Bhaktivardhini - How to Increase Devotion
This teaching, known as Bhakti-Vardhini (How to Increase Devotion), was given by Shri Vallabhacharya to Purushottam Joshi around 1496 A.D. It serves as an essential guide for enhancing bhakti (devotion) and offers solutions for various situations that arise in a practitioner's life. The text explains how to develop love for Shri Krishna, cultivate divine attachment to Him, and ultimately achieve an unbreakable bond of devotion.
यथा भक्तिः प्रवृद्धा स्यात्तथोपायो निरूप्यते । बीज भावे दृढे तु स्यात् त्यागात् श्रवण कीर्तनात् ॥ १ ॥
yathā bhaktiḥ pravṛddhā syāt tathopāyo nirūpyate bīja bhāve dṛḍhe tu syāt tyāgāt śravaṇa kīrtanāt (1)
I will now explain the means by which devotion (bhakti) may flourish. Once the seed of devotion is firmly rooted, it grows through renunciation, listening (to sacred texts), and chanting (His glories). (1)
बीजदार्ढ्यप्रकारस्तु गृहे स्थित्वा स्वधर्मतः । अव्यावृत्तो भजेत्कृष्णं पूजया श्रवणादिभिः ॥ २ ॥
bījadārḍhyaprakārastu gṛhe sthitvā svadharmataḥ avyāvṛtto bhajetkṛṣṇaṁ pūjayā śravaṇādibhiḥ (2)
The way to strengthen this seed of devotion is to reside at home, fulfilling one's own duty (dharma). Free from distractions, one should worship Lord Krishna with love, through acts of worship, listening (to sacred stories), and other devotional practices. (2)
व्यावृत्तोऽपि हरौ चित्तं श्रवणादौ न्यसेत्सदा। ततः प्रेम तथासक्तिर्व्यसनं च यदा भवेत् ॥ ३ ॥
vyāvṛtto'pi harau cittaṁ śravaṇādau nyasetsadā tataḥ prema tathāsaktirvyasanaṁ ca yadā bhavet (3)
Even if one is engaged in worldly activities, one should always fix the mind on Hari through listening (to His glories) and other devotional practices. From this, love (prema), intense attachment (asakti), and finally, complete absorption (vyasana) will arise. (3)
बीजं तदुच्यते शास्त्रे दृढं यन्नापि नश्यति । स्नेहाद्रागविनाशः स्यादासक्त्या स्याद्गृहारुचिः ॥ ४ ॥
bījaṁ taducyate śāstre dṛḍhaṁ yannāpi naśyati snehādrāgavināśaḥ syādāsaktyā syādgṛhāruciḥ (4)
The scriptures declare that this seed (of devotion) becomes so firm that it can never be destroyed. Through divine love (sneha), worldly desires (raga) are destroyed, and through intense attachment (asakti), one loses interest in worldly life. (4)
गृहस्थानां बाधकत्वमनात्मत्वं च भासते। यदा स्याद्व्यसनं कृष्णे कृतार्थः स्यात्तदैव हि ॥ ५ ॥
gṛhasthānāṁ bādhakatvamanātmatvaṁ ca bhāsate yadā syādvyasanaṁ kṛṣṇe kṛtārthaḥ syāttadaiva hi (5)
To such a person, worldly life (gṛhastha) appears as an obstacle and unreal. When complete absorption (vyasana) in Krishna arises, only then does one truly become fulfilled. (5)
तादृशस्यापि सततं गृहस्थानं विनाशकम् । त्यागं कृत्वा यतेद्यस्तु तदर्थार्थेकमानसः ॥ ६ ॥
tādṛśasyāpi satataṁ gṛhasthānaṁ vināśakam tyāgaṁ kṛtvā yatedyastu tadarthārthaikamānasaḥ (6)
Even for such a devotee, the worldly home (gṛhasthāna) is always destructive to devotion. Renunciation (tyāga) is undertaken so that one can focus the mind solely on that purpose. (6)
लभते सुदृढां भक्तिं सर्वतोऽप्यधिकां पराम् । त्यागे बाधकभूयस्त्वं दुःसंसर्गात्तथान्नतः ॥ ७ ॥
labhate sudṛḍhāṁ bhaktiṁ sarvato'pyadhikāṁ parām tyāge bādhakabhūyastvaṁ duḥsaṁsargāttathānnataḥ (7)
The attainment of firm devotion (bhakti) is superior and beyond all else. However, premature renunciation (tyāga) can lead to many obstacles, such as bad association (duḥsaṁsarga) and food that is not offered (annataḥ). (7)
अतः स्थेयं हरिस्थाने तदीयैः सह तत्परैः । अदूरे विप्रकर्षे वा यथा चित्तं न दुष्यति ॥ ८ ॥
ataḥ stheyaṁ haristhāne tadīyaiḥ saha tatparaiḥ adūre viprakarṣe vā yathā cittaṁ na duṣyati (8)
Therefore, one should reside in a place sacred to Hari, in association with His devoted followers. One should maintain a balance, neither too close nor too far, so that the mind remains untainted. (8)
सेवायां वा कथायां वा यस्यासक्तिर्दृढा भवेत् । यावज्जीवं तस्य नाशो न क्वापीति मतिर्मम ॥ ९ ॥
