Why Love Is the Highest Form of Devotion as per Bhagavad Gita
Introduction: The Essence of Bhakti
The Bhagavad Gita, one of the most revered spiritual texts in the world, reveals many paths to union with the Divine—through knowledge (jnana yog), action (karma yog), and meditation (dhyana yog). Yet, it elevates the path of devotion, or bhakti yog, as the highest and most accessible route to God. In particular, it emphasizes a special kind of devotion—prem bhakti, or love-filled devotion—as the ultimate offering one can make to the Lord.
Love, in its purest form, requires the complete dissolution of ego, absolute surrender, and a constant remembrance of the Beloved. When directed toward God, this love becomes the most sacred and transformative force in a devotee’s life. Swami Mukundananda explains, “Devotion that is drenched with divine love is the most pleasing to God. It is the highest yoga, and the sweetest path to liberation.”
This blog explores how and why love is celebrated as the highest form of devotion in the Bhagavad Gita, supported by divine verses and the spiritual insights of Swami Mukundananda.
1. The Supreme Lord’s Invitation to Love
In the Bhagavad Gita, Shree Krishna offers not just liberation, but loving union with Him. He repeatedly invites Arjuna—and through him, all of us—to establish a relationship with Him based not merely on duty or intellect, but on loving surrender.
In Chapter 9, Verse 34, Shree Krishna says:
“Always think of Me, be devoted to Me, worship Me, and offer obeisance to Me. Having dedicated your mind and body to Me, you will certainly come to Me.”
👉 Read Verse 9.34 with commentary
Swami Mukundananda explains that this verse reveals the fourfold path of loving devotion: constant remembrance (man-manā), loving service (mad-bhakto), performing acts of worship (mad-yājī), and surrender (māṁ namaskuru). All four require and cultivate love toward the Lord. They are not dry rituals but expressions of heartfelt devotion.
Shree Krishna assures us that if our heart is filled with love and we walk this path with sincerity, He will personally ensure our liberation. This promise itself shows the supremacy of love in the eyes of the Divine.
2. Devotion Over Scholarship and Rituals
A major theme in the Gita is the distinction between external religiosity and inner love. Shree Krishna does not reject rituals or study, but He makes it clear that without love, these are hollow.
In Bhagavad Gita 12.13–14, Shree Krishna describes the qualities of His dear devotees:
“Those devotees are very dear to Me who are free from malice toward all living beings, who are friendly, and compassionate. They are free from attachment to possessions and egotism, equipoised in happiness and distress, and ever-forgiving. They are ever-content, steadily united with Me in devotion, self-controlled, of firm resolve, and dedicated to Me in mind and intellect.”
👉 Read Verses 12.13-14 with commentary
Swami Mukundananda remarks,
“It is not the grandeur of your rituals or the complexity of your scriptures that pleases the Lord—it is the purity of your heart.”
A loving heart, free from hatred and ego, becomes a perfect vessel for divine grace.
This is why even a simple act—like offering a flower with love—becomes more powerful than a grand yajna performed with pride. Love sanctifies every action and every thought.
3. Love Is Inclusive and Universal
One of the most beautiful teachings of the Gita is that love for God is available to all, regardless of caste, gender, birth, or past sins.
Bhagavad Gita 9.29
“I am equally disposed to all living beings; I am neither inimical nor partial to anyone. But the devotees who worship Me with love reside in Me and I reside in them.”
👉 Read Verse 9.29 with commentary
The Lord does not see external qualifications—He sees only the love in our heart. Swami Mukundananda notes,
“In the spiritual realm, love is the only currency. The Lord can be purchased by nothing else.”
This universal accessibility makes love the highest and most inclusive path. Anyone, from any background, can love God and experience His divine presence.
4. The Simplicity of Love
In Chapter 9, Verse 26, Shree Krishna proclaims:
“If one offers to Me with devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or even water, I delightfully partake of that item offered with love by My devotee in pure consciousness.”
👉 Read Verse 9.26 with commentary
This verse highlights that God is not interested in the material value of our offerings, but the love with which they are given.
Swami Mukundananda beautifully illustrates:
“A billionaire may offer gold, but if his heart is full of pride, it won’t please God. A poor devotee who offers water with tears of love will be received with open arms.”
This simplicity is the hallmark of love—it doesn't require wealth, eloquence, or rituals. It only asks for sincerity.
