```json
{
    "title": "Bhakti in Essence – Narada Bhakti Sutra – Sutra 2",
    "url": "https://wavesofdevotion.com/2012/07/27/bhakti-in-essence-narada-bhakti-sutra-2/",
    "datePublished": "2012-07-27",
    "dateModified": "2012-07-27",
    "language": "en-US",
    "description": "Narada Bhakti Sutra Sutra 2 sā tv-asmin parama-prema-rūpā The nature of bhakti is the topmost love for God. The first verse of Narada Bhakti Sutra announced the subject of the…",
    "author": "Waves of Devotion",
    "publisher": "Waves of Devotion"
}
```

# Bhakti in Essence – Narada Bhakti Sutra – Sutra 2

***Narada Bhakti Sutra***

Sutra 2

***sā tv-asmin parama-prema-rūpā***

**The nature of *bhakti* is the topmost love for God.**

 

The first verse of 

*Narada Bhakti Sutra*

 announced the subject of the book, implied 

*bhakti’s*

 superlative position, and hinted at the urgency to realize the self through the study and practice of 

*bhakti*

. This second verse now defines the nature of such 

*bhakti*

 — it is the purest love for God.

Sri Rupa Goswami, a prominent 15th century successor of Sri Narada, thus defined 

*bhakti*

 as follows.

> “True *bhakti* is activity not covered by any selfish desire and done with the exclusive intention to please God.”

Thus 

*bhakti*

 in its topmost form has two pertinent characteristics: it is free of all selfish motives, and it is focused upon God. It is easy to see that true devotion cannot be selfish, but why does it have to be for God?

 

[Continue Reading »](http://wavesofdevotion.com/bhakti-in-essence/narada-bhakti-sutra-2/)