Verse Text
yathā –
kecid bhītāḥ śaraṇam abhitaḥ saṁśrayante bhavantaṁ
vijṣātārthās tvad-anubhavataḥ prāsya kecin mumukṣām |
śrāvaṁ śrāvaṁ tava nava-navāṁ mādhurīṁ sādhu-vṛndād
vṛndāraṇyotsava kila vayaṁ deva sevemahi tvām ||22||
Translation
O bliss of Vṛndāvana! O Lord! Some people who were fearful, take shelter of You completely, understanding that you are the protector (śaranyas). Some, realizing You are greater than brahman, giving up desire for liberation, surrender to You (jṣāni-caras). However, hearing again and again about Your ever-fresh sweetness from the devotees, may we simply become engaged in service to You (sevā-niṣṭhās).
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
This verse describes the past condition of fear rather than the present. Now they are devoid of all other desires (no desire for protection from fear), since they are pure devotees. This indicates the śaraṇyas. Giving up the desire for liberation indicates also giving up the jṣāna which is a cause of śānta-rati. That indicates the jṣāni-caras. Previously, they had attraction for jṣāna. The difference between the jṣāni-caras and the sevā-niṣṭhās is that the jṣāni-caras appreciate the greatness of the Lord and the sevā-niṣṭhās appreciate His sweetness. Fear also indicates fear of all things devoid of bhakti to the Lord. Tvad anubhavato vijṣātārthā refers to the jṣāni-caras who realized brahman and then realized the Lord as greater. This is the statement of a devotee performing sādhana with natural dāsya-rati, requesting attainment of pure service (sevā-niṣṭhā).
Purport (Nectar of Devotion)
One resident of Vṛndāvana once told Lord Kṛṣṇa, “My dear Kṛṣṇa, O pleasure of Vṛndāvana! Being afraid of this material existence, we have taken shelter of You, for You can completely protect us! We are well aware of Your greatness. As such, we have given up our desire for liberation and have taken complete shelter under Your lotus feet. Since we have heard about Your ever-increasing transcendental love, we have voluntarily engaged ourselves in Your transcendental service.” This statement is by a devotee who is under the protection and shelter of Lord Kṛṣṇa.