These are the nine different processes of bhakti-yoga, of which the most important thing is sravanam, hearing. Sravanam kirtanam visnoh. And about whom? About Visnu, not for anyone else. That is sravanam kirtanam visnoh. Everything bhakti means devotional service, loving devotional service, for Visnu or Krsna. That is not any other service. That is not bhakti. Bhakti, the word, can be used only in relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It cannot be... If you say, "I am desa-bhakta. I am very devotee of my country, and of my society, of my family, of my cat, of my dog," that is not applicable. Bhakti is not applicable anywhere except in relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is bhakti. Therefore sastra particularly says, sravanam kirtanam visnoh, not any other sravanam kirtanam. If you say that "I am hearing about my country's welfare, about my society's welfare, about humanity's welfare, and I am preaching this," that is not bhakti. That is maya. It is very difficult to understand.
By H.D.G.Srila Prabhupada
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