ECSTASY Ecstatic love of Godhead can be potently invoked simply by following the rules and regulations of devotional service as they are prescribed in scriptures, under the direction of a bona fide spiritual master. In the … Read More
CHAPTER NINETEEN Devotional Service In Pure Love of God When one’s desire to love Kṛṣṇa in one’s particular relationship becomes intensified, this is known as pure love of Godhead. In the beginning a devotee is engaged … Read More
ATTRACTION FOR LIVING IN A PLACE WHERE KṚṢṆA HAS HIS PASTIMES In the book Padyāvalī by Rūpa Gosvāmī there is the following statement about Vṛndāvana: “In this place the son of Mahārāja Nanda used to live … Read More
EAGERNESS TO DESCRIBE THE LORD’S TRANSCENDENTAL QUALITIES Attachment for chanting the glories of the Lord is also expressed in the Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta as follows: “What shall I do for Kṛṣṇa, who is pleasing beyond all pleasurable conceptions, … Read More
ATTACHMENT TO CHANTING THE HOLY NAMES OF THE LORD In the same Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta there is another statement about the chanting of Rādhārāṇī. It is said by one of the associates of Rādhārāṇī, “O Lord Govinda, the … Read More
EAGERNESS FOR ACHIEVING THE DESIRED SUCCESS When one is sufficiently eager to achieve success in devotional service, that eagerness is called samutkaṇṭhā. This means “complete eagerness.” Actually this eagerness is the price for achieving success in … Read More
GREAT HOPE The strong conviction that one will certainly receive the favor of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is called in Sanskrit āśā-bandha. Āśā-bandha means to continue to think, “Because I’m trying my best to follow … Read More
PRIDELESSNESS When a devotee, in spite of possessing all the qualities of pure realization, is not proud of his position, he is called prideless. In the Padma Purāṇa it is stated that King Bhagīratha was the … Read More
DETACHMENT The senses are always desiring sense enjoyment, but when a devotee develops transcendental love for Kṛṣṇa his senses are no longer attracted by material desires. This state of mind is called detachment. There is a … Read More
PERSEVERANCE When a person is undisturbed even in the presence of various causes of disturbance, he is called reserved and perseverant. An example of this perseverance and reservation is found in the behavior of King Parīkṣit, … Read More
UTILIZATION OF TIME An unalloyed devotee who has developed ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa is always engaging his words in reciting prayers to the Lord. Within the mind he is always thinking of Kṛṣṇa, and with his … Read More
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN Character of One In Ecstatic Love Rūpa Gosvāmī next describes the characteristics of a person who has actually developed his ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa. The characteristics are as follows: 1. He is always anxious to … Read More
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Ecstatic Love By the process of executing regulated devotional service, one is actually elevated to the transcendental stage, beyond the material modes of nature. At that time one’s heart becomes illuminated like the sun. … Read More
PARENTHOOD OR FRIENDSHIP Devotees who are attracted to Kṛṣṇa as parents or as friends should follow in the footsteps of Nanda Mahārāja or Subala respectively. Nanda Mahārāja is the foster father of Kṛṣṇa, and out of … Read More
CONJUGAL LOVE Devotional service following in the footsteps of the gopīs of Vṛndāvana or the queens at Dvārakā is called devotional service in conjugal love. This devotional service in conjugal love can be divided into two … Read More
ELIGIBILITY FOR SPONTANEOUS DEVOTIONAL SERVICE Persons desiring to follow in the footsteps of such eternal devotees of the Lord as the Vṛṣṇis and Vṛndāvana denizens are called rāgānugā devotees, which means that they are trying to … Read More
CHAPTER SIXTEEN Spontaneous Devotion Further Described RELATIONSHIP In the attitude of the denizens of Vṛndāvana, such as Nanda Mahārāja and mother Yaśodā, is to be found the ideal transcendental concept of being the father and mother … Read More
SENSUAL ATTRACTION This extreme desire to serve the Lord is manifest in the transcendental land of Vraja. And it is specifically manifested among the gopīs. The gopīs’ love for Kṛṣṇa is so elevated that for our … Read More
CHAPTER FIFTEEN Spontaneous Devotional Service Examples of spontaneous devotional service can easily be seen in Kṛṣṇa’s direct associates in Vṛndāvana. The spontaneous dealings of the residents of Vṛndāvana in relationship with Kṛṣṇa are called rāgānugā. These … Read More
CHAPTER FIFTEEN Spontaneous Devotional Service Examples of spontaneous devotional service can easily be seen in Kṛṣṇa’s direct associates in Vṛndāvana. The spontaneous dealings of the residents of Vṛndāvana in relationship with Kṛṣṇa are called rāgānugā. These … Read More
