[Advaita-l] Bhakti leads to Brahman identity - SB 3.29.14

[V Subrahmanian]

In the Bhagavatam we have this verse:

श्रीमद्भागवतपुराणम्/स्कन्धः ३/अध्यायः २९
https://sa.wikisource.org/s/ava

स एव भक्तियोगाख्य आत्यन्तिक उदाहृतः ।
येनातिव्रज्य त्रिगुणं मद्भावायोपपद्यते ॥ १४ ॥

*That alone is said to be the supreme (ultimate) path called Bhakti-yoga,
by which, transcending the three guṇas (sattva, rajas, tamas), one attains
My own state (mad-bhāva, i.e. Brahmanhood).*

*Commentary of Sridhara Swamin:*


किमिति तर्हि भजंते भक्तेरेव परमफलत्वादित्याह स एवेति ।
*Why then do they worship (Me)? Because devotion alone is the highest
fruit—hence it is said “that alone.”*

ननु त्रैगुण्यं हित्वा ब्रह्मप्राप्तिः परमफलं प्रसिद्धम् ।
*But is it not well-known that the supreme fruit is attainment of Brahman
after transcending the three guṇas?*

सत्यं तत्तु भक्त्वानुषंगिकमित्याह ।
*True, but that Brahman-attainment is only secondary, as a concomitant of
devotion (bhakti).*

येन भक्तियोगेन मद्भावाय ब्रह्मत्वाय ।। १४ ।।
*By that bhakti-yoga alone, one attains My state, i.e. Brahmanhood.*



*See here a post on the same theme of Mukti being Brahman-identity from the
Mahabharata, with Shankara's statement:*
https://groups.google.com/g/advaitin/c/5P13EdbUKkE



*It is significant that the Vivekachudamani defines Bhakti
as:*मोक्षकारणसामग्र्यां
भक्तिरेव गरीयसी । स्वस्वरूपानुसन्धानं भक्तिरित्यभिधीयते ॥ ३२ ॥

  Among all the means that lead to liberation, *bhakti alone is the highest*
.
Bhakti is defined as the constant contemplation and inquiry into one’s own
true nature (sva-svarūpa-anusandhāna).


Om Tat Sat