Come together, ye all, with the power of the spirit, to Bhagavan, who is but one, the guest of the people; He, the ancient, desires to come to the new; to him all pathways turn; verily he is One. (Sama Veda, 372)
What is called bhakti is a state of mind in which, being
melted by the force of spiritual discipline, the mind constantly flows towards Bhagavan.
(Bhaktirasayana, 1.3)
One’s own natural affection for one’s Chosen Ideal will
mature into extreme love; the absorbed state of mind then noticeable is called
bhakti, and its essence is love. (Bhaktirasamritasindhu, 1.2.270)
Among things conducive to liberation, devotion alone holds
the supreme place; (and) the search for one’s real nature is designated as devotion.
(Vivekachudamani, 31)
What is called bhakti is nothing but the enjoyment of Bhagavan,
the master of the senses, with the senses themselves purified by intentness on
Him, without laying down any condition whatsoever.
(Narada Pancharatra)
The wise siddhas attending Daksha’s sacrifice praised Sri
Hari: ‘The elephant of our mind, burning and thirsty in the forest fire of
worldly travails, has taken a dip in the pure nectarine stream of thy
excellences and their recital. It is now completely forgetful of that fire, but
it refuses to come out of hat blissful river of thy service, even like one
united with Brahman.’
‘A typhoid patient has very little chance of recovery if he
loses all taste for food; but his life need not be despaired of if he enjoys food
even a little. That is why one should cultivate a taste for God’s name. Any
name will do — Durga, Krishna, or Shiva. Then if, through the chanting of the
name, one’s attachment to God grows day by day, and joy fills the soul, one has
nothing to fear. The delirium will certainly disappear; the grace of Bhagavan
will certainly descend.
Here are 30 more quotes on the importance of Bhakti (devotion) from various Hindu scriptures:
Bhagavad Gita
-
"Bhaktyā mām abhijānāti yāvān yaś cāsmi tattvataḥ"
(Only through devotion can I be known as I truly am.) - BG 18.55 -
"Patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati"
(If one offers Me with devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit, or water, I accept it.) - BG 9.26 -
"Man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru"
(Fix your mind on Me, be devoted to Me, worship Me, and offer obeisance to Me.) - BG 9.34 -
"Teṣām satata-yuktānāṁ bhajatāṁ prīti-pūrvakam"
(I provide for those who are constantly devoted to Me with love.) - BG 10.10 -
"Ananya-cetāḥ satataṁ yo māṁ smarati nityaśaḥ"
(One who always remembers Me with undivided devotion attains Me.) - BG 8.8
Srimad Bhagavatam (Bhagavata Purana)
-
"śṛṇvatāṁ sva-kathāḥ kṛṣṇaḥ puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥ"
(Hearing and chanting Krishna's glories purifies the devotee.) - SB 1.2.17 -
"Tasmāt kenāpy upāyena manaḥ kṛṣṇe niveśayet"
(Somehow or other, fix your mind on Krishna.) - SB 7.1.32 -
"Savai puṁsāṁ paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhokṣaje"
(The highest duty for all humanity is loving devotion to the transcendental Lord.) - SB 1.2.6 -
"Bhaktiḥ pareśānubhavo viraktir anyatra caisa trika eka-kālaḥ"
(Devotion to God brings detachment from the world and realization of Him simultaneously.) - SB 11.2.42 -
"Ākāśāt patitaṁ toyaṁ yathā gacchati sāgaram"
(Just as rainwater reaches the ocean, all devotion ultimately leads to Krishna.) - SB 10.14.58
Narada Bhakti Sutras
-
"Sā tv asmin parama-prema-rūpā"
(True Bhakti is supreme, selfless love for God.) - Sutra 2 -
"Sa na kāmayamānaḥ nirodha-rūpatvāt"
(Bhakti is not driven by desires; it is an end in itself.) - Sutra 19 -
"Tasminn ananyatā tad-virodhiṣūdāsīnatā ca"
(Single-minded devotion requires indifference to all that opposes it.) - Sutra 29 -
"Kāma-krodha-moha-smṛti-bhramṣa-bhaya-āpadayoḥ kṣipaty evāśu nārāyaṇa-parāṅmukham"
(Devotion swiftly overcomes lust, anger, delusion, and fear.) - Sutra 37 -
"Yathā vraja-gopikānām"
(The devotion of the Gopis of Vrindavan exemplifies the highest form of Bhakti.) - Sutra 54
Upanishads
-
"Bhaktyā śruta-gṛhītayā"
(God can be understood through devotion grounded in spiritual wisdom.) - Shvetashvatara Upanishad 6.23 -
"Sa yas sarva-bhūteṣu ramate"
(The devotee finds joy in all beings and sees the Lord in them.) - Katha Upanishad 6.11 -
"Ātmanivedanaṁ bhaktiḥ"
(True devotion is self-surrender to God.) - Narayana Upanishad -
"Yamevaiṣa vṛṇute tena labhyas"
(The Lord is attained by the one He chooses, through devotion.) - Mundaka Upanishad 3.2.3 -
"Satyena labhyas tapasā hy eṣa ātmā samyag-jñānena brahmacaryeṇa nityam"
(The Lord is attained through truth, devotion, and pure conduct.) - Mundaka Upanishad 3.1.5
Ramayana
-
"Sarvabhūteṣu dayāṁ kurvāṇo yathā ātmanaḥ"
(A devotee feels compassion for all beings as they do for themselves.) - Ayodhya Kanda -
"Bhakti prabhāva jānī saba loka"
(The power of devotion is recognized by all.) - Sundara Kanda -
"Mama bhakta samadarśī prāṇa priya"
(My devotee, who sees all as equal, is dear to Me.) - Uttara Kanda
Mahabharata
-
"Yathā dharmas tathā kṛṣṇo yathā kṛṣṇas tathā dharmaḥ"
(Where there is Krishna, there is righteousness; and where there is righteousness, there is Krishna.) - Mahabharata, Udyoga Parva -
"Na hi kalyāṇa-kṛt kaścid durgatiṁ tāta gacchati"
(One who practices devotion never meets ruin.) - Mahabharata, Bhagavad Gita
Other Texts
-
"Harer nāmaiva kevalam kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā"
(In this age of Kali, chanting the name of the Lord is the only way.) - Kali-Santarana Upanishad -
"Satataṁ kīrtayanto māṁ yatantaś ca dṛḍha-vratāḥ"
(Constantly glorify Me and strive with determination in devotion.) - BG 9.14 -
"Jīvanmuktasya lakṣaṇam bhaktiḥ"
(Devotion is the hallmark of a liberated soul.) - Advaita Vedanta Texts -
"Yatra yogeśvaraḥ kṛṣṇo yatra pārtho dhanur-dharaḥ"
(Victory is assured where there is Krishna and devoted effort.) - Mahabharata -
"Nāma cintāmaṇi kṛṣṇaś caitanya-rasa-vigrahaḥ"
(Chanting Krishna’s name bestows all blessings and devotion.) - Padma Purana
These quotes emphasize that Bhakti is the path of love, surrender, and intimate union with the Divine, highlighted across the spectrum of Hindu sacred texts.