Commandments (Sutra 74-82)
Before concluding his exposition on Bhakti, Narada lays down some do’s and don’ts as follows for the guidance of the devotee so that he may not lose track in his spiritual journey.
No controversy is to be entered into. Vain discussion on spiritual matters should be avoided because there is plenty of room for diversity in views and no one view, based upon mere reason, is conclusive in itself.
1. The teachings of the scriptures that promote devotion should be constantly contemplated upon and actions that kindle devotion should be performed.
2. When one has given up pleasure and pain, desire, gain and such other mundane considerations and is in a state of high preparedness, even a single moment should not be allowed to go waste.
3. All the time available should be spent on meditation alone.
4. Virtues like non-violence, truth, purity, compassion, faith in the-scriptures and in the existence of God, and other excellences of character should be cultivated and protected.
5. One should be vigilant and alert to avoid getting trapped by the animal in oneself.
The Lord alone should be worshipped whole-heartedly free from all cares and anxieties all the time.
Being thus invoked, The Lord manifests Himself and blesses His devotees with Realisation. Narada asserts that among the three eternal truths devotion is the greatest. The three eternal truths are Jnana, Karma and Bhakti. God is love, goodness and truth. God is experienced by the Bhakta as love, by the Karma Yogin as goodness and by the Jnana Yogin as truth and according to the author the first is superior to the others.
This section comes to an end with the statement that although Divine Love is in itself one only, it manifests itself in the following eleven forms viz.
1. Love of glorification of Lord’s blessed qualities.
2. Love of his enchanting beauty.
3. Love of his worship.
4. Love of his constant remembrance.
5. Love of his service.
6. Love of him as a friend.
7. Love of him as a son or child.
8. Love for him as that of wife or a husband.
9. Love of self-surrender to him.
10.Love of complete absorption in him and
11.Love of pain of separation from him.
Conclusion (Sutra 83-84)
Narada concludes his dissertation on Bhakti by referring to the names of principal teachers in the realm of devotion such as Sanatkumara, Vyasa, Suka, Sandilya, Garga etc., who hold the same view as Sage Narada on this subject and thereby reinforces his own analysis. He who believes and has faith in these propitious teachings expounded by Narada becomes endowed with Bhakti and realizes his most beloved, the Lord.