5. The Transformation Power of Love
True love for God transforms the devotee from within. It replaces selfishness with selflessness, greed with generosity, and fear with faith. It teaches one to see God in all beings and serve them with humility.
In Bhagavad Gita 6.30:
“For those who see Me everywhere and see all things in Me, I am never lost, nor are they ever lost to Me.”
👉 Read Verse 6.30 with commentary
This divine vision arises not from intellectual exercise but from loving devotion. When we love someone, we naturally see their presence in everything. Similarly, divine love enables us to perceive Shree Krishna’s presence everywhere.
According to Swami Mukundananda,
“Love for God is like fire—it burns away all impurities. It changes the lens through which we see the world.”
6. Love Requires Surrender
Love is not complete without surrender. The highest form of devotion is not asking God to do our will, but aligning our will with His.
In Bhagavad Gita 18.66, Shree Krishna gives His final and most compassionate instruction:
“Abandon all varieties of dharmas and simply surrender unto Me alone. I shall liberate you from all sinful reactions; do not fear.”
👉 Read Verse 18.66 with commentary
Swami Mukundananda explains,
“This is the essence of bhakti—total surrender born out of love. We trust that Shree Krishna knows what is best for us, and we let go of our ego-driven desires.”
When love reaches the height of surrender, the devotee no longer demands anything. Like a child resting in the lap of a parent, the devotee rests in God’s will.
7. The Joy of Loving and Being Loved by God
The culmination of bhakti is divine love—when the devotee feels joy not from external pleasures, but from the sweetness of the Lord’s presence.
In Bhagavad Gita 10.9:
“With their minds fixed on Me and their lives surrendered to Me, My devotees remain ever content in Me. They derive great satisfaction and bliss in enlightening one another about Me and in conversing about My glories.”
👉 Read Verse 10.9 with commentary
This verse describes the blissful state of those who love God. They do not feel burdened by renunciation, because their hearts are fulfilled. Their conversations are divine. Their joy is rooted in the Beloved.
Swami Mukundananda writes,
“When divine love blooms in the heart, every moment becomes a festival. The world may call it madness, but the devotee calls it bliss.”
8. Shree Krishna’s Love for His Devotees
Just as the devotee loves Shree Krishna, Shree Krishna too loves His devotees—deeply, tenderly, and unconditionally.
In Bhagavad Gita 12.20, He says:
“Those who honor this nectar of wisdom declared here, have faith in Me, and are devoted and intent on Me as the supreme goal, they are exceedingly dear to Me.”
👉 Read Verse 12.20 with commentary
Shree Krishna's affection is not impersonal. He reciprocates love with love. As He declares in 4.11:
“In whatever way people surrender unto Me, I reciprocate accordingly. Everyone follows My path, knowingly or unknowingly, O son of Pritha.”
👉 Read Verse 4.11 with commentary
This reciprocal love turns the spiritual path into a beautiful relationship. The devotee gives love, and Shree Krishna responds with even greater love.
9. Bhakti Is Not Weakness—It Is Strength
Some believe that love and devotion are for the emotionally weak. But the Gita reveals the opposite. It takes immense inner strength to love without conditions, to surrender the ego, and to remain steadfast in devotion even in adversity.
Arjuna himself, a mighty warrior, ultimately chooses the path of surrender:
Bhagavad Gita 18.73
“Arjun said: O Infallible One, by Your grace my illusion has been dispelled, and I am situated in knowledge. I am now free from doubts, and I shall act according to Your instructions.”
👉 Read Verse 18.73 with commentary
This was not weakness—it was the greatest strength. Swami Mukundananda states,
“When we love God, we are not escaping life—we are living it in the highest way. Divine love empowers the soul to face the world with courage and clarity.”
❤️ Conclusion: Love—The Highest Offering
In the final analysis, the Bhagavad Gita celebrates love as the ultimate expression of devotion. It is higher than knowledge, superior to rituals, and deeper than discipline. Love is the soul’s natural yearning for the Divine, and when awakened, it leads to the highest fulfillment.
Lord Krishna’s teachings make it abundantly clear: the heart that loves God with purity and surrender has already reached Him. Nothing more is needed.
As Swami Mukundananda summarizes,
“When you fill your heart with divine love, you become a magnet for God’s grace. That love purifies, protects, and liberates.”
