Question: Why do obstacles arise in devotion?
Shri Maharaj Ji's answer - Obstacles do not arise in devotion itself. You may face obstacles due to:
- your destiny (prārabdh),
- sanskārs (mental impressions or tendencies carried over from past lives) and
- your own mistakes.
Problems arise whether or not you perform devotion. Even great saints encounter problems. Devotion removes obstacles; it does not invite them. Since devotion belongs to God, God always helps the devotee. devotee. He never acts contrary to this.
--
Question - Why is it said that Maya troubles a sadhak and does not allow him to practice devotion to God?
Shri Maharaj Ji's answer - In truth, devotion drives Maya away; Maya does not approach the devotee.
tāte tehi ḍarapati ati māyā। -
Maya trembles in fear of one who performs devotion to God.
However, if you face prārabdh (destiny) arising from sinful actions of past lives, you must endure it - regardless of whether you are an aspiring devotee or a God-realized saint. But do not think, even in your dreams, that obstacles will enter the path of an aspiring devotee to prevent him from practicing devotion.
God wants you to perform devotion - why would He stop you from doing so? Maya cannot stand before devotion. It does not dare trouble a devotee:
vilajjamanaya yasya sthatumikshapathey'muya
God remains subordinate to the devotee; in fact, He is ever ready to give up His own life for the sake of a devotee. He always walks behind the devotee, constantly protecting him.
Even if you are still an aspiring devotee and have not yet attained the perfected state of devotion, devotion itself removes obstacles - it does not invite them. If any obstacle does arise, devotion stands and fights against it.
If you have genuine love for God, devotion will give you such strength that the feeling of worldly loss and suffering will be greatly reduced. God takes full responsibility for the devotee's welfare.
Recommended books by Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj related to this topic:
Quintessence of Devotion - English
Question: Why do obstacles arise in devotion?
Shri Maharaj Ji's answer - Obstacles do not arise in devotion itself. You may face obstacles due to:
Problems arise whether or not you perform devotion. Even great saints encounter problems. Devotion removes obstacles; it does not invite them. Since devotion belongs to God, God always helps the devotee. devotee. He never acts contrary to this.
--
Question - Why is it said that Maya troubles a sadhak and does not allow him to practice devotion to God?
Shri Maharaj Ji's answer - In truth, devotion drives Maya away; Maya does not approach the devotee.
tāte tehi ḍarapati ati māyā। -
Maya trembles in fear of one who performs devotion to God.
However, if you face prārabdh (destiny) arising from sinful actions of past lives, you must endure it - regardless of whether you are an aspiring devotee or a God-realized saint. But do not think, even in your dreams, that obstacles will enter the path of an aspiring devotee to prevent him from practicing devotion.
God wants you to perform devotion - why would He stop you from doing so? Maya cannot stand before devotion. It does not dare trouble a devotee:
vilajjamanaya yasya sthatumikshapathey'muya
God remains subordinate to the devotee; in fact, He is ever ready to give up His own life for the sake of a devotee. He always walks behind the devotee, constantly protecting him.
Even if you are still an aspiring devotee and have not yet attained the perfected state of devotion, devotion itself removes obstacles - it does not invite them. If any obstacle does arise, devotion stands and fights against it.
If you have genuine love for God, devotion will give you such strength that the feeling of worldly loss and suffering will be greatly reduced. God takes full responsibility for the devotee's welfare.
Recommended books by Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj related to this topic:
Quintessence of Devotion - English
Read Next
Daily Devotion - Sep 16, 2025 (English)- Narad Bhakti Darshan - Part 6
Yajjñātvā - * Our relationship with Shri Krishna is eternal and everlasting; it is self-established. * The path to realize this relationship is Navadhā Bhakti, the ninefold path of devotion. * The goal is prem (divine love). * What is to be attained is the service of Shri Krishna. So our relationship is only
Daily Devotion - Sep 14, 2025 (English)- Narad Bhakti Darshan - Part 5
Sutra 6 - Yajjñātvā matto bhavati stabdho bhavati ātmārāmo bhavati। Shri Maharaj Ji is explaining 'yajjñātvā' in the sixth sutra. Yajjñātvā - "by knowing Whom", that is, tattvajñāna (philosophical knowledge), which consists of only three aspects - i) sambandh (relationship) ii) abhidheya (means) iii) prayojan (goal)
Daily Devotion - Sep 12, 2025 (English)- Narad Bhakti Darshan - Part 4
Nārad Bhakti Darshan - Next Part So far, Shri Maharaj Ji has explained the first five sutras of Nārad Bhakti Darshan. Now he is explaining the sixth sutra: Sutra 6 - Yajjñātvā matto bhavati stabdho bhavati ātmārāmo bhavati (i) Yajjñātvā - Upon knowing Whom, a soul becomes a saint, a
Daily Devotion - Sep 10, 2025 (English)- Narad Bhakti Darshan - Part 3
Nārad Bhakti Darshan - Next Part - (i) Yat prāpya na kiṁcid vāñchati (continued) However, Shri Maharaj Ji's opinion is that although desires related to God are not condemnable, they are not praiseworthy either. Why so? Because desire, whether worldly or spiritual, is dangerous for the sādhak. How