"Verse 31 to 40"

Bhakti firm & deep (verse 31):
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Among the means and conditions necessary for liberation, devotion (bhakti) alone is supreme. A constant contemplation of one‘s own Real Nature is called devotion.

Courtesy of approach and questioning (verses 32-40):
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32. Others say that bhakti means a constant enquiry into the Truth of one‘s own Self. One who has the above mentioned qualifications and is desirous to know the Truth of the Self should, therefore, approach an illumined Teacher for redeeming himself from bondage.

33. A teacher is one who is well-versed in the scriptures, pure, unaffected by desires, a perfect knower of the Supreme, who continuously abides in the Supreme, who is as calm as the fire that has burnt up its fuel, who is a spontaneous ocean of mercy that needs no cause for its expression, an intimate friend to all good people who surrender to him.

 

34. Worship that Teacher with deep devotion and when the Teacher is pleased with your surrender, humility and service, approach and ask for what you must know.

 

35. O Master, O friend of all who reverently surrender unto thee, thou ocean of mercy, I salute thee; save me, fallen as I am into this sea of worldly existence, with a direct glance from thy eyes which shower nectarine Grace Supreme.

 

36. am burning in the blazing infernal fire of this world-forest; I am being tossed around by the cruel storms of misfortune; I am terrified (within and without)—O Lord! save me from death; I have taken refuge in you, for I know no other shelter.

 

37. There are peaceful and magnanimous saints who ---like the spring season—are ever doing good to the humanity. They have crossed the dreadful ocean of (embodied) existence through their own efforts and without any (personal) motives, they help others to cross it.

 

38. Indeed, it is the very nature of the magnanimous ones to help remove the troubles of others, even as the moon of its own accord cools the earth scorched by the flaming rays of the sun.

 

39. O Lord, thy nectarine speech, sweetened by the elixiric Bliss of Brahman, pure, cooling, issuing in streams from thy lips as from a water-vessel, and pleasing to the ear---do thou shower upon me who am tormented by worldly afflictions as by the flames of a forest fire. Blessed are those who have received even a passing glance from thy eyes, accepting them under thy protection.

 

40. How to cross this ocean of worldly existence? What is to be my ultimate destination? Which of the many means should I adopt? I know nothing of these. O Lord! Save me and describe in all details how to end the misery of this earthly existence.