Bhakta, Bhākta: 27 definitions

Introduction
Image gallery
In Hinduism
1. Vastushastra
2. Vyakarana
3. Shaktism
4. Ayurveda
5. Vaishnavism
6. Jyotisha
7. Shaivism
In Buddhism
1. Tibetan Buddhism
2. Mahayana
Languages
1. Marathi
2. Sanskrit
3. Hindi
4. Kannada
See also
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Introduction:

Bhakta means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi, Hindi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

Alternative spellings of this word include Bhakt.

Images (photo gallery)

In Hinduism

Vastushastra (architecture)

Source: McGill: The architectural theory of the Mānasāra

Bhakta (भक्त, “devotee”).—According to the Mānasāra LIX, 1-2, “The characteristic features of all devotees (bhakta) are now stated in order. It is said that their division is four-fold; the measurement of each is ascertained in accordance to that division. Now, the first is said ta be sālokya, the second, sāmīpya, and the third should be sārūpya, and the fourth, sāyūjya; thus the four kinds.”

According to the Mānasāra LIX, 3-4, “Sālokya is said ta be the yoking of bhakti, jñāna, and vairāgya. Jñāna and vairāgya yoked together is stated as sāmīpya. The conjoining of dhyāna alone is ascertained as sārūpya. Pure jñāna yoked together is sāyūjya, the possession of the supreme truth.

The names of the four classes evince a hierarchical grade of spiritual ascent or degrees in the state of union with the deity. Thus, sālokya, literally meaning “being in the world”, in this scheme connotes “inhabitation of the divine realm”; similarly, sāmīpya, is “being near the deity”, sārūpya, “assuming divine form or likeness”, and sāyūjya, “consummate union with the divine”.

context information

Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.

Vyakarana (Sanskrit grammar)

Source: Wikisource: A dictionary of Sanskrit grammar

Bhakta (भक्त).—Forming a part or portion (of something in connection with which it has been prescribed as an augment) cf. तद्भक्तस्तद्ग्रहणेन गृह्यते (tadbhaktastadgrahaṇena gṛhyate) Vyadi Pari. 17; cf. also आमः सुडयं भक्तः आम्ग्रहणेन ग्राहिष्यते (āmaḥ suḍayaṃ bhaktaḥ āmgrahaṇena grāhiṣyate) M. Bh. on P. VII. 1.33.

context information

Vyakarana (व्याकरण, vyākaraṇa) refers to Sanskrit grammar and represents one of the six additional sciences (vedanga) to be studied along with the Vedas. Vyakarana concerns itself with the rules of Sanskrit grammar and linguistic analysis in order to establish the correct context of words and sentences.

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Shodhganga: Iconographical representations of Śiva (shaktism)

Bhakta (भक्त) or Bhaktatantra refers to one of the twenty-three Vāmatantras, belonging to the Śāktāgama (or Śāktatantra) division of the Āgama tradition. The Śāktāgamas represent the wisdom imparted by Devī to Īśvara and convey the idea that the worship of Śakti is the means to attain liberation. According to the Pratiṣṭhālakṣaṇasamuccaya of Vairocana, the Śāktatantras are divided into to four parts, the Bhakta-tantra belonging to the Vāma class.

context information

Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.

Ayurveda (science of life)

Source: Shodhganga: Dietetics and culinary art in ancient and medieval India

Bhakta (भक्त) refers to “cooked rice” as described in the 17th century Bhojanakutūhala (dravyaguṇāguṇa-kathana), and is commonly found in literature dealing with the topics of dietetics and culinary art, also known as Pākaśāstra or Pākakalā.—According to Bhojanakutūhala, the cooked rice is prepared through the following steps. The rice grains should be washed at first. Then it should be cooked in water. The ratio between rice and water is 1:5. After cooking, the excess water is poured off. This preparation is called bhakta. This can be served as a dish which is termed as kevalānna in Bhojanakutūhala.

