Verse Text
tatrāpi ca viśeṣeṇa gatim aṇvīm anicchataḥ |
bhaktir hṛta-manaḥ-prāṇān premṇā tān kurute janān ||23||
Translation
By prema, the bhakti processes such as hearing take possession of the mind and senses of persons who do not desire the goal of liberation at all.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
This verse speaks of the excellence of bhakti, which is devoid of desire for liberation. Anvīṁ gatim (minute or subtle goal) refers to liberation. Bhakti indicates the processes such as hearing. These processes take possession of the devotees’ minds and senses (prāṇān) through the influence of prema. [Note: The activities of bhakti are purely spiritual though expressed through our senses and mind while we are embodied, because of the influence of the Lord’s spiritual energy. This becomes perfect at the stage of prema.] That means their minds and senses become bhakti itself by the influence of prema.
Purport (Nectar of Devotion)
A pure devotee never cares for liberation. Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu prayed to Kṛṣṇa, “My dear son of Nanda, I do not want any material happiness in the shape of many followers, nor immense opulence in wealth, nor any beautiful wife, nor do I want cessation from material existence. I may take birth many times, one after another, but what I pray from You is that My devotion unto You may always remain unflinching.”
The attention of a pure devotee is so much attracted to glorification of the Lord’s pastimes, name, qualities, forms, etc., that the devotee does not care for mukti. Śrī Bilvamaṅgala Ṭhākura has said, “If I am engaged in devotional service unto You, my dear Lord, then very easily can I perceive Your presence everywhere. And as far as liberation is concerned, I think liberation stands at my door with folded hands, waiting to serve me.” To pure devotees, therefore, liberation and spiritual emancipation are not very important things.