May we strive to walk the path of bhakti with ever-deepening love, remembering that the simplest flower offered with a loving heart pleases God more than the grandest sacrifices. Let our love be our highest prayer, our deepest meditation, and our most joyful song.
✨Resources:
- Bhagavad Gita: The Song of God with Commentary by Swami Mukundananda
🔗 Read Online - Bhakti Shatak (Hundred Gems of Divine Love) by Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj
🔗 Buy on Amazon - Path Of Bhakti - Lectures by Swami Mukundananda
🔗 Watch on YouTube
🌱Call to Action:
Ready to deepen your spiritual journey through love and devotion?
Start with a simple daily practice: remember Shree Krishna, chant His name with feeling, and serve others as an offering to Him.
Love Him in the temple of your heart, and you’ll discover that He was always there— waiting for your love.
❓ FAQs
Q1: What does the Bhagavad Gita say about love being the highest form of devotion?
The Bhagavad Gita repeatedly emphasizes that devotion offered with love and surrender is most pleasing to the Divine. In verses like 9.34 and 12.20, Shree Krishna invites the devotee to love Him wholeheartedly, promising that such devotion leads to union with Him. Love transforms rituals into worship and discipline into joy, making it the highest expression of bhakti.
Q2: How is loving devotion (prem bhakti) different from other forms of devotion?
Prem bhakti is devotion infused with pure, unconditional love for God, without seeking rewards or liberation. It is different from sakam bhakti (desireful devotion), where the devotee approaches God for material or spiritual benefits. Prem bhakti is the highest because it seeks nothing but the joy of loving and serving the Lord.
Q3: Can anyone develop love for God, even if they don’t know scriptures or rituals?
Yes. Bhagavad Gita 9.29 and 9.26 affirm that Shree Krishna does not discriminate based on knowledge, birth, or external qualifications. Even a simple offering like a leaf or water, if offered with love, is accepted by Him. Love is universal and accessible to all, regardless of background.
Q4: Does Shree Krishna love His devotees back?
Absolutely. In Gita 4.11, Shree Krishna declares that He reciprocates the love of His devotees. In 12.20, He says those who follow the path of loving devotion are exceedingly dear to Him. The Lord’s love is infinite, and He takes great delight in the sincere devotion of His devotees.
Q5: Is love alone enough for liberation?
According to the Gita and Swami Mukundananda’s teachings, yes. Love that is pure and selfless leads to surrender, remembrance, and the dissolution of the ego—all of which are essential for liberation. Shree Krishna Himself promises in 18.66 to deliver those who surrender to Him out of love.
Q6: How can I begin developing love for God in daily life?
Start with regular remembrance of God (man-manā), simple worship (mad-yājī), heartfelt chanting, and surrendering your actions to Him. Engage in selfless service and read or listen to divine pastimes. As Swami Mukundananda advises, “Where your mind repeatedly goes, your love flows.” So meditate on God regularly to grow your love.
Q7: What if I struggle to feel love for God? Does that mean I lack devotion?
Not at all. Love for God grows gradually through practice (abhyasa) and detachment (vairagya), as Shree Krishna explains in Chapter 6. Even the desire to love God is itself a great blessing. Keep practicing with sincerity, and divine grace will blossom love in your heart.
Q8: Why does the Gita prioritize bhakti over jnana (knowledge) or karma (action)?
The Gita acknowledges all paths—karma, jnana, dhyana—but places bhakti at the pinnacle because love makes every other path sweet and effective. Knowledge without love can become dry. Actions without love can feel burdensome. Love adds purpose, surrender, and joy to every discipline.
Q9: Can I love God while still fulfilling worldly duties?
Yes. In fact, Shree Krishna teaches Arjuna to do exactly that—perform his duty on the battlefield while keeping his mind and heart fixed on the Lord. This is the essence of karma yog guided by bhakti. Love sanctifies every action, turning it into worship.
Q10: Are there examples of loving devotees mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita or elsewhere in scriptures?
While the Gita itself focuses on teachings, the lives of devotees like Meera Bai, Prahlad, Sudama, and Shabari illustrate the power of loving devotion. These saints didn’t possess scriptural knowledge or wealth but reached God through their pure love. Swami Mukundananda often narrates their stories to show how God is bound by the love of His devotees.