Cooked rice dishes are of six types based upon the different ingredients used along with rice. These, collectively called as ṣaḍvidhānna. They are:—

paramānna (rice cooked in milk),
haridrānna (rice cooked with turmeric),
dadhyanna (cooked rice mixed with curds),
kṛsarodana (rice cooked with sesame),
guḍodana (rice cooked with jaggery),
mudgānna (rice cooked with greengram).

To describe this ṣaḍvidhānna the author quotes an Ayurvedic text namely Kriyāsāra.

Source: gurumukhi.ru: Ayurveda glossary of terms

Bhakta (भक्त):—Food or drinks consumed by the individual.

context information

Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.

Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)

Source: Pure Bhakti: Bhagavad-gita (4th edition)

Bhakta (भक्त) refers to “devotee;one devoted to bhakti-yoga and one’s worshipable deity”. (cf. Glossary page from Śrīmad-Bhagavad-Gītā).

Source: Pure Bhakti: Bhajana-rahasya - 2nd Edition

Bhakta (भक्त) refers to:—A devotee. (cf. Glossary page from Bhajana-Rahasya).

Source: Pure Bhakti: Brhad Bhagavatamrtam

Bhakta (भक्त) refers to:—Devotees of the Lord; types of devotees include:. (cf. Glossary page from Śrī Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta).

context information

Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).

Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by Varahamihira

Bhakta (भक्त) refers to “worshippers”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 15) (“On the nakṣatras—‘asterisms’”), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “Those who are born on the lunar day of Svātī will delight in keeping birds, deer, horses; will be grain merchants; dealers in beans; of weak friendship; weak, of abstemious habits and skilled tradesmen. Those who are born on the lunar day of Viśākhā will grow trees yielding red flowers and red fruits; be dealers in gingelly seeds, beans, cotton, black gram and chick peas and worshippers of Indra and Agni (purandara-hutāśa-bhakta). [...]”.

Source: Google Books: Studies in the History of the Exact Sciences (Astronomy)

Bhakta (भक्त) means “divided”, according to Bhāskara’s Siddhāntaśiromaṇi (Golādhyāya, Yantrādhyāya, 8, pp. 366-367).—Accordingly, “A copper bowl, formed like a hemisphere, having a small hole at the bottom. The duration of a day and night divided [i.e., bhakta] by the number of immersions [of this bowl] gives the measure of the water clock”.

context information

Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra Tantra

Bhakta (भक्त) refers to “food”, according to the Svacchanda-tantra.—Accordingly, [verse 4.3-6, while describing the interpretation of dreams]—“In [auspicious] dreams [the dreamer] drinks wine, eats raw flesh, smears insect feces and sprinkles blood. He eats food of sour milk (dadhi-bhakta—bhakṣaṇaṃ dadhibhaktasya) and smears a white garment. [He holds] a white umbrella over his head, decorates [himself] with a white garland or ribbon. [He sees] a throne, chariot or vehicle, the flag of royal initiation. He decorates [these things] with a coral, betel leaf fruit. [He also] sees Śrī or Sarasvatī”.

context information

Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: OSU Press: Cakrasamvara Samadhi

Bhakta (भक्त) refers to “(having) distributed”, according to the Guru Mandala Worship (maṇḍalārcana) ritual often performed in combination with the Cakrasaṃvara Samādhi, which refers to the primary pūjā and sādhanā practice of Newah Mahāyāna-Vajrayāna Buddhists in Nepal.—Accordingly, “In front, above that, (arising from) the letter Yaṃ, is an air mandala, Above that, (arising from) the letter Raṃ, is a fire mandala, (and) above (that) a triangle marked red Ra, three shaved heads, and a lotus vessel, Behold the the five ambrosia and five lamps, distributed (bhakta), etc., therein, Arising from the letters Buṃ Āṃ Jiṃ Khaṃ Hūṃ Lāṃ Māṃ Pāṃ Tāṃ Vaṃ”.

