Verse Text
kevalo, yathā tatraiva—
mano-gatir avicchinnā harau prema-pariplutā |
abhisandhi-vinirmuktā bhaktir viṣṇu-vaśaṅkarī || iti | ||13||
Translation
Prema with knowledge of the Lord’s sweetness, arising from the Lord’s mercy, is described as follows in the Paṣcarātra: That bhakti inundated with prema, [Note: Perhaps this is equivalent of paramāviṣṭatā, completely absorbed in the object of love, which was the definition of rāga. (BRS 1.2.272)] with continuous, spontaneous desires to please the Lord free of desires for other results (even the desire to see His powers), brings even Viṣṇu under control. [Note: Actually, kevala-prema is prema for Vraja Kṛṣṇa, though the text says viṣṇu-vaśaṅkarī, which means literally “bringing Viṣṇu under control.” In this context it must mean that bhakti for Vraja Kṛṣṇa is so attractive that even Viṣṇu becomes attracted. An example is Mahā-viṣṇu calling Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna to His abode to see them. In Arjuna’s bhakti however there is a mixture of awareness of Kṛṣṇa as God along with sweetness. Viṣṇu’s attraction to kevala-prema would be the Viṣṇu expansions as cowherd boys and calves serving Vraja Kṛṣṇa for one year. In this verse, the distinguishing factor in kevala-prema is mano-gatir avicchinnā—spontaneous service, without the impediment of conceiving of the Lord as God.]
Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
This is also from Nārada-paṣcarātra. That bhakti which possesses continuous desire for the Lord, devoid of desire for other results (abhisandhi-vinirmuktā) [Note: Mukunda Gosvāmī says that abhisandhi-vinirmuktā indicates freedom from desire for seeing the Lord’s powers.] controls the Lord.
Purport (Nectar of Devotion)
In the Nārada Paṣcarātra pure, unalloyed devotional service is explained as being without any motive for personal benefit. If a devotee is continuously in love with Lord Kṛṣṇa and his mind is always fixed upon Him, that devotional attitude will prove to be the only means of attracting the attention of the Lord. In other words, a Vaiṣṇava who is incessantly thinking of the form of Lord Kṛṣṇa is to be known as a pure Vaiṣṇava.