Vivekachudamani: Bhakti

In the Vivekachudamani, Adi Shankara defines devotion (Bhakti) not as emotional attachment to an external deity, but as the continuous inquiry into one’s own true nature and the realization of the Self (Atman).

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Verse 31: Bhakti as Seeking One’s Real Nature

Sanskrit

मोक्षकारणसामग्र्यां भक्तिरेव गरीयसी ।
स्वस्वरूपानुसन्धानं भक्तिरित्यभिधीयते ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

mokṣakāraṇasāmagryāṃ bhaktireva garīyasī | svasvarūpānusandhānaṃ bhaktirityabhidhīyate || 31 ||

Translation

Among things conducive to Liberation, devotion (Bhakti) holds the supreme place. The seeking after one’s real nature is designated as devotion.

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Verse 32: Bhakti as Inquiry into the Self and Approaching a Guru

Sanskrit

स्वात्मतत्त्वानुसन्धानं भक्तिरित्यपरे जगुः ।
उक्तसाधनसंपन्नस्तत्त्वजिज्ञासुरात्मनः
उपसीदेद्गुरुं प्राज्ञ्यं यस्माद्बन्धविमोक्षणम् ॥ ३२ ॥

Transliteration

svātmatattvānusandhānaṃ bhaktirityapare jaguḥ | uktasādhanasaṃpannastattvajijñāsurātmanaḥ | upasīdedguruṃ prājñyaṃ yasmādbandhavimokṣaṇam || 32 ||

Translation

Others maintain that the inquiry into the truth of one’s own self is devotion. The inquirer about the truth of the Ātman who is possessed of the above-mentioned means of attainment should approach a wise preceptor, who confers emancipation from bondage.

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Index: Vivekachudamani