Seeing All This We Want to Become Your Servants

Such a devotee prays for Krishna’s mercy as described in Srimad Bhagavatam (10.14.8):

tat te ‘nukampam su-samiksamano

bhunjana evatma-krtam vipakam

hrd-vag vapurbhir vidadhan namas te

jiveta yo mukti-pade sa daya-bhak

My dear Lord, he who sincerely waits for You to grant him Your causeless mercy, while patiently suffering from the reactions of his past misdeeds and offering his respectful obeisances to You with heart, words and body, certainly deserves liberation, since it is his right.

Whoever is in this condition obtains supreme spiritual peace, as confirmed by Srimad Bhagavatam (11.2.43):

ity acyutanghrim bhajato ‘nuvrttya

bhaktir viraktir bhagavat-prabodhah

bhavanti vai bhagavatasya rajams

tatah param santim upaiti saksat

My dear King, the devotee who worships the lotus feet of the Infallible Personality of God with constant striving achieves firm devotion and detachment, and experiences the knowledge of the Personality of God. Thus, the successful devotee of the Lord attains supreme spiritual peace in the form of prema.

The nine types of bhakti are listed in Srimad Bhagavatam (7.5.23-24):

sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam pada-sevanam

arcanam vandanam dasyam sakhyam atma-nivedanam

iti pumsarpita visnau bhaktis cen nava-laksana

kriyeta bhagavaty addha tan manye ‘dhitam uttamam

Prahlada Maharaja said: Listen and chant the transcendental holy name, form, qualities, pastimes of Lord Visnu and His surroundings, remember all things, serve the lotus feet of the Lord, offer the Lord respectful worship with sixteen different objects, offer prayers to the Lord, become His servant, view the Lord as your best friend, and submit everything to Him [in other words, serve Him with your body, mind and words] – these nine methods are considered pure devotional service. The one who has devoted his life to Krishna’s service by these nine methods is the most educated person because he has attained perfect knowledge.

As the level of bhava increases, attachment for service is spontaneous. We find in Srimad Bhagavatam (6.11.24) the following prayer by Vrtrasura:

aham hare tava padaika-mula-

dasanudaso bhavitasmi bhuyah

manah smaretasu-pater gunams te

grnita vak karma karotu kayah

My Lord, O Supreme Personality of God, can I again be the servant of Your eternal servants who find refuge only at Your lotus feet? O Lord of my life, grant me to become Your servant again so that my mind is always immersed in the thought of Your transcendental qualities. May my words glorify Your qualities and my body always be committed to the loving service of Your Grace.

The living entity is enjoyed and Krishna is the one who enjoys. Therefore, by regularly performing devotional service, the hope of attaining the service of the one who is always happy, Sri Radha, gradually increases. At that moment, feelings for service are manifested in the mood of the gopis. The feeling of the gopis is described in Srimad Bhagavatam (10.29.38):

tan nah prasida vrjinardana te ‘nghri-mulam

prapta visrjya vasatis tvad-upasanasah

tvat-sundara-smita-niriksana-tivra-kama-

taptatmanam purusa-bhusana dehi dasyam

Therefore, O conqueror of all suffering, please show us mercy. To get closer to Your lotus feet, we have abandoned our families and homes, and have no other desire than to serve You. Our hearts burn with the intense desire generated by Your beautiful smiling looks. O jewel among men, please accept us as Your servants.

Srimad Bhagavatam (10.29.39) tells us how to take refuge in the perfect feeling of the gopis:

viksyalakavrta-mukham tava kundala-sri-

ganda-sthaladhara-sudham hasitavalokam

dattabhayam ca bhuja-danda-yugam vilokya

vaksah sriyaika-ramanam ca bhavama dasyah

Seeing Your face framed by the curls of Your hair, Your cheeks adorned with earrings, Your lips full of nectar, Your smiling gaze, Your imposing arms that chase away our fear, and Your chest which is the only source of pleasure for the goddess of fortune, well seeing all this we want to become Your servants.

The superiority of parakiya-bhava in this stage is described in Srimad Bhagavatam (10.29.33):

kurvanti hi tvayi ratim kusalah sva atman

nitya-priye pati-sutadibhir arti-daih kim

tan nah prasida paramesvara ma sma chindya

asam dhrtam tvayi cirad aravinda-netra

Experienced transcendentalists always direct their affection on You, as they recognize You as their true self and eternal beloved. What is the use of these husbands, children and relatives who only give us trouble? O supreme controller, grant us Your mercy. Oh You who have lotus eyes, please do not take away the hope of having Your association for so long.

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