CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE Ways of Meeting Kṛṣṇa When Kṛṣṇa and His devotees meet, the meeting is technically called yoga, or linking up with the Lord. Such meetings between Kṛṣṇa and His devotees can be divided into three … Read More
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT Indifference and Separation The great devotee Uddhava once wrote a letter to Kṛṣṇa, “My dear Kṛṣṇa, I have just finished the study of all kinds of philosophical books and Vedic verses about the goal … Read More
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN Impetuses for Kṛṣṇa’s Service The causeless mercy of Kṛṣṇa, the dust of His lotus feet, His prasāda and association with His devotees are some impetuses toward a devotee’s engagement in transcendental loving service to … Read More
FOLLOWERS OF THE LORD Those who are constantly engaged in the personal service of the Lord are called anugas, or followers. Examples of such followers are Sucandra, Maṇḍana, Stamba and Sutamba. They are all inhabitants of … Read More
CONSTANT ASSOCIATES In the city of Dvārakā the following devotees are known as Kṛṣṇa’s close associates: Uddhava, Dāruka, Sātyaki, Śrutadeva, Śatrujit, Nanda, Upananda and Bhadra. All of these personalities remain with the Lord as His secretaries, … Read More
DEVOTEES UNDER THE PROTECTION AND SHELTER OF THE LORD One resident of Vṛndāvana once told Lord Kṛṣṇa, “My dear Kṛṣṇa, O pleasure of Vṛndāvana! Being afraid of this material existence, we have taken shelter of You, … Read More
APPOINTED SERVANTS In a conversation between Jāmbavatī, one of Kṛṣṇa’s wives, and Kālindī, her friend, Jāmbavatī inquired, “Who is this personality circumambulating our Kṛṣṇa?” Kālindī replied, “She is Ambikā, the superintendent of all universal affairs.” Then … Read More
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX Transcendental Affection (Servitude) The transcendental mellow of affection has been accepted by authorities like Śrīdhara Svāmī as a perfectional stage of devotion. It is just above the humor of neutrality and is a requisite … Read More
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR The Nectar of Devotion The particular type of ecstatic loving sentiment that develops within the heart of a particular devotee is considered to be vibhāva. And the resultant manifestations such as moving of the … Read More
DREAD One old devotee said, “My dear Lord, when we are away from You we become so anxious to see You again, and there is great misery in our lives. But then when we do see … Read More
GHASTLINESS There is a statement by Yāmunācārya to this effect: “Since I have begun to enjoy these transcendental exchanges of love, which are always newer and newer, whenever I remember the pleasure of past sex life, … Read More
ANGER When Jaṭilā, the mother of Abhimanyu, saw Kṛṣṇa wearing a necklace, she could understand that the jeweled ornament had been given to Him by Rādhārāṇī. She therefore became absorbed in anger and began to move … Read More
LAMENTATION In the Tenth Canto, seventh chapter, verse 25 of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, there is a description of Kṛṣṇa’s being taken away by the whirlwind demon, Tṛṇāvarta. As Kṛṣṇa was being thus carried up into the sky, all … Read More
CHIVALRY On the bank of the Yamunā, once there was the crackling sound of dry leaves, giggling from the cowherd boys and thundering from the sky. Śrīdāmā was tightening his belt to fight with Kṛṣṇa, the … Read More
ASTONISHMENT Once Brahmā was watching all the cows and the cowherd boys dressed in yellow garments and decorated with valuable jewels. The boys were expanding their four arms and were being worshiped by many hundreds of … Read More
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE Indirect Expressions of Ecstatic Love LAUGHTER After He had stolen some yogurt from the pots of two gopīs, Kṛṣṇa told one of His gopī friends, “My dear beautiful friend, I can take an oath … Read More
CONJUGAL LOVE Above even the humor of love between Kṛṣṇa and His parents is the relationship of conjugal love. The Lord and the young gopīs exhibit this in different ways – glancing, moving the eyebrows, speaking … Read More
SUBORDINATE ECSTATIC LOVE The devotees who always think of Kṛṣṇa as a superior are in subordinate ecstatic love. To such a devotee the concept of inferiority to the Lord is very prominent, and he rarely takes … Read More
PURE AND MIXED FLAVORS Generally, a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa may be placed into one of three groups. One group consists of those who are completely dependent on the merciful affection of the Supreme Personality of … Read More
NEUTRALITY Neutrality can be further subdivided into general, transparent and peaceful. An attraction for Kṛṣṇa by the people in general or by children cannot take any specific or satisfactory position. It can be manifest sometimes in … Read More
