First Chapter of Section 1 in Bhakti Khanda of Shandilya Samhita

Chapter 1

The sages inquired the teacher Maharshi Shandilya in verses.

Verse 1

"O Lord, you have granted us the fourfold purpose of life. It is stated in sections by the names of Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha."

Verse 2

"There are three kinds of Dharma here declared by those who have defined morality and law. There are also many differences in time, place and power."

Verse 3

"Then, in the true sense of the word, I have described the perfection of the pain. There are many Vedic and secular policies."

Verse 4

"By the worldly and Vedic rituals of worship of the name. Lust is also described as lust, where attachment is self-evident."

Verse 5

"The Yajna-Kāṇḍa is explained in the Samkhya-Yoga system of renunciation. Brahman-self-consciousness by which the living entity attains his own kingdom."

Verse 6

"Then by any means, regardless of place and time, you should praise the body for the greatest perfection."

Verse 7

"Thou art omniscient, the embodiment of austerity, and devoted to the Vedas and Vedanta. O master, you are very dear to Lord Śiva, and therefore we inquire from you."

Then Maharshi Shandilya replied in the verses,

Verse 8

"Your intellect, O great sages, is perfectly determined, for the benefit of the world, even of knowledge everywhere."

Verse 9

"O Brahmins! worship of Hari is the ultimate happiness regardless of place and time, there is no means of achieving it."

Verse 10

"The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, is the perfect Self of all embodied beings, just as He is the jewel around His neck. What effort should be made to please that treasure of compassion."

Verse 11

"This is the only way to attain Dharma, wealth, desire and liberation. Just as all rivers surround the Lord of the rivers."

Verse 12

"Neither caste, nor austerity, nor virtue, nor the method of means. To please Mukunda who is always fulfilling his desires."

Verse 13

"It is impossible for religious principles to be established for the welfare of all living beings. Then he should strive to impart righteousness everywhere."

Verse 14

"For a long time they wandered in the wombs of Brahma and other pillars. Happiness was attained by the relationship of all opulences."

Verse 15

"How is it possible for those who are under the control of others to ascend to heaven with their feet? Therefore take refuge in the support of Hari."

Verse 16

"This is the command of the great souls sages like Sanaka. Even conduct, when in doubt about the value of the virtuous, should be like the Vedas."

Verse 17

"Even when it is done, there is a source of supreme bliss. Who, being intelligent, would not practice that religious principle, which is characterized by devotional service?"

Verse 18

"By giving up the four kinds of liberation, one attains liberation by the grace of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. From that time onwards great souls like Śukadeva Gosvāmī worship Him."

Verse 19

"Devotion to Lord Kṛṣṇa is the highest of all purposes. This is the purification of the mind, which brings peace and fearlessness."

Verse 20

"Detachment and knowledge are also under the control of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. I have never heard of anyone who is happy here slipping away."

Verse 21

"He followed the stream of affection with all His heart without cause. Conduct is embraced by love and devotion is born of understanding of the greatness of the Supreme Personality of Godhead."

Verse 22

"Sometimes it is perfect for those who are unaware of the self by the measure of love. Nevertheless, it is considered to be the discovery of the form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead."

Verse 23

"It is seen by the good deeds of many births. Attainment at the lotus feet of some of the enemies of the dead."

Verse 24

"In fact, supreme devotion arises from His grace. Who is the regulator who can be imagined for those who do the same thing?"

Verse 25

"Who is the motivator for the doer of his own will, what about grace? In doubt about this, the wise men summed up the pastime."

Verse 26

"That is why he desired all his desires fulfilled. That is the power of the Lord which is incontrovertible even in opposition."

Verse 27

"The Supreme Soul, who is transcendental to the modes of nature, is the master of the unmanifest. The infinite, independent, self-realization of the Lord is the self-realization."

Verse 28

"The bliss of His nature arises through knowledge, desire and form. At the beginning of creation two kinds of happiness appeared."

Verse 29

"There is an excellent creation of pastimes born of the left side of the body. Something else is the creation that is the cause of the created work."

Verse 30

"There are three other forms of shadow and illusion, but they are also different in many ways. Because of the multiplicity of creations, there is a difference in the fruits of actions."

Verse 31

"The first of these is the conflict of manifest bliss, which is fulfilled. The ends are not associated with the middle, but the characteristics are fixed."

Verse 32

"The method of producing fruits is also described in detail I shall now explain the objectivity of the statements made in the beginning."

Verse 33

"The Supreme Personality of Godhead is perfect and affectionate to His devotees. The Lord of the goddess of fortune is the supreme Hari in the form of the mind of bliss."

Verse 34

"He resides in the world of the bliss of the Absolute Truth, created by His pastimes. Those born on the left side of the body will be dear to him and will always fight with him."

Verse 35

"They always enjoy themselves in this world, playing and celebrating at their own discretion. This form of the transcendental is devoid of any relationship with illusion."

Verse 36

"Other creations in the form of this instrumental soul are also accepted. There, in the self-born, the living entities play."

Verse 37

"Among those who have come to His grace at the time of their possibility They have surrendered to Lord Viṣṇu by their own actions or knowledge."

Verse 38

"Their path of devotional service has expanded in many ways. I shall now describe to you the accusation as you think fit."

The end of the First Chapter of the Bhakti Khanda of the Shandilya Samhita.