context information

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: De Gruyter: A Buddhist Ritual Manual on Agriculture

Bhakta (भक्त) refers to “boiled rice” (suitable for an offering ritual), according to the Vajratuṇḍasamayakalparāja, an ancient Buddhist ritual manual on agriculture from the 5th-century (or earlier), containing various instructions for the Sangha to provide agriculture-related services to laypeople including rain-making, weather control and crop protection.—Accordingly, [As the Bhagavān said]: “Now I shall teach the offering manual which is auspicious and can bring about any effect. [...] Seven coiling figures should be made and rice spirals. Twenty-one figures should be prepared one after the other. Boiled rice (bhakta), milk rice, a dish of rice and peas, yoghurt and thickened milk should be placed. Fruits and flowers should be placed. Four jars should be placed. Preceded by a great offering barley-meal should be placed as foremost. [...]”.

context information

Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

bhakta (भक्त).—c (S) A worshiper, votary, or follower of; one devoted or attached to. Ex. bhagavadbhakta, gurubhakta, haribhakta, pitṛbhakta.

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bhakta (भक्त).—n m S Boiled rice or other corn.

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bhakta (भक्त).—p S Worshiped or adored. 2 Dressed or cooked.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

bhakta (भक्त).—c A worshipper of; one devoted to.

context information

Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Bhakta (भक्त).—p. p. [bhaj-kta]

1) Distributed, allotted, assigned; वामहस्ताहृतं चान्नं भक्तं पर्युषितं च यत् (vāmahastāhṛtaṃ cānnaṃ bhaktaṃ paryuṣitaṃ ca yat) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 12.36.31.

2) Divided.

3) Served, worshipped.

4) Engaged in, attentive to.

5) Attached or devoted to, loyal, faithful; मन्मना भव मद्भक्तो मद्याजी मां नमस्कुरु (manmanā bhava madbhakto madyājī māṃ namaskuru) Bhagavadgītā (Bombay) 9.34.

6) Dressed, cooked (as food).

7) Forming a part of, belonging to.

8) Loved, liked (at the end of comp.).

-ktaḥ A worshipper, adorer, devotee, votary, faithful attendant; भक्तोऽसि मे सखा चेति (bhakto'si me sakhā ceti) Bhagavadgītā (Bombay) 4.3;7.23;9.31; भक्तानां त्रिविधानां च लक्षणं श्रूयतामिति । तृणशय्यारतो भक्तो मन्नाम- गुणकीर्तिषु । मनो निवेशयेत् त्यक्त्वा संसारसुखकारणम् (bhaktānāṃ trividhānāṃ ca lakṣaṇaṃ śrūyatāmiti | tṛṇaśayyārato bhakto mannāma- guṇakīrtiṣu | mano niveśayet tyaktvā saṃsārasukhakāraṇam) || Brav. P.

-ktam 1 A share, portion.

2) Food; वन्यं सुविहितं नित्यं भक्तमश्नाति पञ्चमम् (vanyaṃ suvihitaṃ nityaṃ bhaktamaśnāti pañcamam) Rām.5.36.41; भक्तं भुक्तं ततः किम् (bhaktaṃ bhuktaṃ tataḥ kim) Bhartṛhari 3. 74; also meal; तथैव सप्तमे भक्ते भक्तानि षडनश्नता (tathaiva saptame bhakte bhaktāni ṣaḍanaśnatā) Manusmṛti 11.16; चतुर्थभक्तक्षपणं वैश्ये शूद्रे विधीयते (caturthabhaktakṣapaṇaṃ vaiśye śūdre vidhīyate) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 13.16.

3) Boiled rice; गन्धेन स्फुरता मनागनुसृतो भक्तस्य सर्पिष्मतः (gandhena sphuratā manāganusṛto bhaktasya sarpiṣmataḥ) Uttararāmacarita 4.1.

4) Any eatable grain boiled with water.

5) Adoration, worship.

