Sutra 60

The Narada Bhakti Sutra 60:

शान्तिरूपात् परमानन्दरूपाच्च॥ ६०॥

"Because love is of the nature of peace and it is of the nature of Supreme Bliss.."

Expounding the excellence of love, Sage Nārada continues to encourage the seekers. He endorses that not only is love nobler because of its non-dependence on any other proof and because it is its own proof, but he says, it is also of the form of peace of mind (śāntirūpa) and of the form of Supreme Happiness (paramānandarūpa). 

Devotion from the heart of the devotee flowing towards the feet of the Lord, by its very nature is full. Bhakti and agitations can never coexist. When one is thinking of or when one is with his beloved, one’s mind becomes quieter and calmer because Bliss is the very nature of love. A lover knows nothing other than bliss, when continuously contemplating upon his beloved Lord. To remain in such a condition is in itself its own reward.

This Sutra encapsulates the essence of Divine love as experienced in the state of Ultimate Peace and Bliss. The term "शान्तिरूपात्" (shantirupat) refers to a form or embodiment of peace, suggesting that true devotion leads to a tranquil state of being, free from the disturbances of the mind and the external world. The phrase "परमानन्दरूपाच्च" (paramanandarupaccha) indicates that this peace is not just a passive state but is filled with "paramananda," the highest form of joy or Bliss. This Bliss is not dependent on external circumstances but is inherent in the nature of the soul itself.

In the context of Bhakti Yoga, this Sutra implies that a devotee who has attained pure love for the Divine experiences a profound inner peace and joy that transcends ordinary human experiences. This state is not temporary or fleeting; it is a permanent transformation of the devotee's Consciousness. Such a devotee sees the Divine in everything and remains undisturbed by life's dualities, anchored in the serenity and joy of their devotion.

The experience of "शान्तिरूपात् परमानन्दरूपाच्च" is not unique to the Narada Bhakti Sutra but is echoed in various Vedic texts. 

For example, the Taittiriya Upanishad (2.7.1) states:

"आनन्दाद्ध्येव खल्विमानि भूतानि जायन्ते | आनन्देन जातानि जीवन्ति | आनन्दं प्रयन्त्यभिसंविशन्ति ||"

"From Bliss do all beings arise, by Bliss are they sustained, and into Bliss do they enter at their end."

This Upanishadic verse aligns with the idea that the Ultimate Reality is blissful in nature, and all creation emerges from and returns to this state of Bliss. 

Similarly, the Bhagavad Gita (6.27) says:

"प्रशान्तमनसं ह्येनं योगिनं सुखमुत्तमम् | उपैति शान्तरजसं ब्रह्मभूतमकल्मषम् ||"

"The yogi whose mind is peaceful, whose passionate nature is calmed, who is sinless and identified with Brahman, attains the highest happiness."

Here, the Gita speaks of a yogi who, through the practice of yoga, attains a state of inner peace and identifies with Brahman, the Ultimate Reality, thereby experiencing Supreme Happiness.

These verses from different texts highlight the universal Vedic theme that the Highest Goal of life is to Realize and experience the Blissful Nature of the Self, which is akin to the Divine. This Realization brings about a lasting peace and joy that is independent of the external world.