Sutra 68

The Narada Bhakti Sutra 68:

कण्ठावरोध-रोमाञ्चाश्रुभिः परस्परं लपमानाः पावयन्ति कुलानि पृथिवीं च॥ ६८॥

"By conversing with each other with choked voice, by the thrill that causes horripilation, and by tears of joy, they purify their families and the earth itself."

This Sutra describes the profound emotional experiences of devotees engaged in devotional conversations about the Divine. The choked voice indicates the overwhelming love and reverence they feel, which is so intense that it constricts their throats. Horripilation, or the raising of hairs on the skin, is a physical manifestation of the thrill that runs through their bodies during these sacred exchanges. The tears of joy are not of sorrow but of ecstatic happiness, stemming from a deep connection with the Divine. These expressions of Devotion are not just personal; they have a purifying effect on the devotees' families and even the earth itself, suggesting that Pure Devotion transcends individual experience and contributes to the collective good.

When such lovers of the Lord meet to speak of the Divine among themselves, various are the ways of their unique language of communication. Their physical bodies ‘explode’ with the pressure created within by the surging emotion of love. With tears flowing from their eyes their voices faltering with emotion they hug each other and dance in rapture for their hearts have melted at the feet of the Lord to be one with the Infinite. Actually they know not how to express; they cannot. By the time they cry out to each other the name of the Lord, they are already weeping in joy because they get transported into a state of unspeakable silent Bliss. 

In the context of Vedic literature, this expression of devotion is not unique to the Narada Bhakti Sutra. Similar sentiments can be found in other texts, reflecting the universal nature of such spiritual experiences.

For example, in the Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 10, Verse 9), Lord Krishna says:

मच्चित्ता मद्गतप्राणा बोधयन्तः परस्परं।

कथयन्तश्च मां नित्यं तुष्यन्ति च रमन्ति च॥

"The thoughts of My pure devotees dwell in Me, their lives are fully devoted to My service, and they derive great satisfaction and Bliss from always enlightening each other and conversing about Me."

Here, the Gita emphasizes the Joy and satisfaction derived from constant engagement in discussions about the Divine, mirroring the sentiments of Sutra 68 from the Narada Bhakti Sutra.

Another example is found in the Shvetashvatara Upanishad (Chapter 6, Verse 23):

यस्य देवे परा भक्तिर्यथा देवे तथा गुरौ।

तस्यैते कथिता ह्यर्थाः प्रकाशन्ते महात्मनः॥

"To those great souls who have Supreme Devotion to God, and as much Devotion to the Guru as to God, to them the truths explained here shine forth."

This verse from the Upanishad highlights the importance of Devotion to both God and the Guru, suggesting that such Devotion illuminates the truths of the spiritual path, akin to the purifying effect mentioned in the Narada Bhakti Sutra.

These verses from different texts underscore the transformative power of Devotion, which is a recurring theme in Vedic literature. They all convey the idea that Devotion is not just an internal feeling but a force that can purify and elevate the individual, their surroundings, and ultimately the world.