Sutra 67

The Narada Bhakti Sutra 67:

 

भक्ता एकान्तिनो मुख्याः॥ ६७॥

"Devotees whose sole, single goal is the Lord Himself and whose single pointed devotion towards the Lord is for its own sake are the best."

There are two types of love, the higher and the lower types. The Supreme Divine Love: pure, free of any relationship, just a sheer identification with the Lord, demanding nothing, desiring nothing and the lower type of bhakti which can be cultivated, raised to the higher and there to experience the white-heat of deep Devotion. Now Sage Nārada is speaking of those true bhaktas who have soared beyond this highest of disciplines. These are the real devotees who have but one, only one single goal. Such devotees alone pursue the most primary love, all others are following the elementary or the secondary type of Devotion.

This Sutra emphasizes the significance of single-minded Devotion in the path of Bhakti Yoga. The term 'ekāntino' refers to those who are exclusively devoted, indicating a state of unwavering focus and dedication to the Divine. Such devotees are considered 'mukhyāḥ', or chief among bhaktas, because their Devotion is not diluted by worldly distractions or divided loyalties. Their commitment is absolute, and their love for the Divine is the central driving force in their lives.

The depth of this exclusive Devotion is such that it transcends the mere ritualistic worship and enters the realm of a personal and intimate relationship with the Divine. It is a state where the devotee sees, hears, and experiences everything as an expression of the divine and dedicates every action as an offering. This level of Devotion is marked by a profound inner transformation, where the devotee's identity merges with the object of Devotion, leading to a State of Oneness with the Divine.

In the context of Vedic literature, this concept of exclusive devotion is echoed in several texts. 

For example, in the Bhagavad Gita (9.22), Lord Krishna says:

अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जनाः पर्युपासते।

तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम्॥

"For those who worship Me with exclusive Devotion, meditating on My transcendental form, I carry what they lack and preserve what they have."

Another example can be found in the Shvetashvatara Upanishad (6.23):

यस्य देवे परा भक्तिर्यथा देवे तथा गुरौ।

तस्यैते कथिता ह्यर्थाः प्रकाशन्ते महात्मनः॥

"To those great souls who have Supreme Devotion to God and as much Devotion to the Guru as to God, all the truths of the Vedas are revealed."

These verses highlight the importance of unwavering devotion and the special status accorded to those who practice it. They underscore the idea that exclusive Devotion leads to Divine Grace, which takes care of the devotee's worldly and spiritual welfare, and reveals the ultimate truths of existence. The common thread in these teachings is the elevation of exclusive Devotion as the most effective means to attain Divine union and spiritual enlightenment.