Verse Text
api ca—
vyaktaṁ masṛṇitevāntar lakṣyate rati-lakṣaṇam |
mumukṣu-prabhṛtīnāṁ ced bhaved eṣā ratir na hi ||41||
Translation
However, it should be said: If softness of the heart, the symptom of rati, becomes clearly visible in persons desiring liberation, or in other unqualified persons, it is not real rati.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
It has been stated that the quality of real rati is having the desire only to please the Lord. If other desires are present, it should not be considered rati, in spite of the presence of other symptoms, such as sāttvika-bhāvas. That is explained in this verse. The phrase api ca (moreover) should mean api tu (however). If the rati characterized by internal softness (melting of the heart), or what appears to be so, becomes visible in persons, such as those desiring liberation, it should not be considered real rati, because persons desiring liberation have other desires. One should not think that if a person has strong desires for things other than Kṛṣṇa, it can be called rati for that particular object (for instance rati for liberation).
Purport (Nectar of Devotion)
There are impersonalist philosophers and mystics, however, who by a show of devotional service want ultimately to merge into the existence of the Supreme Lord. They sometimes try to imitate a pure devotee’s sentiment for visiting the holy places where Kṛṣṇa had His pastimes, but they simply have a view for salvation, and so their activities cannot be considered attachment.