Sutra 80

The Narada Bhakti Sutra 80:

स कीर्त्यमानः शीघ्रमेवाविर्भवति अनुभावयति च भक्तान्॥ ८०॥ 

"When invoked, He indeed reveals Himself and makes the devotee realise His Absolute Nature Divine."

The fruit of Supreme Devotion is hinted at in this Sutra. When, through bhakti, the Lord is invoked, the whole being of the devotee comes to be exposed in ardent invocation of Him, the bhakta through such intense association with the Infinite, gradually gets himself transformed and discovers that he has attained the very Divine attributes he is worshipping, all-pervading, immutable, eternal, unmoving, all-blissful. When we worship the Lord, invoking Him with our whole personality, by our Constant Remembrance of His glories, our mind is turned towards the Higher through our earnest identification with His glories and the truth which is already within, unveils and reveals itself.

This verse emphasizes the power of true Devotion. It suggests that when the Lord is offered Devotion sincerely and wholeheartedly, they manifest their presence swiftly and engage with their devotees. It highlights the reciprocal nature of Devotion, indicating that the Divine or revered entity responds to the genuine reverence and adoration of their followers.

The Ᾱtman, the Self is ever with us but because It is now veiled from our direct perceptions we don't apprehend It. Apprehension of the Truth takes no time. The Self is revealed immediately when the non-apprehension is removed. Turning our whole mind towards Him through Constant Remembrance of His glories will lead us to apprehend the Reality. It is the Lord Himself who gives his faithful devotee the experience of this Absolute, unchanging Truth. The devotee cannot say ‘I am knowing God,’ ‘I saw God,’ for Reality is beyond the triple distinctions of experiencer, experienced and experiencing. At that stage there is no instrument for us to perceive or feel or think of Him! The knower, known and the knowing are all merged in the Pure Consciousness.

When we compare this verse with similar verses from other Vedic texts, we find a resonance of the concept of Devotion and its effects. 

In the Bhagavad Gita (9.22), Lord Krishna states, 

"To those who are constantly devoted and who worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me." 

Here, the idea of Devotion leading to Divine connection and guidance is echoed.

Similarly, in the Yoga Vashishta (6.1.3), it is mentioned, 

"Devotion is the firm abiding faith in the Supreme Self, which arises by hearing about, reflecting on, and constantly contemplating the Self." 

This verse emphasizes that devotion is nurtured by learning, meditating upon the Divine, and Constant Remembrance of the Divine, further reinforcing the significance of Devotion in spiritual practices.

In the Upanishads, the Chhandogya Upanishad (3.14.1) states, 

"He is to be Realized through sincere Devotion and service." 

This verse underscores the importance of Devotion and selfless service in Realizing the Divine.

These verses from various Vedic texts collectively emphasize the transformative power of Devotion and highlight the reciprocal nature of the relationship between the devotee and the Divine. They suggest that sincere and heartfelt devotion leads to a deeper connection with the Divine and grants seekers the understanding and guidance needed to progress on their spiritual path.