Sutra 47

The Narada Bhakti Sutra 47:

(Contd - the twelve methods to beat Maya) 

यो विविक्तस्थानं सेवते, यो लोकबन्धमुन्मूलयति।  

(यो) निस्त्रैगुण्यो भवति, (यो) योगक्षेमं त्यजति॥ ४७॥

"(4) He who keeps himself in a solitary place of quietude, (5) He who plucks of his bondage with the world by the roots, (6) (He who) goes beyond the influences of his ‘guṇas’, (7) (He who) renounces all his anxieties for acquiring and maintaining;"

Continuing, Sage Nārada gives the second condition: whoever he be let him go to a quiet, solitary place and concentrate upon the Lord of his heart free from the external disturbances and inner distractions. But there are some that, even if they go to the peak of the Himalayas where no person has so far trod, they are still in a crowd as their minds are full of the past impressions of the world which would disturb them even there. So a lonely place is not what is wanted, it is not loneliness that is to be sought, it is aloneness that is to be achieved. Be alone with yourself. Don't go to the jungle - get the jungle in your home! The fit environment for loneliness is not on the mountain top or in a quiet cave. To be alone with yourself you have to be at your meditation seat where you have to renounce all your relationships with the world around.

This Sutra emphasizes the importance of solitude, detachment, transcendence beyond the three gunas (qualities of nature), and the renunciation of worldly concerns for the pursuit of spiritual growth. The solitary places are not just physical locations but also represent a state of mind where one is isolated from worldly distractions. Uprooting the bondage of the world suggests a conscious effort to detach oneself from materialistic ties and relationships that hinder spiritual progress. Being free from the qualities of nature refers to transcending the gunas - sattva (goodness), rajas (passion), and tamas (ignorance) - which are considered to be the fundamental qualities that govern human behavior and the natural world. Lastly, abandoning concerns for welfare and security indicates a state of complete trust in the Divine, where one is no longer preoccupied with personal gain or loss.

Now, let's compare this with similar verses from Vedic texts:

Isha Upanishad:

ईशावास्यमिदं सर्वं यत्किंच जगत्यां जगत् |  

तेन त्यक्तेन भुञ्जीथा मा गृधः कस्यस्विद्धनम् ||

"Everything in this moving universe is enveloped by the Lord. Enjoy what He has given by renouncing it; do not covet anybody's wealth."

This verse from the Isha Upanishad echoes the sentiment of detachment found in the Narada Bhakti Sutra. It teaches that one should live in the world without attachment to possessions, recognizing that everything belongs to the Divine.

Katha Upanishad, 2.3.14:

यदा सर्वे प्रमुच्यन्ते कामा येऽस्य हृदि श्रिताः |  

अथ मर्त्योऽमृतो भवत्यत्र ब्रह्म समश्नुते || 

"When all desires that dwell in the heart are released, the mortal becomes immortal and attains Brahman in this body."

The Katha Upanishad speaks of liberation from desires as a path to immortality, similar to the abandonment of worldly concerns mentioned in the Narada Bhakti Sutra.

Bhagavad Gita, 5.18:

विद्याविनयसम्पन्ने ब्राह्मणे गवि हस्तिनि |  

शुनि चैव श्वपाके च पण्डिताः समदर्शिनः ||  

"The humble sages, by virtue of true knowledge, see with equal vision a learned and gentle Brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog, and a dog-eater."

In the Bhagavad Gita, this verse highlights the vision of equality that arises from True Knowledge, akin to the transcendence of the gunas described in the Narada Bhakti Sutra.

These verses collectively emphasize the Vedic ideals of detachment, equality, and the pursuit of Knowledge and spirituality over material concerns. They guide the seeker towards Realization and ultimate union with the Divine.