--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Those who are lacking in bhakti…" description: "\"Those who are lacking in bhakti (devotion), lacking in faith, are ill qualified to interpret the scriptures.\" — Mahatma Gandhi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/603/mahatma-gandhi-23_bhakti_those-who-are-lacking-in-bhakti-devotion_136457.jpg" --- # Those who are lacking in bhakti (devotion), lacking in… ![“Those who are lacking in bhakti (devotion), lacking in faith, are ill qualified to interpret the scriptures.” quote by Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/603/mahatma-gandhi-23_bhakti_those-who-are-lacking-in-bhakti-devotion_136457.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/603/mahatma-gandhi-23_bhakti_those-who-are-lacking-in-bhakti-devotion_136457.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/603/mahatma-gandhi-23_bhakti_those-who-are-lacking-in-bhakti-devotion_136457.jpg) > “Those who are lacking in bhakti (devotion), lacking in faith, are ill qualified to interpret the scriptures.” [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Devotion and faith are essential for authentic understanding of sacred texts. **In simple terms:** Belief needed to truly grasp scriptures. Key Takeaway Cultivate devotion before interpreting. Themes faith devotion interpretation Mood reflective serious Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - religious education - personal meditation - community worship - theological debate Key Concepts spiritual literacy scriptural study Questions to Reflect On - Do you balance faith with inquiry? - How does personal belief shape your reading? A Different Perspective Interpretation can be biased without critical thinking. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bhakti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bhakti/) [Bhakti yoga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bhakti-yoga/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Devotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devotion/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Ill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ill/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Scripture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scripture/) ## Related quotes > [Devotion (Bhakti) includes Sentimental Devotion (Bhav Bhakti) and Devotion through action (Kruti Bhakti).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pandurang-shastri-athavale/devotion-bhakti-includes-sentimental-devotion-bhav-bhakti-and/) [Pandurang Shastri Athavale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pandurang-shastri-athavale/) > [A man who would interpret the scriptures must have the spiritual discipline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/a-man-who-would-interpret-the-scriptures-must-have-the-spiritual/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [The opposite of faith is fear and doubt. A person lacking in faith is fearful,anxious and unsure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mazher-mazher50/the-opposite-of-faith-is-fear-and-doubt-a-person-lacking-in-faith-is/) Mazher (@mazher50 > [So long as we believe in our heart of hearts that our capacity is limited and we grow anxious and unhappy, we are lacking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/so-long-as-we-believe-in-our-heart-of-hearts-that-our-capacity-is/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [“Since living is believing, no one can be completely lacking in faith.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kentetsu-takamori/since-living-is-believing-no-one-can-be-completely-lacking-in-faith/) [Kentetsu Takamori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kentetsu-takamori/) > [Always consider your intellect to be lacking; otherwise too much faith in it surely leads to error.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-ibn-abi-talib/always-consider-your-intellect-to-be-lacking-otherwise-too-much-faith/) [Ali ibn Abi Talib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-ibn-abi-talib/) > [The path of bhakti, karma and love as expounded in the Gita leaves no room for the despising of man by man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/the-path-of-bhakti-karma-and-love-as-expounded-in-the-gita-leaves-no/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Why are we not tasting the bliss of Bhakti? Because we are taking shelter of stone boats. We are sinking and drowning in Maya…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radhanath-swami/why-are-we-not-tasting-the-bliss-of-bhakti-because-we-are-taking/) [Radhanath Swami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radhanath-swami/) > [Who cares for your bhakti and mukti? Who cares what your scriptures say? I will go into a thousand hells cheerfully if I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/who-cares-for-your-bhakti-and-mukti-who-cares-what-your-scriptures/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Every act of charity, every thought of sympathy, every action of help, every good deed, is taking so much of self-importance away from our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-act-of-charity-every-thought-of-sympathy-every-action-of-help/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [The pure mystic wishes to approach his God only in the all-embracing love. The yogi, too, walks toward one single aspect of God. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-bardon/the-pure-mystic-wishes-to-approach-his-god-only-in-the-all-embracing/) [Franz Bardon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-bardon/) > [Yogas chitta vritti nirodhah - (Yoga is to check the mind from changing) - which is acceptable to all. That is also the goal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/yogas-chitta-vritti-nirodhah-yoga-is-to-check-the-mind-from-changing/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [“Through all this world strode Vishnu: thrice his foot he planted, and the whole world was gathered in his footsteps. Vishnu, the guardian, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veda/through-all-this-world-strode-vishnu-thrice-his-foot-he-planted-and/) Veda > [Jnana, bhakti, yoga and karma - these are the four paths which lead to spiritual freedom. One must follow the path for which one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/jnana-bhakti-yoga-and-karma-these-are-the-four-paths-which-lead-to/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“Worship (Bhakti) means one has the right to ask for everything and Gnan (Real Knowledge) means one cannot ask for anything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/worship-bhakti-means-one-has-the-right-to-ask-for-everything-and-gnan/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) ## More by Mahatma Gandhi > [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Devotion required by the Gita is no soft-hearted effusiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/devotion-required-by-the-gita-is-no-soft-hearted-effusiveness/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [So long as we fear the outside world, we must cease to think of Swaraj.