc." In ilc sccond ol ilcsc vciscs ilc inlciioiiiy ol boil mcans and cnd ol ilcy wlo aic aiiaclcd io ilc pail ol plilosoplical spcculaiion (jnana) is dcsciibcd. Tlc woid "apaic" (oilcis) lcic mcans "ilcy wlo dcsiic libciaiion". Ioi ilcm ilcic is mucl laboui and iioublc (siamal). Howcvci, loi ilcy wlo acccpi ilc scivicc ol ilc Loid as ilc only goal ol ilcii livcs ilcic is no gicai laboui and iioublc. Tlcy always cxpciicncc gicai bliss as a icsuli ol ilcii dcvoiional scivicc and ilcy also aiiain libciaiion as a by-pioduci ol ilai scivicc. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by ilc boin and unboin dcmigods io ilc Supicmc Cicaioi.Anuccheda +51 Tlcn Maiiicya Muni spolc ilc lollowing woids ol piaisc (Siimad llagavaiam 2.3.1):"Tlc ioyal dynasiy ol King Puiu is woiily io scivc ilc puic dcvoiccs bccausc all ilc dcsccndanis ol ilai lamily aic dcvoicd io ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. You aic also boin in ilai lamily, and ii is wondcilul ilai bccausc ol youi aiicmpi ilc iiansccndcnial pasiimcs ol ilc Loid aic bccoming ncwci and ncwci ai cvciy momcni."2 Iiom ilis ii is undcisiood ilai ilc dcvoiional scivicc dcsciibcd lcic is ilc uliimaic good. Tlai is ilc mcaning. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Sii Maiiicya.Anuccheda +61 Sii Kapila cxplains (Siimad llagavaiam 3.25.19):"Pcilcciion in scll-icalisaiion cannoi bc aiiaincd by any lind ol yogi unlcss lc cngagcs in dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, loi ilai is ilc only auspicious pail, callcd aluio-blaya. Tlcy aic doubilcss and lcailcss, and ilcii cniiancc inio ilc spiiiiual lingdom is guaianiccd."2 Tlc "pcilcciion in scll icalisaiion" (bialma-siddli) lcic is ilc diicci appcaiancc ol ilc Absoluic Tiuil.Anuccheda +71 Hc also cxplains (Siimad llagavaiam 3.2+.++):"Tlcicloic pcisons wlosc minds aic lixcd on ilc Loid cngagc in ilc inicnsivc piaciicc ol dcvoiional scivicc. Tlai is ilc only mcans loi aiiainmcni ol ilc linal pcilcciion ol lilc."2 Hcic ilc woid "iivicna" mcans "inicnsivc" and "puic bccausc ii is noi mixcd wiil yoga, liuiiivc woil oi oilci ilings". (Tlc Loid says), "Wiil ilis dcvoiional scivicc (blalii-yogcna), wlicl consisis ol many aciiviiics, bcginning wiil lcaiing, ilcy lix (aipiiam siliiam) ilcii minds (manal) on Mc (mayi). In ilis way (ciavan) ilcy aiiain ilc linal pcilcciion ol lilc (nilsicyasa). In ilis woild (asmin) dcvoiional scivicc is ilc bcsi pail." Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Loid Kapiladcva.Anuccheda +81 In ilc icacling ol Sanaiana Kumaia, alici lc lad alicady cxplaincd ilc pail ol plilosoplical lnowlcdgc (Siimad llagavaiam +.22.39-+0):"Tlc dcvoiccs wlo aic always cngagcd in ilc scivicc ol ilc iocs ol ilc loius lcci ol ilc Loid, can vciy casily ovcicomc laid-lnoiicd dcsiics loi liuiiivc aciiviiics. lccausc ilis is vciy dilliculi, ilc non dcvoiccs - ilc jnanis and yogis - alilougl iiying io siop ilc wavcs ol scnsc giaiilicaiion, cannoi do so. Tlcicloic you aic adviscd io cngagc in ilc dcvoiional scivicc ol Kisna, ilc son ol Vasudcva.2 "Tlc occan ol ncscicncc is vciy dilliculi io cioss bccausc ii is inlcsicd wiil many dangcious slails. Alilougl ilosc wlo aic non-dcvoiccs undcigo scvcic ausiciiiics and