Sutra 82

The Narada Bhakti Sutra 82:

गुणमाहात्म्यासक्तिरूपासक्तिपूजासक्ति स्मरणासक्तिदास्यासक्तिसख्यासक्तिवात्सल्यासक्ति कान्तासक्त्यात्मनिवेदनासक्ति तन्मयतासक्तिपरमविरहासक्तिरूपा एकधाप्येकादशधा भवति॥

"Love for God arises in eleven kinds—through (love of) attributes, form, worship, remembrance, servitude, companionship, kindness, one's own revelation, full absorption and supreme separation."

This Sutra explains that Divine Love or bhakti arises in the devotee through eleven different manifestations. Starting from appreciation of God's glories and virtues, to worshipping the Divine form or murti, continually remembering God, serving the lord in servitude, finding company of fellow devotees, experiencing God's kindness, Self-Realization of one's relationship to the Divine, becoming totally immersed or absorbed in the lord, and culminating in the highest love which is felt in utter and Divine separation from God. 

The are some unique methods of Devotion mentioned among these eleven ways, as follows. Devotion can be reached by the unquestionable, reverential Devotion of the servant to the master (dāsya-āsakti), maintained in the pure heart of the seeker. Hanumān and Vidura lived this path. Attachment to the Lord as friend is yet another path (sakhya-āsakti). The attitude of Arjuna, Sudāmā and Kuchela falls under this category. 

As a beloved (kāntā-āsakti) is an attitude of relationship between devotee and the Lord. This is a path wherein the devotee considers herself to the Lord’s beloved like the eight queens of Kṛṣṇa, like Sītā approaching Lord Rāma. The devotee may also reach this great state of Supreme love through the devotion of parental Love (vātsalya-āsakti). Kausalyā, Devakī, Yaśodā are those who loved the Lord as their child. Total self-offering at the sacred feet of the Lord, complete surrender (ātmanivedana āsakti). The attitude of Hanumān towards Śrī Rāmachandra ready to give one’s own life for the Lord, is indeed a way by which devotion can be invoked, maintained and developed.

In the Shwetashvatara Upanishad 6.23, it is said that supreme love for God arises from deep contemplation:

स चेत्केवलं पञ्चयन्त्येकाग्रेण मनसा सुसमाहितेन ।

ब्रह्मरूपं तमनुस्मरन्यध्यायतो मुञ्चति पप्रक्षये ॥ २३॥ 

"One who contemplates on the Supreme Reality with a concentrated, peaceful mind, who remembers Me constantly and meditates on Me, that yogi obtains the Supreme Reality."

In the Bhagavad Gita 11.54-55, Lord Krishna says the highest spiritual achievement is to love him with an immersed mind and soul: 

भक्त्या मामभिजानाति यावाञ्छ्रीयानि कर्मणि ।

तस्य आहुरिति प्रीतिर्भक्त्या लभ्या न अन्यया ॥ ५४॥

यदि ह्येकनिश्चितात्मा भक्तः शरणमश्रयेत् । 

अभक्तः समदुःखेसु सम्पाद्याऽप्सू माचरेत् ॥ ५५॥

"By Devotion alone can I be known, understood and seen truly. He who does all works for Me, who makes Me his Supreme Goal, who is devoted to Me, who has no attachment, who is free from enmity towards any creature—he comes to Me, O Arjuna." 

These verses exemplify that the height of Devotion or true bhakti is complete dedication, attachment, immersion and love for the Supreme Lord from one's heart and soul through Constant Remembrance, reflection, service and worship. This is the highest spiritual perfection according to Vedic philosophy.