6) The grain; यस्य त्रैवार्षिकं भक्तं पर्याप्तं भृत्यवृत्तये (yasya traivārṣikaṃ bhaktaṃ paryāptaṃ bhṛtyavṛttaye) Manusmṛti 11.7; Mahābhārata (Bombay) 12.165.5 (bhaktaṃ ekāhaparyāptaṃ dhānyam Nīlakaṇṭha).

7) The wages, remuneration (vetana); Mahābhārata (Bombay) 13.23.7.

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Bhākta (भाक्त).—a.

1) Regularly fed by another, a dependant, retainer.

2) Fit for food.

3) Inferior, secondary (opp. mukhya), often used in the Ś. B. in this sense.

4) Used in a secondary sense.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Bhakta (भक्त).—nt. (Sanskrit) food, is occasionally used instead of bhojya of specifically soft food, in contrast with khādya or khajja, hard food; so in Mahāvastu iii.39.4 bhakta-khajjam, see khajja; and more clearly iii.15.9 (tasya prabhūtaṃ [Page404-1b+ 4] khādya-bhojyaṃ) dinnaṃ, mahantaṃ gopiṭakaṃ khajja- kasya, mahatī ca alindā bhaktasya…, which is resumed below, l. 12, by taṃ khajjakasya gopiṭakaṃ ekadukāye sarvam khāditaṃ, sā ca odanasya mahatī alindā…Here [Page405-a+ 71] it is obvious that bhakta is not only contrasted with khajjaka but identified with odana, which is regularly the food put in an alindā or °da, q.v.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Bhakta (भक्त).—mfn.

(-ktaḥ-ktā-ktaṃ) 1. Attached or attentive to, devoted to, engrossed by. 2. Served, worshipped. 3. Dressed, cooked. 4. Distributed. 5. Divided. 6. Loyal. n.

(-ktaṃ) 1. Boiled-rice. 2. Food. 3. Any edible grain boiled with water. 4. A share. m.

(-ktaḥ) A follower, a votary. E. bhaj to serve, &c. aff. kta .

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Bhākta (भाक्त).—m.

(-ktaḥ) 1. A follower, a dependent, one to whom food is regularly given. 2. Grain, edible grain, as rice, &c. f. (-ktī) 1. Fit for food. 2. Inferior, secondary. 3. Confined to any science, (as a term). 4. Dependant. E. bhakta food, aff. aṇ .

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Bhakta (भक्त).—i. e. ptcple. pf. pass. of bhaj (in the signification To cook, cf. also bhakṣ), n. 1. Food, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 9, 271. 2. Boiled rice. 3. A meal, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 11, 16.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Bhakta (भक्त).—[adjective] distributed, divided; attached or devoted to, faithful, [masculine] a worshipper or adorer ([locative], [genetive], [accusative], or —°); [neuter] food, nourishment, meal.

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Bhākta (भाक्त).—[adjective] subordinate, secondary; [masculine] [Name] of cert. sects.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Bhakta (भक्त):—a bhakti etc. See p.743.

2) [from bhaj] b mfn. distributed, assigned, allotted, [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc.

3) [v.s. ...] divided, [Sūryasiddhānta]

4) [v.s. ...] (ifc.) forming part of, belonging to, [Pāṇini [Scholiast or Commentator]]

5) [v.s. ...] (ifc.) loved, liked, [Pāṇini 4-2, 54]

6) [v.s. ...] served, worshipped, [Horace H. Wilson]

7) [v.s. ...] dressed, cooked, [ib.]

8) [v.s. ...] engaged in, occupied with, attached or devoted to, loyal, faithful, honouring, worshipping, serving ([locative case] [genitive case] [accusative] or [compound]), [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc.

9) [v.s. ...] m. a worshipper, votary ([especially] as Name of a division of the Śāktas), [Indian Wisdom, by Sir M. Monier-Williams 523 n. 1]

10) [v.s. ...] n. food or a meal, [Manu-smṛti; Mahābhārata] etc.

