________________
BHAKTI-YOGA
Himself.' Here, after saying that mere hearing, thinking, and meditating are not the means of attaining this Atman, it is said, 'Whom this Atman desires, by him the Atman is attained.' The extremely beloved is desired; by whomsoever this Atman is extremely beloved, he becomes the most beloved of the Atman. So that this beloved may attain the Atman, the Lord himself helps. For it has been said by the Lord : "Those who are constantly attached to Me and worship Me with love, I give that direction to their will by which they come to Me.' Therefore it is said that, to whomsoever this remembering, which is of the same form as direct perception, is very dear, because it is dear to the Object of such memory-perception, he is desired by the Supreme Atman, by him the Supreme Atman is attained. This constant remembrance is denoted by the word Bhakti."
So says Bhagavan Râmânuja in his commentary on the Sutra. अथातो ब्रह्मजिज्ञासा।
In commenting on the Sutra of Patanjali afwatne1 —i.e., 'Or by the worship of the Supreme Lord,'-Bhoja says, “Pranidhâna is that sort of Bhakti in which, without seeking results, such as sense-enjoyments, etc., all works are dedicated to that Teacher of teachers.” Bhagavan Vyasa also, when commenting on the same, defines Pranidhana as "the form of Bhakti by which the mercy of the Supreme Lord comes to the Yogin, and blesses him by granting him his desires." According to Sandilya,