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/so-long-as-we-fear-the-outside-world-we-must-cease-to-think-of-swaraj/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I do not want a kingdom, or heaven; what I want is to remove the trouble of the oppressed, the poor, and the needy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-a-kingdom-or-heaven-what-i-want-is-to-remove-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Religions are not for separating men from one another, they are meant to bind them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/religions-are-not-for-separating-men-from-one-another-they-are-meant/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I hold flesh-food to be unsuited to our species. We err in copying the lower animal world if we are superior to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-hold-flesh-food-to-be-unsuited-to-our-species-we-err-in-copying-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“It was only in South Africa that I got over this shyness, though I never completely overcame it. It was impossible for me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/it-was-only-in-south-africa-that-i-got-over-this-shyness-though-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“Where there is life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/where-there-is-life/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [If it was wrong to seek God in a stone, how was it right to seek Him in a book called the Gita, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/if-it-was-wrong-to-seek-god-in-a-stone-how-was-it-right-to-seek-him/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [The spirit of democracy cannot be established in the midst of terrorism, whether governmental or popular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/the-spirit-of-democracy-cannot-be-established-in-the-midst-of/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Champions are made from something they have deep inside of them-a desire, a dream, a vison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/champions-are-made-from-something-they-have-deep-inside-of-them-a/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [My motto is "Unite now, today if you can; fight if you must. But in every case avoid British intervention."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/my-motto-is-unite-now-today-if-you-can-fight-if-you-must-but-in-every/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I have no disciples, being myself an aspirant after discipleship and in search of a guru.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-have-no-disciples-being-myself-an-aspirant-after-discipleship-and/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Man becomes not the lord and master of all creation but he is its servant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/man-becomes-not-the-lord-and-master-of-all-creation-but-he-is-its/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) [Explore all 3,284 Mahatma Gandhi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) ## More Bhakti quotes > [“Worship (Bhakti) means one has the right to ask for everything and Gnan (Real Knowledge) means one cannot ask for anything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/worship-bhakti-means-one-has-the-right-to-ask-for-everything-and-gnan/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [Jnana, bhakti, yoga and karma - these are the four paths which lead to spiritual freedom. One must follow the path for which one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/jnana-bhakti-yoga-and-karma-these-are-the-four-paths-which-lead-to/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“Through all this world strode Vishnu: thrice his foot he planted, and the whole world was gathered in his footsteps. Vishnu, the guardian, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veda/through-all-this-world-strode-vishnu-thrice-his-foot-he-planted-and/) Veda > [Yogas chitta vritti nirodhah - (Yoga is to check the mind from changing) - which is acceptable to all. That is also the goal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/yogas-chitta-vritti-nirodhah-yoga-is-to-check-the-mind-from-changing/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [The pure mystic wishes to approach his God only in the all-embracing love. The yogi, too, walks toward one single aspect of God. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-bardon/the-pure-mystic-wishes-to-approach-his-god-only-in-the-all-embracing/) [Franz Bardon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-bardon/) > [Every act of charity, every thought of sympathy, every action of help, every good deed, is taking so much of self-importance away from our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-act-of-charity-every-thought-of-sympathy-every-action-of-help/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Who cares for your bhakti and mukti? Who cares what your scriptures say? I will go into a thousand hells cheerfully if I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/who-cares-for-your-bhakti-and-mukti-who-cares-what-your-scriptures/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Why are we not tasting the bliss of Bhakti? Because we are taking shelter of stone boats. We are sinking and drowning in Maya…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radhanath-swami/why-are-we-not-tasting-the-bliss-of-bhakti-because-we-are-taking/) [Radhanath Swami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radhanath-swami/) > [“No one can say with finality that God is only 'this' and nothing else. He is formless, and again He has forms. For the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-ramakrishna/no-one-can-say-with-finality-that-god-is-only-this-and-nothing-else/) [Sri Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-ramakrishna/) > [I have written and spoken my thoughts over many years. Now I'm on new ground and spirit. I want to bring these together. Things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/i-have-written-and-spoken-my-thoughts-over-many-years-now-i-m-on-new/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [God is love, love is bhakti and bhakti our connection to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-j-yesudas/god-is-love-love-is-bhakti-and-bhakti-our-connection-to-god/) [K. J. Yesudas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-j-yesudas/) > [Arise! Arise! A tidal wave is coming! Onward! Men and women, down to the Chandala (Pariah) - all are pure in his eyes. Onward!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/arise-arise-a-tidal-wave-is-coming-onward-men-and-women-down-to-the/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“The one great advantage of Bhakti is that it is the easiest and most natural way to reach the great divine end in view;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-one-great-advantage-of-bhakti-is-that-it-is-the-easiest-and-most/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Bhakti cannot be attained, it is a gift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radhanath-swami/bhakti-cannot-be-attained-it-is-a-gift/) [Radhanath Swami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radhanath-swami/) > [As you pass through bhakti yoga, as you pass through love, you're elated. You're fulfilled and you're joyous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/as-you-pass-through-bhakti-yoga-as-you-pass-through-love-you-re/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) [Browse all 55 Bhakti quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bhakti/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Those who are lacking in bhakti (devotion), lacking in faith, are ill qualified to interpret the scriptures.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mahatma Gandhi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/those-who-are-lacking-in-bhakti-devotion-lacking-in-faith-are-ill/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bhakti" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/those-who-are-lacking-in-bhakti-devotion-lacking-in-faith-are-ill/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/603/mahatma-gandhi-23_bhakti_those-who-are-lacking-in-bhakti-devotion_136457.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/603/mahatma-gandhi-23_bhakti_those-who-are-lacking-in-bhakti-devotion_136457.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/603/mahatma-gandhi-23_bhakti_those-who-are-lacking-in-bhakti-devotion_136457.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Those who are lacking in bhakti (devotion), lacking in faith, are ill qualified to interpret the scriptures.” — Mahatma Gandhi", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Mahatma Gandhi", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Those who are lacking in bhakti...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/those-who-are-lacking-in-bhakti-devotion-lacking-in-faith-are-ill/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/those-who-are-lacking-in-bhakti-devotion-lacking-in-faith-are-ill/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```