sevāyāṁ vā kathāyāṁ vā yasyāsaktirdṛḍhā bhavet yāvajjīvaṁ tasya nāśo na kvāpīti matirmama (9)
If one's attachment (āsakti) to Shri Krishna's service (sevā) or to His stories (kathā) is firm, I believe that as long as that devotee lives, their devotion (bhakti) will never be destroyed. (9)
बाधसंभावनायां तु नैकांते वास इष्यते । हरिस्तु सर्वतो रक्षां करिष्यति न संशयः ॥ १० ॥
bādhasambhāvanāyāṁ tu naikānte vāsa iṣyate haristu sarvato rakṣāṁ kariṣyati na saṁśayaḥ (10)
One should not live in isolation (ekānte vāsa) due to the fear of obstacles (bādhasambhāvanā). Without a doubt (na saṁśayaḥ), Hari will protect the devotee in every way. (10)
इत्येवं भगवच्छास्त्रं गूढतत्वं निरूपितम् । य एतत्समधीयीत तस्यापि स्यादृढा रतिः ॥ ११ ॥
ityevaṁ bhagavacchāstraṁ gūḍhatatvam nirūpitam ya etatsamadhīyīta tasyāpi syāddṛḍhā ratiḥ (11)
Thus, the hidden essence (gūḍhatatvam) of the Lord's teachings (bhagavacchāstraṁ) has been revealed. Whoever studies (samadhīyīta) this will also attain firm devotion (dṛḍhā ratiḥ). (11)
।। इति श्रीवल्लभाचार्यविरचिता भक्तिवर्धिकी सम्पूर्णा ।।
Thus ends the 'Bhaktivardhinī' composed by Shri Vallabhacharya.
Key Terminology
भक्ति (bhakti) - Devotion, loving devotion to God; उपाय (upāya) - Means, method, way; बीज (bīja) - Seed; भाव (bhāva) - Feeling, emotion, devotion; त्याग (tyāga) - Renunciation, giving up; श्रवण (śravaṇa) - Listening (to scriptures or sacred texts); कीर्तन (kīrtana) - Chanting, singing (God's glories); गृह (gṛha) - Home, household; धर्म (dharma) - Duty, righteousness, moral law; पूजा (pūjā) - Worship, adoration; हरि (hari) - A name of Vishnu/Krishna, meaning "the remover" (of sins and obstacles); प्रेम (prema) - Love, especially divine love; आसक्ति (āsakti) - Attachment, deep affection; व्यसन (vyasana) - Addiction, complete absorption (in God); शास्त्र (śāstra) - Scripture, sacred text; स्नेह (sneha) - Affection, love, tenderness; राग (rāga) - Attachment, desire, worldly hankering; गृहस्थ (gṛhastha) - Householder, one living a worldly life; बाधक (bādhaka) - Obstacle, hindrance; अनात्म (anātma) - Not-self, unreal; कृतार्थ (kṛtārtha) - Fulfilled, successful; सेवा (sevā) - Service, devotional service to God; कथा (kathā) - Story, especially sacred stories or narratives; एकान्त (ekānta) - Isolation, solitude; वास (vāsa) - Residence, dwelling; संशय (saṁśaya) - Doubt, uncertainty; भगवत् (bhagavat) - Divine, relating to God; शास्त्र (śāstra) - Scripture, sacred teachings; गूढतत्व (gūḍhatattva) - Hidden essence, secret principle; रति (rati) - Devotion, attachment, loveEssence of Bhaktivardhinī
The "Bhaktivardhinī" ("How to Increase Devotion") by Shri Vallabhacharya provides a concise yet profound guide to cultivating and deepening devotion (bhakti) to Shri Krishna. It outlines a path that starts with the seed of devotion, nurtured through renunciation (tyāga) of worldly attachments, listening (śravaṇa) to sacred texts, and chanting (kīrtana) His glories.
Bhaktivardhinī emphasizes the importance of fulfilling one's duty (dharma) in the world while remaining detached and focused on Krishna. Through consistent practice, love (prema), attachment (āsakti), and ultimately, complete absorption (vyasana) in Krishna are attained. This state of intense devotion is described as indestructible, leading to the eradication of worldly desires (rāga) and a sense of fulfillment (kṛtārtha).
The "Bhaktivardhinī" also provides practical advice, such as the importance of association with like-minded devotees and finding a balance between community and solitude to protect the mind from negativity. It assures the devotee of divine protection and emphasizes that studying and understanding these teachings will lead to firm devotion (rati).
In essence, the granth offers a clear roadmap for spiritual progress, highlighting the key principles and practices that enable a devotee to cultivate an unbreakable bond with Shri Krishna and attain true spiritual fulfillment.