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THE TRUE LOVER.
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ledge is thus clearly shown to be the knowledge of the Brahman. The Devi-Bhagavata gives us the following definition of higher love (Para-Bhakti) :-"As oil poured from one vessel to another falls in an unbroken line, so, when the mind in an unbroken stream of thought, thinks of the Lord, we have what is called Para-Bhakti or supreme love." This kind of undisturbed and ever steady direction of the mind and the heart to the Lord, with an inseparable attachment is indeed the highest manifestation of man's love to God. All other forms of bhakti are only preparatory to the attainment of this highest form of it, namely, the Para-Bhakti, which is also known as the love that comes after attachment (rágánugá). When this supreme,love once comes into the heart of
.* हे विद्ये वेदितव्ये प्रति ह म यद्मविदी वदन्ति । परा चैवापरा च ॥ तaापरा ऋग्वेदो यजुर्वेदः सामवेदोऽथर्ववेदः शिवा कल्पो व्याकरणं निरु छन्दो न्योतिषमिति । अथ परा यया तदचरमधिगम्यते ॥ (Munduka. I. 4, 5.)
