Verse Text
kintu bāla-camatkāra-karī tac-cihna-vīkṣayā |
abhijṣena subodho ’yaṁ raty-ābhāsaḥ prakīrtitaḥ ||44||
pratibimbas tathā cchāyā raty-ābhāso dvidhā mataḥ ||45||
Translation
Though this semblance of rati is very astounding to the innocent, those in knowledge understand what it really is by seeing the characteristics. This is called raty-ābhāsa, a semblance of rati. This semblance of rati has two types: reflection (pratibimba) and splendor (chāyā).
Purport (Nectar of Devotion)
There are many so-called devotees who artificially think of Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes known as aṣṭa-kālīya-līlā. Sometimes one may artificially imitate these, pretending that Kṛṣṇa is talking with him in the form of a boy, or else one may pretend that Rādhārāṇī and Kṛṣṇa both have come to him and are talking with him. Such characteristics are sometimes exhibited by the impersonalist class of men, and they may captivate some innocent persons who have no knowledge in the science of devotional service. However, as soon as an experienced devotee sees all of these caricatures, he can immediately evaluate such rascaldom. If such a pretender is sometimes seen possessing imitative attachment to Kṛṣṇa, that will not be accepted as real attachment. It may be said, however, that such attachment gives the pretender hope that he may eventually rise onto the actual platform of pure devotional service.
This imitative attachment can be divided into two headings—namely, shadow attachment and parā (transcendental) attachment.