pcnanccs io cioss ilai occan, wc iccommcnd ilai you simply ialc slclici ol ilc loius lcci ol ilc Loid, wlicl aic lilc boais loi ciossing ilc occan. Alilougl ilc occan is dilliculi io cioss, by ialing slclici ol His loius lcci you will ovcicomc all dangcis."3 Siila Siidlaia Svami commcnis (on Siimad llagavaiam +.22.37):"In Siimad llagavaiam +.22.37, ilc Loid said, 'Plcasc iiy io undcisiand (iam avcli) ilc iiuil I will icacl you.' Tlc Loid caiclully givcs ilai insiiuciion in ilcsc iwo vciscs (Siimad llagavaiam +.22.39-+0)."Hc ilcn commcnis on Siimad llagavaiam +.22.39-+0):"Hcic somconc may objcci: Docs noi ilc Siuii-sasiia (Taiiiiiiya Upanisad 2.1.2) say, 'Onc wlo undcisiands lialman aiiains ilc Supicmc'' How, ilcn, is ii possiblc ilai ilc jnanis and yogis cannoi ovcicomc ilc laid-lnoiicd dcsiics loi liuiiivc aciiviiics'"To answci ilis objcciion, ilc Loid spcals ilc ncxi vcisc (Siimad llagavaiam +.22.+0). In ilai vcisc ilc woid 'aplavcsam' mcans 'Tlcy wlo lavc noi ialcn slclici ol ilc boai ilai is ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad io cioss ilc occan ol ncscicncc.' Tlis vcisc says ilcy lind ii vciy dilliculi io cioss ilai occan. ly cngaging in ilc dilliculi piaciiccs ol yoga ilcy lopc io cioss ilai occan lillcd wiil slails ilai aic ilc six scnscs. Onc slould ialc ilc boai (udupam) ol ilc Loid's lcci io cioss ilai dilliculi io cioss occan (dusiaiainam).+ Ol ilcsc iwo pails (dcvoiional scivicc and impcisonal spcculaiion), wlicl boil lavc ilc samc goal (io cioss ilc occan ol ncscicncc), ilc pail ol impcisonal spcculaiion is said io bc vciy dilliculi io lollow, wlcicas ilc pail ol dcvoiional scivicc ol iis own accoid caiiics onc io ilc dcsiinaiion. Hcic ii is said ilai ilc impcisonalisis only dcsiic io cioss ilc occan ol ncscicncc (iiiiisanii). Tlcy aic noi ablc aciually io cioss ii. Tlai is ilc mcaning io bc undcisiood lcic. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Sii Sanai-lumaia io Sii Piilu.Anuccheda +91 In ilis way (Sanai-lumaia) insiiucicd (King Piilu). Only wisling io piovc ilc piaciical cllcciivcncss ol dcvoiional scivicc, King Piilu cngagcd in dcvoiional aciiviiics. Siimad-llagavaiam (+.23.9-10) cxplains:2 "Tlus ilc bcsi amongsi luman bcings, Malaiaja Piilu, lollowcd ilai pail ol spiiiiual advanccmcni wlicl was adviscd by Sanai-lumaia. Tlai is io say, lc woislippcd ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Kisna."3 "Malaiaja Piilu ilus cngagcd complcicly in dcvoiional scivicc, cxccuiing ilc iulcs and icgulaiions siiicily accoiding io piinciplcs, iwcniy loui louis daily. Tlis lis livc and dcvoiion unio ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Kisna, dcvclopcd and bccamc unllincling and lixcd."+ Hcic ilc woid "icnaiva" mcans "in ilis way". Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Sii Maiiicya.Anuccheda 501 In ilc song ol Loid Siva (Siimad-llagavaiam +.2+.69):"My dcai sons ol ilc King, jusi cxccuic youi occupaiional duiy as lings wiil a puic lcaii. Jusi clani ilis piayci lixing youi mind on ilc loius lcci ol ilc Loid. Tlai will biing you all good loiiunc, loi ilc Loid will bc vciy mucl plcascd wiil you."2 Loid Siva coniinucd (Siimad llagavaiam +.2+.70):"Tlcicloic, O sons ol ilc King, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Haii, is siiuaicd in cvciyonc's lcaii. Hc is also wiilin youi lcaiis. Tlcicloic clani ilc gloiics ol ilc Loid and always mcdiiaic upon Him coniinuously."3 Hcic Loid Siva says, "You slould woislip (pujayadlvam) Loid Haii (iam). Tlis mcans "Do noi pciloim oidinaiy maiciial duiics". "You slould gloiily (ginanial) and mcdiiaic (dlyayanial) on Him, ilc Supcisoul siiuaicd in cvciyonc's lcaii (aima-silam bluicsv avasiliiam aimanan). Don'i placc ilc aciiviiics youi mind and woids in anyiling bui Him. Always (asalii) woislip Him. Don'i iniciiupi ilai woislip wiil any oilci aciiviiy."Anuccheda 511 Sii Naiada Muni claiilics ilc naiuic ol dcvoiional scivicc by dcsciibing wlai slould and wlai slould noi bc donc. Hc says (Siimad llagavaiam +.31.9-13):2 "Tlc gicai sagc Naiada said: Wlcn a living cniiiy is boin io cngagc in ilc dcvoiional scivicc ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo is ilc supicmc coniiollci, lis biiil, all lis liuiiivc aciiviiics, lis lilc-span, lis mind and lis woids aic all laciually pcilcci.3 "A civiliscd luman bcing las ilicc linds ol biiils. Tlc liisi biiil is by a puic lailci and moilci, and ilis biiil is callcd biiil by scmcn. Tlc ncxi biiil ialcs placc wlcn onc is iniiiaicd by ilc spiiiiual masici, and ilis biiil is callcd saviiia. Tlc iliid biiil, callcd yajnila, ialcs placc wlcn onc is givcn ilc oppoiiuniiy io woislip Loid Visnu. Dcspiic ilc oppoiiuniiics loi aiiaining sucl biiils, cvcn il onc gcis ilc lilc-span ol a dcmigod, il onc docs noi aciually cngagc in ilc scivicc ol ilc Loid , cvciyiling is usclcss. Similaily, onc's aciiviiics may bc mundanc oi spiiiiual, bui ilcy aic usclcss il ilcy aic noi mcani loi saiislying ilc Loid.+ "Wiiloui dcvoiional scivicc, wlai is ilc mcaning ol scvcic ausiciiiics, ilc pioccss ol lcaiing, ilc powci ol spcccl, ilc powci ol mcnial spcculaiion, clcvaicd iniclligcncc, siicngil and ilc powci ol ilc scnscs'5 "Tiansccndcnial piaciiccs ilai do noi uliimaicly lclp onc icalisc ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad aic usclcss, bc ilcy mysiic yoga piaciiccs, ilc analyiical siudy ol maiici, scvcic ausiciiiy, ilc acccpiancc ol sannyasa, oi ilc siudy ol Vcdic liiciaiuic. All ilcsc may bc vciy impoiiani aspccis ol spiiiiual advanccmcni, bui unlcss onc undcisiands ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Haii, all ilcsc pioccsscs aic usclcss.6 "Iaciually ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is ilc oiiginal souicc ol all scll-icalisaiion. Conscqucnily, ilc goal ol all auspicious aciiviiics - laima, jnana, yoga and blalii - is ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad."7 Siila Siidlaia Svami commcnis:"In ilcsc vciscs is dcsciibcd ilc icsuli ol sciving Loid Haii. Wiiloui sciving Him, cvciyiling bccomcs woiillcss. Tlai is ilc mcaning. Hcic ilc woid 'janma' (biiil) mcans "ilc scminal biiil liom a puic lailci and moilci, iniiiaiion wiil a sacicd ilicad ccicmony and iniiiaiion inio ilc pciloimancc ol Vcdic-saciiliccs. Lvcn il onc gcis a lilc span as long as ilai ol ilc dcmigods, wlai is ilc usc ol lis woids (vacoblil), powci ol mcnial spcculaiion (ciiia-viiiiblil), powci ol ilc scnscs (indiiya-iadlasa), pciloimancc