Verse Text
atha bheda-trayī hṛdyā rateḥ prīty-ādir īryate |
gāḍhānukūlatotpannā mamatvena sadāśritā ||22||
Translation
The three types of rati –prīti, sakhya and vatsala—are pleasing to the heart. They arise from deep friendliness to the Lord and are always endowed with possessiveness of the Lord.
Purport (Nectar of Devotion)
Generally, a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa may be placed into one of three groups. One group consists of those who are completely dependent on the merciful affection of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, another group consists of devotees who are dealing with Kṛṣṇa on friendly terms, and the third group consists of those who are dealing with Kṛṣṇa as His superiors, with parental affection. These three classes of devotees gradually develop different relationships of transcendental mellow with the Personality of Godhead.