```json
{
    "title": "Bhakti in Essence – A Commentary on Narada Bhakti Sutra",
    "url": "https://wavesofdevotion.com/2012/07/06/bhakti-in-essence-a-commentary-on-narada-bhakti-sutra/",
    "datePublished": "2012-07-06",
    "dateModified": "2012-07-28",
    "language": "en-US",
    "description": "Dhanurdhara Swami is writing a new book called Bhakti in Essence - A commentary on Narada Bhakti Sutra. Every week he will be publishing a sutra and commentary. Maharaja's commentary…",
    "author": "Waves of Devotion",
    "publisher": "Waves of Devotion"
}
```

# Bhakti in Essence – A Commentary on Narada Bhakti Sutra

Dhanurdhara Swami is writing a new book called

*Bhakti in Essence - A commentary on Narada Bhakti Sutra.*

Every week he will be publishing a sutra and commentary. Maharaja's commentary begins here:

 

***Narada Bhakti Sutra***

Sutra 1

**athāto bhaktiḿ vyākhyāsyāmaḥ**

**Now, therefore, I will try to explain the process of *bhakti*.**

 

A

*sutra*

is a condensed phrase codifying a larger body of thinking. Most Indian schools of thought systematize their teachings into a series of

*sutras*

to help their students memorize and understand the teachings. Since volumes of meaning have been condensed into very terse aphorisms,

*sutras*

are also accompanied by suitable commentaries to unpack the

*sutras*

meaning. In this way, a student can retain and understand a concise version of an entire philosophical system.

Such

*sutras*

traditionally begin with “

*atha*

” (now) to indicate the significance of the school that will be discussed and the urgency to undertake its study. By the word “now” the

*Narada Bhakti Sutra*

points to the importance and urgency of practicing

*bhakti-yoga*

.

[Continue Reading »](http://wavesofdevotion.com/bhakti-in-essence/narada-bhakti-sutra-1/)