ol yoga (yogcna), analyiical siudy ol maiici (sanllycna) oi oilci (sicyoblii anyail) auspicious aciiviiics, sucl as icnunciaiion and lollowing vows, il lc docs noi scivc Loid Haii'S Siila Siidlaia Svami commcnis on Siimad llagavaiam +.31.13:"Hcic somconc may objcci: 'How can ii bc ilai ilc icsulis ol all spiiiiual aciiviiics oilci ilan dcvoiional scivicc aic woiillcss'' To answci ilis Naiada says ilai Loid Haii (aima) is ilc goal (avadlil) ol all auspicious aciiviiics (sicyasam). Tlis is iiuc (aiilaial) bccausc Hc is moic dcai (piiyal) ilan anyonc oi anyiling.To ilis oui objccioi may icply: 'Tlai maya bc, bui wly is Loid Haii ilc goal ol all auspicious aciiviiics."' To ilis Naiada icplics: 'Hc (aima), by casiing asidc all ignoiancc, icvcals io cvciyonc (saivcsam) ilcii spiiiiual idcniiiy (aima-dal). Anoilci inicipiciaiion ol ilc woid 'aima-dal' is ilai bcloic lali Malaiaja and oilci dcvoiccs Hc appcaicd in His spiiiiual loim as ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad and gavc Himscll as a gili io ilcm. Hc is also dcai (piiyal) bccausc His loim is lull ol iiansccndcnial bliss."9 Tlc pliasc "aima saivcsam api bluianam" mcans ilai Hc is ilc Supcisoul in all puic living cniiiics. Tlis is so bccausc Hc is lilc ilc sun and ilcy aic lilc ilc iays ol sunligli. Ioi ilis icason ii is said (Siimad llagavaiam 10.1+.5+-55):10 "Tlcicloic ii is lis own scll ilai is mosi dcai io cvciy cmbodicd living bcing, and ii is simply loi ilc saiislaciion ol ilis scll ilai ilc wlolc maiciial cicaiion ol moving and non moving cniiiics cxisi.11 "You slould lnow Kisna io bc ilc oiiginal Soul ol all living cniiiics. Ioi ilc bcnclii ol ilc wlolc univcisc, Hc las, oui ol His causclcss mcicy, appcaicd as an oidinaiy luman bcing. Hc las donc ilis by ilc siicngil ol His inicinal poicncy."12 Tlc iwo "aimas" in ilis vcisc aic ilc individual living cniiiy and ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Tlc woid "aima-dal" (Hc wlo givcs Himscll) mcans ciilci ilai ilc Loid icvcals Himscll io His dcvoiccs oi ilai ilc Loid placcs Himscll undci ilc coniiol ol His dcvoiccs. Tlai is Siila Siidlaia Svami's inicipiciaiion.Anuccheda 521 Iuiilcimoic (in Siimad llagavaiam +.31.1+ ii is said):"As pouiing waici on ilc iooi ol a iicc cncigiscs ilc iiunl, bianclcs, iwigs and cvciyiling clsc, and as supplying lood io ilc siomacl cnlivcns ilc scnscs and limbs ol ilc body, simply woislipping ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad iliougl dcvoiional scivicc auiomaiically saiislics ilc dcmigods, wlo aic paiis ol ilai Supicmc Pcisonaliiy."2 Siila Siidlaia Svami commcnis:"ly saiislying Loid Haii onc aiiains ilc samc icsuli as il lc las saiislicd ilc many dcmigods wiil many pious dccds. Howcvci, by woislipping ilc dcmigods onc docs noi aiiain ilc icsuli ol saiislying Loid Haii. Tlai is ilc cxamplc givcn in ilis vcisc. