Bhakti is the path to salvation. Souls achieve salvation through God's grace.
Grace
Across world spiritual traditions, grace is understood as a divine or transcendent force. Many traditions converge on the idea that grace is a gift or blessing. Traditions diverge in their understanding of how grace is received and its role in spiritual growth.
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This Self cannot be attained by teaching, nor by intellect, nor by much learning. It is attained only by the one whom it chooses; to such a one this Self reveals its own form.
नायमात्मा प्रवचनेन लभ्यो न मेधया न बहुना श्रुतेन । यमेवैष वृणुते तेन लभ्य- स्तस्यैष आत्मा विवृणुते तनूं स्वाम् ॥ ३॥
Smaller than the small, greater than the great, the Self is set in the heart-cave of this creature. Free from desire and from sorrow, one beholds him, the majesty of the Lord, through the grace of the Creator.
अणोरणीयान् महतो महीया- नात्मा गुहायां निहितोऽस्य जन्तोः । तमक्रतुः पश्यति वीतशोको धातुः प्रसादान्महिमानमीशम् ॥ २०॥
On the same tree the Person, sunk in grief, is deluded by his own helplessness; but when he sees the other, the Lord who is worshipped, and his greatness, he becomes free of sorrow.
समाने वृक्षे पुरुषो निमग्नो- ऽनीशया शोचति मुह्यमानः । जुष्टं यदा पश्यत्यन्यमीश- मस्य महिमानमिति वीतशोकः ॥ २॥
The root of meditation is the Guru's form; the root of worship is the Guru's feet; the root of all mantra is the Guru's word; and the root of liberation is the Guru's grace.
ध्यानमूलं गुरोर्मूर्तिः पूजामूलं गुरोः पदम् । मन्त्रमूलं गुरोर्वाक्यं मोक्षमूलं गुरोः कृपा
O Lord, by what path can this embodied soul come to be fully absorbed in Brahman? Bestow your compassionate grace upon me, my Lord — I bow at your feet.
केन मार्गेण भो स्वामिन् देहि ब्रह्ममयो भवेत् । त्वं कृपां कुरु मे स्वामिन् नमामि चरणौ तव
The gods, with Brahma at their head, worship your benevolent self, O sinless one. You are everything. You are the creator of the gods and it was you who caused them to be created. Through your grace, the gods pass their time in joy and perfect fearlessness.
All the knots of ignorance come undone in the twinkling of an eye, through the guru's grace.
Divine grace removes bondage
God's grace is the ultimate help. You may try thousands of times, but nothing can be achieved without God's grace. One cannot see God without His grace. It's not easy to receive God's grace; one must renounce egotism completely, as one cannot see God as long as they feel they are the doer.
All that brings happiness in life is achieved through the grace of the company of saints. The more we attend congregations, the more our life becomes enriched with saintly qualities. Our heart begins to absorb love and humility, which are the sources of all kinds of happiness.
Then the fires said among themselves: "This student has practiced austerity and tended us well. Come, let us teach him." They said to him: "Prana is Brahman, Ka (joy) is Brahman, Kha (space) is Brahman."
अथ हाग्नयः समूदिरे तप्तो ब्रह्मचारी कुशलं नः पर्यचारीद्धन्तास्मै प्रब्रवामेति तस्मै होचुः प्राणो ब्रह्म कं ब्रह्म खं ब्रह्मेति
Through the gift of the Guru's grace, one beholds the blissful Self. Self-knowledge flows forth through this very path of the Guru.
गुरोः कृपाप्रसादेन आत्मारामं निरीक्षयेत् । अनेन गुरुमार्गेण स्वात्मज्ञानं प्रवर्तते
By meditating on the Guru in this way, knowledge arises of its own accord. Through the grace of the true Guru, one should cultivate the firm conviction: 'I am liberated.'
एवंविधं गुरुं ध्यात्वा ज्ञानमुत्पद्यते स्वयम् । तत्सद्गुरुप्रसादेन मुक्तोऽहमिति भावयेत्
It is purely through the grace and blessing of the Guru that Brahma, Vishnu, and Sadāshiva become capable of creation, preservation, and dissolution. Perfection comes by serving the Guru alone.
गुरोः कृपा प्रसादेन ब्रह्मविष्णुसदाशिवाः । समर्थाः प्रभवादौ च केवलं गुरुसेवया
The Brahman that resides in the Guru's speech is obtained only through the Guru's grace. One should always meditate on the Guru just as a devoted wife keeps her husband constantly in her heart.
गुरुवक्त्रस्थितं ब्रह्म प्राप्यते तत्प्रसादतः । गुरोर्ध्यानं सदा कुर्यात्कुलस्त्री स्वपतेर्यथा
I bow to the Guru in whom the five eternal cosmic functions — creation, sustenance, dissolution, concealment, and bestowal of grace — perpetually shine.
यस्मिन्सृष्टिस्थितिध्वंसनिग्रहानुग्रहात्मकम् । कृत्यं पञ्चविधं शश्वद्भासते तं नमाम्यहम्
Visualise the Guru clad in white garments, anointed with white sandalwood and adorned with white flowers, ornamented with pearls, with joyful eyes, a gentle smile — a treasure-house overflowing with intense compassion — and with the divine Shakti seated upon the left side.
श्वेताम्बरं श्वेतविलेपपुष्पं मुक्ताविभूषं मुदितं द्विनेत्रम् । वामाङ्कपीठस्थितदिव्यशक्तिं मन्दस्मितं सान्द्रकृपानिधानम्
Salutations to the glorious sovereign Guru, by whose grace one is able to cast off the great darkness of ignorance. May that salutation bring the fulfilment of the highest aspiration — Self-realisation.
यस्मादनुग्रहं लब्ध्वा महदज्ञानमुत्सृजेत् । तस्मै श्रीदेशिकेन्द्राय नमश्चाभीष्टसिद्धये
Through service at the Guru's feet, one's inner being is wholly purified of all wrongdoing, and the embodied soul thereby becomes one with Brahman. I speak these words for your blessing.
सर्वपापविशुद्धात्मा श्रीगुरोः पादसेवनात् । देही ब्रह्म भवेद्यस्मात्त्वत्कृपार्थं वदामि ते