Verse Text
kṛṣṇa-bhakteṣv anugrāhya-sakhi-pūjyeṣv anukramāt |
tri-vidheṣu trayī prītiḥ sakhyaṁ vatsalatety asau ||23||
Translation
When rati (with deep friendship and possessiveness) is found in three types of devotees—recipients of mercy, friends and elders—it becomes prīti-rati, sakhya-rati and vatsala-rati.
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.