11) [v.s. ...] boiled rice, [Uttararāma-carita]

12) [v.s. ...] any eatable grain boiled with water

13) [v.s. ...] a vessel, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

14) [v.s. ...] a share, portion, [Monier-Williams’ Sanskrit-English Dictionary]

15) Bhākta (भाक्त):—1. bhākta mf(ī)n. ([from] bhakta) regularly fed by another, a dependent, retainer, [Pāṇini 4-4, 68]

16) fit for food, [ib., iv, 4, 100.]

17) 2. bhākta mf(ī)n., ([from] bhakti) inferior, secondary (opp. to mukhya), [Śaṃkarācārya; Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra [Scholiast or Commentator]]

18) m. [plural] ‘the faithful ones’, Name of a Vaiṣṇava and Śaiva sect, [Horace H. Wilson]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Bhakta (भक्त):—[(ktaḥ-ktā-ktaṃ) p.] Devoted to; served; cooked. n. Boiled rice; food.

2) Bhākta (भाक्त):—(ktaḥ) 1. m. A follower, a dependant; a cheat; grain, rice.

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Bhakta (भक्त) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Bhaia, Bhatta.

[Sanskrit to German]

Bhakta in German

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

Hindi dictionary

Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

Bhakta (भक्त) [Also spelled bhakt]:—(nm) a devotee; (a) divided; ~[rāja] the foremost of devotees; ~[vatsala] affectionately disposed towards devotees, loving the devotees; hence ~[vatsalatā] (nf); ~[śiromaṇi] the leading-most devotee.

context information

...

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Bhakta (ಭಕ್ತ):—

1) [adjective] distributed in shares; given out a port or portions of; apportioned.

2) [adjective] divided into parts; partitioned.

3) [adjective] showing reverence or devotion; characterised by devotion.

4) [adjective] occupied wholly with; absorbed in; engrossed in.

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Bhakta (ಭಕ್ತ):—

1) [noun] a man strongly devoted to (as a god, religion, etc.).

2) [noun] a man enthusiastic about a particular person, sport, pastime, etc.; a fan.

3) [noun] boiled rice (that is fit for eating).

4) [noun] (vīr.) a man pious and highly devoted to Śiva.

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Bhākta (ಭಾಕ್ತ):—

1) [adjective] fit to be eaten; edible.

2) [adjective] relying on another for support or aid; dependent.

3) [adjective] of secondary importance; not important.

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Bhākta (ಭಾಕ್ತ):—

1) [noun] that which is eaten to sustain life, provide energy, promote growth, etc.; food.

2) [noun] a thing that is relying on another for support, sustenance, etc.

3) [noun] (rhet.) a word or phrase used only in its secondary or unimportant sense.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

Relevant text

Search found 85 books and stories containing Bhakta, Bhākta; (plurals include: Bhaktas, Bhāktas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Verse 6.21.2 < [Chapter 21 - In the Description of the Third Fort, the Glories of Piṇḍāraka-tīrtha]

Verse 6.21.6 < [Chapter 21 - In the Description of the Third Fort, the Glories of Piṇḍāraka-tīrtha]

Verses 5.24.61-62 < [Chapter 24 - The Killing of the Kola Demon]

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Verse 9.34 < [Chapter 9 - Rāja-guhya-yoga (Yoga through the most Confidential Knowledge)]

Verse 9.31 < [Chapter 9 - Rāja-guhya-yoga (Yoga through the most Confidential Knowledge)]

Verse 9.29 < [Chapter 9 - Rāja-guhya-yoga (Yoga through the most Confidential Knowledge)]

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Verse 2.1.16 < [Chapter 1 - Vairāgya (renunciation)]

Verse 1.3.77 < [Chapter 3 - Prapañcātīta (beyond the Material Plane)]

Verse 2.1.20 < [Chapter 1 - Vairāgya (renunciation)]

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