Is it by God's grace one gets devotion?

[Ms. Thrylokya asked: Swāmi, I have heard this saying that one gets devoted to God only by the grace of God. People say that we must have a lot of Puṇyam (merits) to just hear the Rāma Kathā (Story of God). But You said that devotion to God alone brings His grace and everything happening in the world is completely under control of God. Is it by God's grace we get devotion? or by devotion we get God's grace? Can we assume that God allows the soul to hear His stories and permits the soul to get devoted to Him provided the soul does meritorious deeds (Puṇyam) in Pravṛtti? Or does God give more opportunities to the sinful souls because they are in dire need?]

Swāmi replied:- Devotion to God is not granted by God. In fact, praying Him to grant devotion to Him is the greatest insult done to God. It is just like a boy telling the girl or vice versa that the love in him or her shall be given by the opposite side (she/he). It means that the love to the opposite side is not coming naturally! The devotion to God is purely based on our side and not based on the side of God. God, in fact, creates hurdles for our love to God to test the reality and the depth of our love towards Him. I told several times that one can ask anything from God, but not devotion. If devotion is asked, God will be deeply hurt! This is the background concept whether it is the case of a meritorious soul or a sinful soul.

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