Verse Text
tatra kevalā –
raty-antarasya gandhena varjitā kevalā bhavet |
vrajānuge rasālādau śrīdāmādau vayasyake |
gurau ca vrajanāthādau krameṇaiva sphuraty asau ||25||
Translation
Kevala-rati: When the rati has no trace of other types of rati it is called kevala-rati (pure rati). In Vraja, it is found in Kṛṣṇa’s servants such as Rasāla, in friends such as Śrīdāma and elders such as Nanda.
Purport (Nectar of Devotion)
When the attraction for Kṛṣṇa is based on only one particular humor, that humor is called kevalā, or the pure state. One in this pure state of devotional service gradually develops the desire to follow in the footsteps of an eternal associate of Kṛṣṇa, e.g., to follow in the footsteps of Rasāla, the personal attendant of Kṛṣṇa in Goloka Vṛndāvana, or to follow Kṛṣṇa’s friends, like Śrīdāmā and Sudāmā, or to follow Nanda and Yaśodā, devotees in parenthood. Ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa is never manifested directly with Kṛṣṇa Himself. The devotee has to follow in the footsteps of the eternal associates of Kṛṣṇa in Goloka Vṛndāvana.