“Those Who Have Not Done So Remain Fearful”

(From "Bhakti Tattva Viveka" - click to read more from it.
You can also read the previous page: Is Srimad Bhagavatam a man-written, modern book?)

While explaining the above verses which describe how a faithful devotee performs bhajana, Srila Jiva Goswami has commented in the Bhakti-sandarbha, “tad-evam-ananya-bhaktyadhikare hetum shraddha-matram uktva sa yatha bhajeta tatha siksayati,” which means that shraddha is the sole cause of the adhikara to perform shuddha-bhakti.

Srila Jiva Goswami also mentions, “shraddha hi shastrartha-vishvasah.

shastram ca tad asharanasya bhayam tac charanasyabhayam vadati.

ato jatayah shraddhayas tat sharanapattir eva lingam iti,”which means faith in the words of the scriptures is called shraddha.

The scriptures mention that those who have taken shelter of the lotus feet of Bhagavan have nothing to fear, but those who have not done so remain fearful.

Thus, it can be understood from the symptoms of sharanapatti whether or not shraddha has developed within someone.

What is sharanapatti? Srila Jiva Goswami writes “jatayam shraddhayam sada tad anuvritti-ceshtaiva syat” and “karma-parityago vidhiyate,” which means upon the appearance of shraddha, krsnanuvritti-ceshta or the constant endeavour to serve Krsna is always visible in a person’s behaviour and the tendency to perform karma or fruitive activities is altogether removed.

This is sharanapatti.

In Srimad Bhagavad-gita (18.66), after giving separate explanations of karma, jnana and bhakti, through a most confidential statement Bhagavan has given instruction on sharanapatti:(from Part 4 – “An Analysis of the Qualification for Bhakti”)

Another revelation, Srimad Bhagavatam: to get rid of prejudices. Check out the previous page too: Is Srimad Bhagavatam a man-written, modern book?. You will benefit from reading the whole work: Bhakti Tattva Viveka.

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Harih Om Tat Sat.