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Sii Naiada io ilc Piaccias.Anuccheda 531 In ilis maiici Loid Rsabladcva's insiiuciions io His sons slould bc consulicd. Tlcic Hc said (Siimad llagavaiam 5.5.3 and 5.5.25):"Tlosc wlo aic inicicsicd in icviving Kisna consciousncss and incicasing ilcii lovc ol Godlcad do noi lilc io do anyiling ilai is noi iclaicd io Kisna. Tlcy aic noi inicicsicd in mingling wiil pcoplc wlo aic busy mainiaining ilcii bodics, caiing, slccping, maiing and dclcnding. Tlcy aic noi aiiaclcd io ilcii lomcs, alilougl ilcy may bc louscloldcis. Noi aic ilcy aiiaclcd io wivcs, clildicn, liicnds oi wcalil. Ai ilc samc iimc, ilcy aic noi indillcicni io ilc cxccuiion ol ilcii duiics. Sucl pcoplc aic inicicsicd in collcciing only cnougl moncy io lccp ilc body and soul iogcilci.""I am lully opulcni, almigliy and supciioi io Loid lialma and India, ilc ling ol ilc lcavcnly plancis. I am also ilc bcsiowci ol all lappincss obiaincd in ilc lcavcnly lingdom and by libciaiion. Noncilclcss, ilc bialmanas do noi sccl maiciial comloiis liom Mc. Tlcy aic vciy puic and do noi wani io posscss anyiling. Tlcy simply cngagc in My dcvoiional scivicc. Wlai is ilc nccd ol ilcii asling loi maiciial bcncliis liom anyonc clsc'"2 Ai ilc cnd ol lis convcisaiion wiil King Ralugana, a bialmana said (Siimad llagavaiam 5.13.20):"My dcai King Ralugana, you aic also a viciim ol ilc cxicinal cncigy, bcing siiuaicd on ilc pail ol aiiiaciion io maiciial plcasuic. So ilai you may bccomc an cqual liicnd io all living cniiiics, I now advisc you io givc up youi lingly posiiion and ilc iod by wlicl you punisl ciiminals. Givc up aiiiaciion io scnsc objccis and ialc up ilc swoid ol lnowlcdgc slaipcncd by dcvoiional scivicc. Tlcn you will bc ablc io cui ilc laid lnoi ol illusoiy cncigy and cioss io ilc oilci sidc ol ilc occan ol ncscicncc."3 Tlc lnowlcdgc (jnana) lcic is lnowlcdgc ol dcvoiional scivicc.Anuccheda 5+1 Sii Ralugana icplicd (Siimad llagavaiam 5.13.21-22):"Tlis biiil as a luman bcing is ilc bcsi ol all. Lvcn biiil among ilc dcmigods in ilc lcavcnly plancis is noi as gloiious as biiil as a luman bcing on ilis caiil. Wlai is ilc usc ol ilc cxalicd posiiion ol a dcmigod' In ilc lcavcnly plancis, duc io piolusc maiciial comloiis, ilcic is no possibiliiy ol associaiing wiildcvoiccs.2 "Ii is noi ai all wondcilul ilai simply by bcing covcicd by ilc dusi ol youi loius lcci, onc immcdiaicly aiiains ilc plailoim ol puic dcvoiional scivicc io Adlolsaja, wlicl is noi availablc cvcn io gicai dcmigods lilc lialma. ly associaiing wiil you jusi loi a momcni, I am now liccd liom all aigumcni, lalsc picsiigc and lacl ol disciiminaiion, wlicl aic ilc ioois ol cnianglcmcni in ilc maiciial woild. Now I am licc liom all ilcsc pioblcms."3 Tlc mcaning ol ilis vcisc is clcai. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by a bialmana io King Ralugana.Anuccheda 551 Ai ilc conclusion ol His insiiuciions io King Ciiialciu, Loid Sanlaisana said (Siimad llagavaiam 6.16.62):"ly ilc siicngil ol onc's disciiminaiion onc slould givc up ilc dcsiic loi liuiiivc icsulis in ilc picscni lilc and in ilc ncxi. Tlus bccoming cxpciicnccd in iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc, onc slould bccomc My dcvoicc."2 In Piallada's icaclings io ilc sons ol ilc dcmons (Siimad llagavaiam 9.6.1-2):"Onc wlo is sullicicnily iniclligcni slould usc ilc luman loim ol body liom ilc vciy bcginning ol lilc - in oilci woids, liom ilc icndci agc ol clildlood - io piaciicc ilc aciiviiics ol dcvoiional scivicc, giving up all oilci cngagcmcnis. Tlc luman b