Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Narada Bhakti Sutra 81

tri-satyasya bhaktir eva gariyasi bhaktir eva gariyasi

SYNONYMS

tri -- in three ways (by his mind, body, and words); satyasya -- for one who is truthful; bhaktih -- devotional service; eva -- alone; gariyasi -- most dear; bhaktih -- devotional service; eva -- alone; gariyasi -- most dear.

TRANSLATION

Devotional service is the most precious possession of a person who honestly uses his mind, body, and words.

PURPORT

The word tri-satya may refer to the three ways of expressing truth -- with one's thoughts, actions, and words. Then again, tri-satya may be taken to indicate that bhakti is the best way of realizing the truth in all three phases of time -- namely, past, present, and future. Lord Kapila told His mother, Devahuti, "I shall now explain unto you the ancient yoga system, which I explained formerly to the great sages. It is serviceable and practical in every way" (Bhag. 3.25.14). In his purport Prabhupada writes, "When we have a superexcellent process already present in the Vedic scriptures, there is no need to concoct a new system to mislead the innocent public. At present it has become a fashion to reject the standard system and present something bogus in the name of a newly invented process of yoga" (Bhag. 3.25.14, purport). Bhakti is ancient wisdom, an immediate practical program, and the vision of the future. It is tri-kala-jnana, knowledge of past, present, and future.

As the best use of body, speech, and mind, bhakti is the best happiness, the best action, and the best meditation. When Lord Caitanya asked Ramananda Raya to explain the very best thing, Ramananda Raya described bhakti in many ways:

The Lord inquired, "Of all types of education, which is the most important?" Ramananda Raya replied, "There is no education that is important other than the transcendental devotional service of Krsna."

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then inquired, "Out of all liberated persons, who should be accepted as the greatest?" Ramananda replied, "He who has love for Krsna has attained the topmost liberation."

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked, "Out of all topics people listen to, which is the best for living entities?" Ramananda Raya replied, "Hearing about the loving affairs between Radha and Krsna is most pleasing to the ear." [Cc. Madhya 8.245, 249, 255]

In this sutra Narada says the same thing as Ramananda Raya did, but in condensed form: Bhakti is the best in every category. Why should we doubt it? And why should we dilute bhakti with other truths, as if bhakti is in need of help? Bhakti itself confers all knowledge and renunciation. It offers the most courageous action, as well as the best art, science, and recreation. Most important of all, only bhakti is pleasing to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As Lord Krsna says, "One can understand Me as I am, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, only by devotional service. And when one is in full consciousness of Me by such devotion, he can enter into the kingdom of God" (Bg. 18.55). Even if we think that we may be able to accomplish something just as well by a non-bhakti method, our effort would still fail to please the Lord, and thus we would not find self-satisfaction.

Bhakti is best, and bhakti means devotional service to the Supreme Lord, Sri Krsna. Once Narada visited Lord Krsna in Vrndavana and praised His unique position:

My Lord, let me offer my respectful obeisances unto Your lotus feet.... Your unlimited potency cannot even be measured by anyone. My dear Lord, You are the supreme controller. You are under Your own internal potency, and it is simply vain to think that You are dependent on any of Your creations.... Your advent on the surface of the earth in Your original form of eternal blissful knowledge is Your own pastime. You are not dependent on anything but Yourself; therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto Your lotus feet. [Krsna, p. 303]

Let us keep Narada's spirited words in our hearts so that we may practice bhakti-yoga without doubt. And let us proclaim the glories of Krsna joyfully, as Narada does. Narada is a space traveler, and wherever he goes he sings the Lord's glories to the accompaniment of his vina:

narada muni bajaya vina

radhika-ramana name

"Playing his vina, Narada Muni chants the names of Lord Radhika-ramana." As followers of Narada Muni, we may also select a "vina," or method of bhajana, and use it to please the Lord. Playing our vina like Narada, we may tell everyone we meet, "Bhakti is the best path, bhakti is the best!"

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami
Gopiparanadhana dasa Adhikari