Devotion means seeking unity with the Divine through purity in thought, word and deed and concentrating on the oneness of the Godhead. Devotion aims at acquiring friendship with God through this triple purity.

Devotion is of three kinds: Samanya Bhakti (Ordinary devotion); Ekanta Bhakti (Devotion in Solitude) and Ananya bhakti (Exclusive, one-pointed devotion). Samanya Bhakti has nine forms: Shravanam (listening to the glories of God); Kirtanam (Chanting the praise of God); Vishnu Smaranam (ever remembering the name of the Lord); Pada Sevanam (Worshipping the Lord’s feet); Vandanam (Prostration); Archana (Worshipping the figure of the Lord); Dasyam (Service); Sneham (friendship); Atma-nivedanam (Self-surrender).Of these nine forms of devotional worship Parikshit exemplifies the first one, Shravanam. Destined to live for only one week on account of a sage’s curse, the emperor Parikshit attained salvation by listening to the glories of the Lord as related by Sage Suka. (SSS Vol.22, pp. 196-197)