Sutra 43

The Narada Bhakti Sutra 43:

Danger of Bad Company (duhsanga)

दुःसङ्गः सर्वथैव त्याज्यः॥ ४३॥

"Bad company must be avoided by all means."

The companionship of the good helps us to live gracefully in the spiritual path and they can, by generating in us a Constant Remembrance of God, help us to exhaust our negative vāsanās and provide us with a purer heart that will readily invoke His Grace in plenty. But ‘evil company’ works upon us just in the opposite way. The companionship with the evil-minded, sensual people can create in us only similar thoughts which will, in their turn, generate more and more of the negative vāsanās and, under their compulsion, our minds become endlessly agitated. A life of seeking such sense gratifications will dissipate all the vital energies and make the individual weak in body and disturbed in mind.

This Sutra emphasizes the importance of satsang, or good company, on the path of Devotion. The presence of duhsanga, or bad company, is considered detrimental to the growth of bhakti, or Devotion. The Sutra advises that one should avoid bad company as it can lead to a decrease in the intensity of one's Devotion, distract from spiritual goals, and potentially lead to engaging in non-virtuous activities. The company one keeps can have a profound impact on one's thoughts, actions, and ultimately, spiritual progress.

In the context of bhakti yoga, the company of the holy, the wise, and the devoted is considered essential for nurturing love for the divine. Good company is like a catalyst that accelerates the devotee's progress towards God-Realization. It provides support, inspiration, and the right environment for the devotee to practice devotion without distractions. Conversely, bad company is seen as a major obstacle that can misguide and derail a devotee from the path of pure Devotion.

The principle of avoiding bad company is not unique to the Narada Bhakti Sutra but is a common theme across various Vedic texts. Here are similar verses from Vedic literature:

Chandogya Upanishad 7.26.2:

सत्येन लभ्यस्तपसा ह्येष आत्मा सम्यग्ज्ञानेन ब्रह्मचर्येण नित्यम्।

"The Self is attained by truth, by austerity, right knowledge, and constant celibacy."

Shvetashvatara Upanishad 4.20:

न संदृशे तिष्ठति रूपमस्य न चक्षुषा पश्यति कश्चनैनम्।

"His form is not to be seen; no one sees Him with the eye."

Bhagavad Gita 13.8-12:

अमानित्वमदम्भित्वमहिंसा क्षान्तिरार्जवम्।

"Humility, unpretentiousness, non-violence, patience, uprightness..."

These verses, like Narada Bhakti Sutra 43, highlight the virtues that lead to spiritual growth and the Realization of the Self. They underscore the importance of virtues like truth, austerity, right knowledge, humility, and patience, which are cultivated in good company and are essential for spiritual progress.