Chapter IV

#	Sanskrit Original	Translation by Y. Subrahmanya Sarma	Translation by Swami Bhuteshananda	Translation by Swami Sivananda
15.	तल्लक्षणानि वाच्यन्ते नानामतभेदात्॥	Definitions of this Bhakti will now be stated in accordance with different views.	The characteristics of devotion are being stated because of different views (according to different exponents) in this regard.	The marks of devotion are now described according to various views.
16.	पूजादिष्वनुराग इति पाराशर्यः॥	'It is love of worship and other similar acts' - says Vyasa, the son of Parasara.	According to Vyasa, Bhakti means attraction to worship etc. (as prescribed by the scriptures).	Intense attachment in the worship of the Lord and like performances is the characteristic of devotion, according to the son of Parasara (Bhagavan Vyasa).
17.	कथादिष्विति गर्गः॥	'Fondness for spiritual conversation and the like' - says Garga.	According to Garga (Bhakti is the) attraction for stories of God's play as incarnations.	According to Acharya Garga, attachment to the hearing of praises and greatness of the Lord is the mark of devotion.
18.	आत्मरत्यविरोधेनेति शाण्डिल्यः॥	'These are Bhakti in so far as they do not clash with the contemplation of the Self' - says Sandilya.	According to Sandilya, Bhakti is devotion to God as one's Self, and renouncing everything prejudicial to the path of devotion.	Maharshi Sandilya is of the opinion that the sign of devotion is a constant feeling of Bliss in the Self.
19.	नारदस्तु तदर्पिताखिलाचारता तद्विस्मरणे परमव्याकुलतेति॥	But Narada says 'It is the offering of all acts to Him and feeling the highest pang of separation on occasions of losing remembrance of Him'.	But Narada feels that devotion is surrender of all activities to God and extreme anguish if He is forgotten.	But Devarshi Narada then is of opinion, however, that the sign of devotion is surrendering all actions to God and feeling severe grief in forgetting Him.
20.	अस्त्येवमेवम्॥	So it is, so it is.	There are examples of such forms of devotion.	There are such and such instances.
21.	यथा व्रजगोपिकानाम्॥	As, for instance, in the case of the cowherdesses of Vraja (Gokula).	As found in the lives of the gopis of Vraja.	Just as it was shown by the Gopis, the cow-maids of Vraja or Vrindavana.
22.	न तत्रापि माहात्म्यज्ञानविस्मृत्यपवादः॥	It cannot be said that even there, is a blemish, the absence of recognition of divine glory.	Even there, there was no blame of forgetfulness of the greatness of the object of love.	Even there (the love of the Gopis), there is no particular reason for forgetting the sense of greatness of the Lord.
23.	तद्विहीनं जाराणामिव॥	Lacking in such appreciation is the love, for instance, of adulterers.	Without this knowledge (of the greatness of God) the love will be like that towards paramours.	A love without it (the sense of greatness of the object loved - the Lord) is simply a passion of a woman towards her paramour.
24.	नास्त्येव तस्मिंस्तत्सुखसुखित्वम्॥	In that sort of love, there is no idea at all of one's feeling happy in the happiness of the other.	This is because, in that baser form of love there is no idea of being happy in the happiness of the beloved.	In this love of the paramours there certainly does not exist any corresponding feeling of happiness (of the other).