Bhagavadgita -Radhakrishnan 50

The Bhagavadgita -S. Radhakrishnan

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INTRODUCTORY ESSAY
11. The Way of Devotion: Bhakti-margaa


For her who loves, it is the same whether she, in the ardour of love, plays on the bosom of the lover or whether she caresses with tenderness his feet. Thus to him who knows, whether he remain in a super-conscious ecstasy or serves God with worship, the two are the same."[1] For the devotee, the higher freedom is in surrender to God.[2] Participation in God's work for the world is the duty of all devotees.[3] "Those who give up their duties and simply proclaim the name of the Lord, Krsna, Krsna, are verily the enemies of the Lord and sinners for the very Lord has taken birth for protecting righteousness "[4] When the devotee truly surrenders himself to the Divine, God becomes the ruling passion of his mind, and whatever the devotee does, he does for the glory of God. Bhakti, in the Bhagavadgita, is an utter self-giving to the Transcendent. It is to believe in God, to love Him, to be devoted to Him, to enter into Him. It is its own reward. Such a devotee has in him the content of the highest knowledge as well as the energy of the perfect man.[5]


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References and Context

  1. ↑ priyatamahrdaye va khelatu premaritya, padayugapariearyanh preyasi va vidhattamviharatu vidutartho mrvikalpe samadhaunanu bhajanavidhau va tulyarn etad dvayn asyat.
  2. ↑ linata haripadabje muktir sty abhhdhiyate.
  3. ↑ Cp. Majjhima Nikaya • yo mam passati sa dhamnam passati. He who sees me sees dharma.
  4. ↑ svadharrnaharmavimukhah krsnakrsnetivadinahto harer dvesino mudhah dharmartha;n janma yadd hareh.Visnu .Purana. See also B.G., IX, 30, cp. I John ai, g—11, IV, 18—20; cp. "Not everyone that calls `Christ' Lord, but he that does the will of the Father, shall enter into the kingdom of Heaven.
  5. ↑ Bhagavata says that "devotion directed to Lord Vasudeva produces soon dispassion and wisdom by which the vision of the Supreme is obtained "vasudeve bhagavati bhaktiyogah prayojitahjanayaty asu vairagyam jnunam yard brahmadarsanamCp. vimalamtirbimatsarah prasantah sucarito khilasttvamitrabhutah priyahitavacano' starnanamayo vasati sada` hrdi yasya vasudevah Visnu Purana, III, 7.