Bhakti is the path to salvation. Souls achieve salvation through God's grace.
Devotee
The concept of a devotee refers to an individual who dedicates themselves to a spiritual practice or deity. Across traditions, there is convergence on the importance of devotion and commitment. However, traditions diverge in their specific definitions and expectations of a devotee.
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Quotes
A true devotee says, 'O God, you alone are the doer; you alone do everything.
And no one among human beings does more pleasing service to me than he; nor shall there be another on earth dearer to me than he.
न च तस्मान्मनुष्येषु कश्चिन्मे प्रियकृत्तमः | भविता न च मे तस्मादन्यः प्रियतरो भुवि ||१८-६९||
But those who honor this nectar of dharma as declared here, full of faith and holding me as supreme — those devotees are exceedingly dear to me.
ये तु धर्म्यामृतमिदं यथोक्तं पर्युपासते | श्रद्दधाना मत्परमा भक्तास्तेऽतीव मे प्रियाः ||१२-२०||
to whom blame and praise are equal, restrained in speech, content with whatever comes, without a fixed home, steady in mind, and full of devotion — that person is dear to me.
तुल्यनिन्दास्तुतिर्मौनी सन्तुष्टो येन केनचित् | अनिकेतः स्थिरमतिर्भक्तिमान्मे प्रियो नरः ||१२-१९||
One who is the same toward enemy and friend, and in honor and dishonor, the same in cold and heat, in pleasure and pain, and free from attachment,
समः शत्रौ च मित्रे च तथा मानापमानयोः | शीतोष्णसुखदुःखेषु समः सङ्गविवर्जितः ||१२-१८||
One who neither rejoices nor hates, neither grieves nor desires, who has renounced both good and evil, and who is full of devotion — that person is dear to me.
यो न हृष्यति न द्वेष्टि न शोचति न काङ्क्षति | शुभाशुभपरित्यागी भक्तिमान्यः स मे प्रियः ||१२-१७||
One who is free from expectation, pure, capable, indifferent, untroubled, and who has given up every undertaking — that devotee of mine is dear to me.
अनपेक्षः शुचिर्दक्ष उदासीनो गतव्यथः | सर्वारम्भपरित्यागी यो मद्भक्तः स मे प्रियः ||१२-१६||
One by whom the world is not disturbed, and who is not disturbed by the world, who is freed from joy, impatience, fear, and agitation — that person too is dear to me.
यस्मान्नोद्विजते लोको लोकान्नोद्विजते च यः | हर्षामर्षभयोद्वेगैर्मुक्तो यः स च मे प्रियः ||१२-१५||
ever content, steadfast in yoga, self-controlled, of firm resolve, with mind and understanding devoted to me — that devotee of mine is dear to me.
सन्तुष्टः सततं योगी यतात्मा दृढनिश्चयः | मय्यर्पितमनोबुद्धिर्यो मद्भक्तः स मे प्रियः ||१२-१४||
He quickly becomes righteous and attains lasting peace. Know for certain, son of Kunti, that no devotee of mine is ever lost.
क्षिप्रं भवति धर्मात्मा शश्वच्छान्तिं निगच्छति | कौन्तेय प्रतिजानीहि न मे भक्तः प्रणश्यति ||९-३१||
You are my father, you are my mother, you are my kinsman, and you are my divinity. Salutations to the Guru who awakens the soul to the true nature of this world.
त्वं पिता त्वं च मे माता त्वं बन्धुस्त्वं च देवता । संसारप्रतिबोधार्थं तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः
Those who have climbed the tree of worldly existence fall into the ocean of torment. Salutations to the Guru who draws them all back up and delivers them from that fate.
संसारवृक्षमारूढाः पतन्तो नरकार्णवे । येन चैवोद्धृताः सर्वे तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः
Know for certain that my devotee will never perish.
A true devotee always says, 'Lord, you're the one who does everything. I'm just a tool in your hands.'
God sees the inner love of a devotee and accepts his offering.
One who is a devotee of God must possess an unwavering understanding, unshakeable under any circumstances, much like the anvil in a blacksmith's workshop, which, despite being constantly struck by the hammer, remains unshaken.
Upon attaining that love, the devotee sees everything as full of spirit and consciousness. They understand that Krishna, his abode, and the devotee themselves are all consciousness; everything is consciousness.
If the devotee practices spiritual discipline to some extent, the guru clarifies everything for them. The disciple then understands the reality and unreality of things. Only God is real; the world is an illusion.
Saints love God for the sake of love, and a devotee never complains.