The outward behavior of a devotee – the symptoms and activities of one who is situated in the prema – is described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.2.40):
evam-vratah sva-priya-nama-kirtya
jatanurago druta-citta uccaih
hasaty atho roditi rauti gayati
unmada-van nrtyati loka-bahyah
By chanting the holy name of the Supreme Lord, one comes to the level of love for God. Then the devotee stands firm in his vow as the eternal servant of the Lord, and gradually becomes very attached to a particular name and form of the Supreme Personality of God. As his heart melts from ecstatic love, he laughs very loudly, cries or screams. Sometimes he sings and dances like a madman because the opinion of the people is indifferent to him.
The Padyavali quotes a verse recited by Caitanya Mahaprabhu and taken from Kavya-prakasa which describes the steadfast faith of a devotee located in Vraja-lila.
yah kaumara-harah sa eva hi varas ta eva caitra-ksapas
te conmilita-malati-surabhayah praudhah kadambanilah
sa caivasmi tathapi tatra surata-vyapara-lila-vidhau
reva-rodhasi vetasi-taru-tale cetah samutkanthate
That person who stole my heart in my youth, now He is my master again. These are the same moonlit nights of the month of Caitra. There is the same fragrance of sick flowers, and the same gentle breezes blow from the Kadamba Forest. In our intimate relationship, I am that same lover, however my mind is not happy here. I am eager to return to that place on the banks of the Reva under the Vetasi tree. This is my wish.
In Padyavali, Srila Rupa Gosvami explained the previous sloka with the following words:
priyah so ‘yam krishnah sahacari kuru-ksetra-militas
tathaham sa radha tad idam ubhayoh sangama-sukham
tathapy antah-khelan-madhura-murali-pancama-juse
mano me kalindi-pulina-vipinaya sprhayati
My dear friend, I met My old and dear friend Krishna on the field of Kuruksetra. I am Radharani Herself, and now We meet again. It is very beautiful here, but I would like to go back to the banks of the Yamuna under the trees of the forest. I wish to hear the sound of His sweet flute intoning the fifth note in that forest of Vrndavana.
There are no pastimes that match those that happened in Vrndavana. These pastimes are unknown in other realms, even in Vaikuntha. In Vraja these pastimes are divided into two, namely Vicheda (separation) and Sambhoga (meeting). Always taste these two transcendental relationships, as they are supremely joyful.
This is a section of the book “Bhajana Rahasya”, by Bhaktivinode Thakura.
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