Verse Text
tatra kāmarūpā—
sā kāmarūpā sambhoga-tṛṣṇāṁ yā nayati svatām |
yad asyāṁ kṛṣṇa-saukhyārtham eva kevalam udyamaḥ ||283||
Translation
Here is the definition of kāmarūpa-rāgātmika-bhakti: That type of bhakti with full absorption in the beloved is called kāma-rūpa-bhakti which produces an intrinsic thirst for a conjugal relationship with the Lord in the ātmā. It is called bhakti because in that condition there is only eagerness for giving pleasure to Kṛṣṇa.
Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Kāma should be described as a particular type of prema with full, spontaneous absorption in the beloved object. This has already been mentioned in the definition of rāgātmika-bhakti. That which is famous as prema (sā) is called kāma-rūpa in this verse. Other varieties are excluded. The verse covers only the characteristics of kāma-rūpa. What is its effect? The thirst for conjugal enjoyment famous as kāma or lust is actually a thirst composed of prema alone, with no trace of material lust, and this thirst becomes one’s essential nature (svatām). The verse then explains the reason that this kāma is equated with prema — because (yad) in this thirst for enjoyment (asyām), there is complete eagerness of the gopīs of Vraja only for pleasing Kṛṣṇa, and not a thirst for their personal enjoyment.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
Kāma should be described as a particular type of prema with full, spontaneous absorption in the beloved object, which was already mentioned in the definition of rāgātmika-bhakti. This verse begins to describe kāma-rūpa-rāgātmika-bhakti. That type of bhakti (sā), whose very form is prema (not material lust), is called kāma-rūpa in this verse and no other type, and which produces a thirst for conjugal enjoyment with the Lord as one’s essential nature. What is the cause for this kāma being prema? In that kāma-rūpa-bhakti, there is only an intense zeal for the happiness of Kṛṣṇa.
Purport (Nectar of Devotion)
The “lusty attitude” of the gopīs does not refer to any sort of sex indulgence. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī explains that this “lusty desire” refers to the devotee’s particular attitude of association with Kṛṣṇa. Every devotee in his perfectional stage has a spontaneous attraction to the Lord. This attraction is sometimes called the “lusty desire” of the devotee. The lust is the devotee’s excessive desire to serve the Lord in a particular capacity. Such a desire may seem to be a desire for enjoying the Lord, but actually the endeavor is to serve the Lord in that capacity. For example, a devotee may be desiring to associate with the Personality of Godhead as His cowherd friend. He will want to serve the Lord by assisting Him in controlling the cows in the pasturing ground. This may appear to be a desire to enjoy the company of the Lord, but actually it is spontaneous love, serving Him by assisting in managing the transcendental cows.