Chapter 1: The Value of Devotion

Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Nārada Bhakti Sūtra 10

anyāśrayāṇāḿ tyāgo 'nanyatā

SYNONYMS

anya — other; āśrayāṇām — of shelters; tyāgaḥ — the giving up; an-anyatā — exclusiveness.

TRANSLATION

Exclusive dedication to the Lord means giving up all shelters other than Him.

PURPORT

As mentioned above, in the Bhagavad-gītā (18.66) Lord Kṛṣṇa advises Arjuna to give up all processes of self-realization and surrender unto Him only. Knowledge of the self, knowledge of the localized Supersoul, knowledge of executing the work prescribed for the four divisions of human society, knowledge of renunciation, knowledge of detachment, knowledge of controlling the senses and the mind, knowledge of meditation, and knowledge of how to acquire material power by mystic perfection — all these are different kinds of "shelters" leading to various degrees of spiritual perfection. But the Lord's last instruction in the Bhagavad-gītā is that one should give up all these different shelters and simply take to His loving devotional service, and this surrender to the Lord will save one from all kinds of sinful reaction. In other words, direct attachment for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, and engagement in His transcendental service are the topmost perfections of spiritual life.

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami
Gopiparanadhana dasa Adhikari