Verse Text
atra tyājyatayaivoktā muktiḥ paṣca-vidhāpi cet |
sālokyādis tathāpy atra bhaktyā nātivirudhyate ||55||
Translation
Though the five types of mukti have been described as worthy of rejection, sālokya, sārṣṭi, sāmīpya and sārūpya are not so contradictory to bhakti.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
Though these four are not extremely contradictory to bhakti, they are contrary to a small degree, since they are accomplished with some unfavorable attitude. [Note: If the devotee has a desire for these four, independent of the desire to please the Lord, then the bhakti is no longer anyabhilāsa-śūnya.] The favorable portion in these four is caused by the acceptance of some bhakti.
Purport (Nectar of Devotion)
From the above statement it is found that a devotee is not after any of the stages of liberation. There are five stages of liberation, already explained as being (1) to become one with the Lord, (2) to live on the same planet as the Lord, (3) to obtain the same bodily features as the Lord, (4) to have the same opulences as the Lord and (5) to have constant association with the Lord. Out of these five liberated stages, the one which is known as sāyujya, or to merge into the existence of the Lord, is the last to be accepted by a devotee. The other four liberations, although not desired by devotees, still are not against the devotional ideals. Some of the liberated persons who have achieved these four stages of liberation may also develop affection for Kṛṣṇa and be promoted to the Goloka Vṛndāvana planet in the spiritual sky. In other words, those who are already promoted to the Vaikuṇṭha planets and who possess the four kinds of liberation may also sometimes develop affection for Kṛṣṇa and become promoted to Kṛṣṇaloka.