Sutra 10

The Narada Bhakti Sutra, Sutra 10

अन्याश्रयाणां त्यागोऽनन्यता॥ १०॥

"Renunciation of all other supports is whole-heartedness (in Devotion)."

Here in this Sutra the term ‘single pointedness’ (ananyatā) employed in the previous Sutra, is being clearly explained. When a mind is exclusively single pointed in the contemplation of the Lord, that mind seeks no shelter from dissatisfaction in any other object of the world. When a true devotee in his great Devotion finds his heart entirely occupied by the Lord of his Devotion, he finds therein no accommodation to entertain anything else. He comes to depend, for all his inner satisfaction and outer comforts, upon none other than the Lord of his heart.

Thus this Sutra emphasizes the importance of singular focus in the path of Devotion. It suggests that for one to attain the highest form of devotion, or bhakti, one must relinquish all forms of dependency on anything other than the Divine. This Renunciation is not just of physical or material support, but also of emotional and intellectual crutches. It is a call to devote oneself entirely to the Divine, without any distractions or reservations.

Remember how Draupadi while being dishonoured by the Kauravas, first looked at her family to help her. Only when she developed ananyata towards the Lord did He come to save her modesty. 

In essence, Sutra 10 of the Narada Bhakti Sutra speaks of the concept of ananyata, or single pointed exclusivity in Devotion. This exclusivity is not about exclusion but about prioritizing the Divine above all else. It is about a state of being where the devotee's thoughts, actions, and entire being are aligned with and dedicated to the Divine. This level of devotion is said to be liberating, leading the devotee to a state of complete contentment and union with the Divine.

A heart, thus ablaze with God-love even while experiencing the world of objects, emotions and thoughts through the vehicles of one’s own body, mind and intellect, can never be away from the joyous Love Divine. To such a devotee his Lord is never far away.

The principle of exclusive Devotion is echoed in various other Vedic texts. Here are three verses from different texts that reflect a similar sentiment:

Isha Upanishad, Verse 1

ईशावास्यमिदं सर्वं यत्किञ्च जगत्यां जगत् |

"Everything in this moving universe is enveloped by the Lord."

Bhagavad Gita, 18.66

सर्वधर्मान् परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रज |

   

"Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me alone."

Mundaka Upanishad, 3.2.3

तमेव चाद्यं पुरुषं प्रपद्ये यतः प्रवृत्तिः प्रसृता पुराणी |

  

"I surrender to that Primeval Person from whom the ancient activity (of universal creation) has emanated."

These verses, like Narada Bhakti Sutra 10, advocate for a singular focus on the Divine as the ultimate path to Realization and fulfillment. They all convey the message that True Devotion requires the Renunciation of all other attachments and the whole-hearted pursuit of the Divine. This theme of exclusive Devotion is central to the philosophy of bhakti and is a recurring motif in Vedic literature.