Sutra 09

The Narada Bhakti Sutra 09

तस्मिन्ननन्यता तद्विरोधिषूदासीनता च॥ ९॥

"In Him alone should one's mind be fixed in whole hearted Devotion, with indifference to those things which are opposed to Him (nirodha)."

Continuing the description of ‘renunciation’ (nirodha) hinted at in the previous Sutra, here Nārada emphasises what exactly is nirodha. Single-hearted, complete identification with the Lord of the heart, and consequently to have nothing but an attitude of utter indifference to everything else that snatches away the mind from this sense of oneness with the Lord, is truly the Real Renunciation.

As Devotion for the Lord increases in an individual, his mind crowds around the Lord more and more. His activities in the world outside and his attachments to the things and beings of the world, drop off by themselves from him. His attention and his entire life come to exist only to play and serve around the Lord of his heart. Like darkness that must roll away at dawn, the worldly ties and activities roll away from the heart of one in whom the Devotion for the Lord arises.

This Sutra emphasizes the importance of single-minded Devotion and indifference to anything that is contrary to the nature of the Divine. The focus is on an unwavering commitment to the Divine, where the devotee's mind is entirely absorbed in the Divine essence (Constant Remembrance), leaving no room for distractions or opposition. This state of Devotion is not just about active engagement in worship but also about a passive disinterest in anything that doesn't lead one towards the Divine. It's a call for the devotee to align their thoughts, actions, and will entirely with the divine will, and to remain unaffected by external influences that do not support this alignment.

In the context of Vedic literature, this concept of exclusive Devotion can be compared to similar verses that highlight the importance of singular focus and detachment from the non-essential.

Isha Upanishad (Verse 1)

ईशावास्यमिदं सर्वं यत्किंच जगत्यां जगत् |

 

"Everything in this moving universe is enveloped by the Lord. One should enjoy with renunciation, not covet others' wealth."

Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 6.18)

यदा विनियतं चित्तमात्मन्येवावतिष्ठते |

 

"When the mind, restrained from material activities, becomes still in the Self alone, then one is said to be in Pure transcendental Consciousness."

Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 7.19)

वासुदेवः सर्वमिति स महात्मा सुदुर्लभः |

  

"A great soul is very rare who understands that Vasudeva (the Supreme Lord) is everything."

These verses, like Narada Bhakti Sutra 09, advocate for a life centered around the Divine, where all actions, thoughts, and possessions are dedicated to or seen as manifestations of the Divine. They call for a detachment from the material and a deep, unwavering focus on the spiritual, which is the essence of True Devotion.