aṅkolaṃ nijabījasantatirayaskāntopalaṃ sūcikāsādhvī naijavibhuṃ latā kṣitiruhaṃ sindhuḥ saridvallabham ;prāpnotīha yathā tathā paśupateḥ pādāravindadvayaṃcetovṛttirupetya tiṣṭhati sadā sā bhaktirityucyate . 61 .
ŚLOKA 61 / 100
What devotion means
About these study notes: English meanings and explanations were generated with AI assistance and have not been independently reviewed by a Sanskrit scholar. Sanskrit text follows the cited source editions.
02 / PHRASE STUDY · PADĀRTHA
A phrase at a time.
Follow the words into meaning. Select a phrase to locate it in the verse above. Read the quarters together for the full sentence.
Sringeri IAST text · source wording and line-break hyphens retained. English glosses follow the connected Sanskrit sense.
Vignanam text · spellings and hyphens retained. English glosses follow the base Sanskrit; variant readings are not separately translated.
| Selected phrase | Meaning in context |
|---|---|
As the ankola seed returns to its tree, and the needle to the magnet. | |
As a faithful wife turns to her husband, a vine to a tree, and a river to the ocean. | |
So the movement of the heart approaches the two lotus feet of Paśupati. | |
And remains there continually: that is called devotion. |
These four study units follow the printed quarters. Sentences and compounds can continue across a line break; read the whole verse for connected meaning. The source wording stays unchanged.
| Selected phrase | Meaning in context |
|---|---|
As the ankola seed returns to its tree, and the needle to the magnet. Key expressions in this quarter: aṅkola — ankola tree; ayaskānta — magnet; sūcikā — needle. | |
As a faithful wife turns to her husband, a vine to a tree, and a river to the ocean. Key expressions in this quarter: latā — vine; sindhu — river. | |
So the movement of the heart approaches the two lotus feet of Paśupati. Key expressions in this quarter: pādāravinda — lotus foot. | |
And remains there continually: that is called devotion. Key expressions in this quarter: cetovṛtti — movement of the heart-mind; bhakti — devotion. |
Selected words and compound parts are shown in IAST. This is a contextual vocabulary study, not an exhaustive grammatical analysis. The source phrase follows your selected script. Locate highlights that unchanged phrase; learning forms are not substituted into the verse.
| Word / source phrase | Meaning in context |
|---|---|
ankola tree | |
magnet | |
needle | |
vine | |
river | |
lotus foot | |
movement of the heart-mind | |
devotion The closing statement names as devotion the heart’s abiding movement toward the feet. |
03 / SIMPLE MEANING
What devotion means
As the ankola seed returns to its tree, and the needle to the magnet. As a faithful wife turns to her husband, a vine to a tree, and a river to the ocean. So the movement of the heart approaches the two lotus feet of Paśupati. And remains there continually: that is called devotion.
04 / DETAILED MEANING
How the verse unfolds.
The examples describe different forms of attraction, support and arrival. Their shared movement culminates in abiding rather than in a passing emotional surge. The verse offers its own compact definition of bhakti: the heart's tendency comes to rest at Shiva's feet.
EDITORIAL EXPLANATION · NOT A TRADITIONAL COMMENTARY
05 / DEEPER CONTEMPLATION
What is the difference between a passing attraction and an abiding orientation?
Read this verse once more, then sit with the question. Notice the particular image or expression that holds your attention. You do not need to force an answer.
Keep a reflection or question ↓06 / THEMES & TATTVA
Connected themes
Editorial lenses; a verse may invite other readings.
Associated Tattva
Devotion as the desired fruit
Seed, needle, vine and river each move toward an appropriate support or destination. Their convergence defines bhakti as the heart’s abiding at the lotus feet.
Explore this Tattva →07 / PERSONAL REFLECTION
A phrase, a question, a moment of understanding
What is the difference between a passing attraction and an abiding orientation?
Browser notes stay on this device. Account reflections remain separate unless you explicitly import them.
Telugu source variants
[సంతతిః అయస్కాంతోపలం]