Isvara, since 1996

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX Astonishment and Chivalry ASTONISHMENT The ecstasy of astonishment in devotional service is perceived in two ways: directly, by the experience of one’s own eyes, and indirectly, by hearing from others. When Nārada came to … Read More

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE Neutral Love of God Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī offers his respectful prayers to the eternal Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is always so beautiful and for whom the pure devotees are always engaged in loving … Read More

DIRECT AND INDIRECT ATTRACTION FOR KṚṢṆA Transcendental pleasure derived from devotional service can be divided into two groups: direct devotional service and indirect devotional service. Direct devotional service is divided into five transcendental humors or flavors, … Read More

PARENTHOOD, OR SUPERIORITY When mother Yaśodā heard that Kṛṣṇa’s cows were being forcibly moved by the strong servants of Kaṁsa and that the tender cowherd boys were trying to protect their cows, she began to think, … Read More

FRIENDSHIP As far as friendship is concerned, those high-grade devotees who are almost like Kṛṣṇa are considered to be great authorities in the modes of friendly relations with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. On that friendly … Read More

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE Additional Symptoms All the previously mentioned thirty-three symptoms of ecstatic love are called vyabhicārī, or disturbing. All these symptoms refer to apparently disturbed conditions, but even in such disturbed conditions there is acute ecstatic … Read More

SLEEPINESS Once Lord Baladeva began to talk in His sleep as follows: “O lotus-eyed Kṛṣṇa, Your childhood adventures are manifest simply according to Your own will. Therefore, please immediately dispose of the stubborn pride of this … Read More

DIZZINESS Every evening at sunset Kṛṣṇa used to return from the pasturing ground where He herded cows. Sometimes when mother Yaśodā could not hear the sweet vibration of His flute she would become very anxious, and … Read More

IMPUDENCE In the Tenth Canto, fifty-second chapter, verse 41 of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Rukmiṇī addresses a letter to Kṛṣṇa as follows: “My dear unconquerable Kṛṣṇa, my marriage day is fixed for tomorrow. I request that You come to … Read More

HAUGHTINESS, RESULTING IN DISHONORABLE WORDS In the Vidagdha-mādhava, Jaṭilā, the mother-in-law of Rādhārāṇī, began to criticize Kṛṣṇa in this way: “Kṛṣṇa, You are standing here, and Rādhārāṇī, who has just been married to my son, is … Read More

EAGERNESS In the Tenth Canto, seventy-first chapter, verse 33 of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, it is said, “When Kṛṣṇa first came from His kingdom, Dvārakā, to Indraprastha,* the young females of the city became so eager to see Him … Read More

DEATH Once the Bakāsura demon assumed the shape of a very big duck and opened his mouth in order to swallow Kṛṣṇa and all the cowherd boys. When Kṛṣṇa was entering into the demon’s mouth, Balarāma … Read More

DISEASE When Kṛṣṇa was absent from Vṛndāvana and was staying at Mathurā, some of His friends informed Him, “Dear Kṛṣṇa, because of their separation from You, the inhabitants of Vraja are so afflicted that they appear … Read More

MADNESS Śrīla Bilvamaṅgala Ṭhākura prays in his book as follows: “Let Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī purify the whole world, because She has surrendered Herself completely unto Kṛṣṇa. Out of Her ecstatic love for Him, She sometimes acted just … Read More