Sutra 31

The Narada Bhakti Sutra 31:

राजगृहभोजनादिषु तथैव दृष्टत्वात्॥ ३१॥

"It is just like glancing at a palace or being informed of sumptuous food."

In the last three Sutras, we were informed of three different opinions given out by the great sages of yore regarding the exact means of developing devotion. They are declared as (a) Knowledge, (jñāna), (b) mutual dependence (anyonyāśrayam) and (c) its own fruit (swayam phalarūpa). To show that these three factors are not competent in themselves to inspire sufficient love for the Lord, the Sutra now under investigation brings out two examples: palace and dinner. To know the king is good. It will certainly add a special status to the individual in society. But that is not sufficient if he wants to enjoy the royal company and patronage as a courtier and share the royal trust as a close confidant of the king in the palace. For this, as a royal servant, he must learn to love and serve the king until the king’s favours gush down upon him unasked.

Mere Knowledge of the Supreme, heard from teachers or read from books and understood, is not sufficient to gain that perfect intimacy with the Infinite Self. The mere book knowledge of the scriptural declarations such as the mahāvākyas, is not enough for one to come to enjoy the Godly patronage and ultimately to come to live the true Godhood State. Thus, jñāna is not competent to give the final experience. We must, through our service, expand our love for the Lord, with which we must please the Lord to gain the full Lordship within ourselves.

The Sutra emphasizes the transcendent nature of Divine Love. While the sights of a palace or the descriptions of a feast may please the senses, they are external and temporary. In contrast, Divine Love is internal and eternal. It is an experience that goes beyond the material and satisfies the soul on a deeper level. This love is not dependent on external stimuli; it is self-sustaining and ever-present within the devotee.

Furthermore, the Sutra points out the effortless nature of such Divine Love. Just as one does not strive to see a palace that is already in view or to know of a meal that has been described, the Realization of Divine Love comes naturally to the devotee. It is not something that has to be sought after with great effort; it is an inherent part of the devotee's being, revealed through Grace and Devotion.

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

Bhagavad Gita 9.2:

राजविद्या राजगुह्यं पवित्रमिदमुत्तमम्।

"This Knowledge is the King of education, the most secret of all secrets. It is the purest Knowledge, and because it gives direct perception of the Self by Realization, it is the perfection of religion. It is everlasting, and it is joyfully performed."

This verse from the Bhagavad Gita speaks to the Supreme Nature of Spiritual Knowledge, which is considered the highest form of education. Like Narada Bhakti Sutra 31, it emphasizes the transcendent and eternal qualities of Divine Knowledge, which surpasses all material understanding.

Chandogya Upanishad 3.14.1:

सर्वं खल्विदं ब्रह्म

"All this is indeed Brahman."

The Chandogya Upanishad asserts the omnipresence of the Divine, stating that everything in existence is a manifestation of Brahman, the Ultimate Reality. This aligns with the message of the Narada Bhakti Sutra, which suggests that Divine love is all-encompassing and inherent in all aspects of life.

Shvetashvatara Upanishad 6.23:

यस्य देवे परा भक्तिः यथा देवे तथा गुरौ।

"He who has Supreme Devotion to God, and to the teacher as to God, to him the Truths of the scriptures are revealed."

The Shvetashvatara Upanishad highlights the importance of Devotion to both God and the Guru. It suggests that through such Devotion, the deepest Spiritual Truths become accessible to the devotee. This mirrors the sentiment of the Narada Bhakti Sutra, where Divine Love is seen as the Ultimate Goal that can be Realized through Devotion.

These verses collectively underscore the significance of Divine Love and Knowledge in the spiritual tradition. They convey that true understanding and love for the Divine are not merely intellectual pursuits but are deeply rooted in the heart and soul of the devotee. The Realization of this love is transformative, leading to an eternal and joyous state of being that is beyond the material world.