BRS 1.3.47

The process by which pratibimba appears is described in this verse. Those who are attached to enjoyment and liberation, through occasional rather than constant association with devotees (daivāt), imitate devotional activities, such as chanting, but with their own goals in mind, and they achieve a general tranquility of mind. But their hearts are still contaminated with those desires, since they have not realized the fault of such desires. The devotee’s heart is like the sky, which is untouched by other objects, and is thus suitable for the rising of the moon of prema. The reflection of that moon situated in the devotee’s heart—not the moon itself—appears within the heart of such contaminated persons. A reflection appears because of the impositions (upādhi) caused by other desires. Thus, that reflection is not exactly the same as the original, since it takes support from only a few qualities of the original rati and is a blurred image possessing contamination of other desires. A desire for pure bhāva on the other hand produces a complete and pure reflection, because the aspirant takes support of a host of wonderful qualities of bhāva and makes efforts for the correct goal. When that person with other desires becomes separated from the devotee, will that reflection disappear? No, by the impressions it leaves in his heart, the reflection of bhāva remains there for some time.