Sutra 04

The Narada Bhakti Sutra 04

यल्लब्ध्वा पुमान् सिद्घो भवति। अमृतो भवति। तृप्तो भवति॥ ४॥

"By attaining which (Supreme Devotion) the devotee becomes perfect, immortal, and satisfied."

This Sutra emphasizes the transformative power of Divine Love or Bhakti. Attaining Bhakti is described as a state of perfection, where one transcends the limitations of the mortal world, achieving a state akin to immortality, not in the literal sense but in the continuity of the soul's journey beyond the physical. The satisfaction mentioned here is profound, signifying a state of contentment that is not dependent on external circumstances, but rather a deep inner fulfillment.

The concept of Bhakti as a means to spiritual perfection is not unique to the Narada Bhakti Sutra but is a recurring theme in various Vedic texts. Bhakti is seen as the ultimate path to liberation, offering a direct and personal relationship with the Divine. This personal connection with the divine is what leads to the state of Siddha (perfection), Amrita (immortality), and tripta (satisfaction), as one finds complete fulfillment in the Divine Love that surpasses all worldly desires and sufferings.

One who has discovered in himself the Supreme Devotion for the Lord, has gained in fact all that is to be gained. Nārada’s statement that such an individual becomes a siddha, is not to be construed to mean that a devotee will discover in himself the expressions of cheap psychic powers, or to suggest even that such a true devotee will start exhibiting his powers over the phenomena. These are not the famous eight siddhis, described in the Yogaṣāstra, that are meant here. To a true devotee of the Lord all these powers and gains are of no value at all. He rejects them as insignificant. 

In fact the great purāṇas often describe that the eight mighty powers (aṣṭasiddhis) await upon a true devotee, and they always follow at his heels devoutly begging him to make use of them. Here, the attainment (siddhi) is only the highest devotion for the Supreme. The Lord describes a true devotee: ‘One, who has given away his heart to Me, thereafter claims nothing other than Me – neither the state of Brahmahood, nor the throne of Indra, nor the emperorship, nor the kingdom, nor the cheap siddhis – nay, not even mokṣa does he come to demand’.

Now, let's compare this with similar verses from other Vedic texts:

Bhagavad Gita:

अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जनाः पर्युपासते।

तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम्॥

"To those who are Constantly Devoted (Constant Remembrance) and worship Me with love, I carry the burden of their welfare."

Chandogya Upanishad (8.7.1):

स य एषोऽणिमा एतस्मिन्मन्दले पुरुषो दृश्यते।

इयं वाव स य एष आकाश अन्तर्हृदय आकाशः॥

"The person that is seen in the eye, that is the Self. This is the immortal, the fearless, this is Brahman."

Shvetashvatara Upanishad (6.14):

स ब्रह्मा स शिवः सेन्द्रः सोऽक्षरः परमः स्वराट्।

स एव विश्वं निर्भासयेद्भूतं भव्यं भवत्प्रभुः॥

"He is Brahma, He is Shiva, He is Indra, He is the Immutable, the Supreme, the Self-luminous. He alone is the ruler of the beings, the past, the present, and the future."

These verses, like Narada Bhakti Sutra 04, highlight the significance of devotion and the divine's role in the life of the devotee. They all convey the message that through devotion, one achieves a state of completeness and eternal peace, transcending the transient nature of the material world. The verses from the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads also affirm the idea that the divine takes an active role in the devotee's welfare and that Realization of the Self is synonymous with the Realization of the Divine.