Description
Bhakti-sandarbha is the fifth work in the celebrated Ṣaṭ-sandarbha series authored by Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, one of the principal ācāryas of the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava tradition and the foremost disciple-nephew of Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī. In this profound treatise, Jīva Gosvāmī systematically presents bhakti—devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead—as the highest and most perfect spiritual path, surpassing all other processes such as fruitive work (karma), philosophical speculation (jñāna), or mystic yoga (yoga).
In Bhakti-sandarbha, Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī explains that liberation (mokṣa) is not the ultimate goal; rather, it is a natural by-product of engaging in pure devotional service. He stresses that bhakti is both the means and the end, attainable only by the mercy of devotees and by association with them. The text also discusses how bhakti naturally brings about detachment from material life and bestows transcendental knowledge without separate endeavor.
The work covers essential topics such as:
The supremacy of unmotivated, uninterrupted devotional service (ahaitukī bhakti).
The superiority of worshiping devotees over demigods.
How bhakti transcends the three modes of material nature.
The symptoms of genuine devotion versus imitation.
Practices like hearing, chanting, remembering, and serving the lotus feet of the Lord.
The glories of rāgānugā-bhakti (spontaneous devotion).
In essence, Bhakti-sandarbha is a deep theological and practical guide that teaches how to awaken, cultivate, and perfect pure love for Kṛṣṇa, the supreme goal of life. It serves as both an intellectual and devotional manual for serious practitioners, laying the foundation for a life centered on eternal service to the Lord.
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