---
type: Reference
title: "Śāṇḍilya Bhakti Sūtra"
description: "Śāṇḍilya's aphoristic text on bhakti; defines bhakti as supreme attachment to the Lord (parānuraktir īśvare)."
darshana:
  - Bhakti (Vaiṣṇava Vedānta)
tags:
  - primary-source
  - bhakti
  - sutra
timestamp: "2026-06-25"
okf_version: "0.2"
license: "CC BY-SA 4.0"
---

# Śāṇḍilya Bhakti Sūtra

## What It Is

The second of the two classical Bhakti Sūtra texts, attributed to the sage Śāṇḍilya. Its opening aphorism defines bhakti as "supreme attachment to the Lord" (*sā parānuraktir īśvare*) and argues that bhakti, not jñāna alone, is the direct means to the highest goal.

## Why It Matters Here

Grounds `bhakti` and `shraddha`, and the bundle's refusal to rank bhakti below jñāna. Cited where the definition of devotion-as-attachment is needed.
