Verse Text
eteṣu tasya dāseṣu trividheṣv āśritādiṣu |
nitya-siddhāś ca siddhāś ca sādhakāḥ parikīrtitaḥ ||56||
Translation
Among the āśritas, pāriṣadas and anugas, there are nitya-siddhas, sādhana-siddhas and sādhakas. [Note: Practitioners (sādhaka) are those who have developed rati for Kṛṣṇa but have not completely extinguished the anarthas, and who are qualified to see Kṛṣṇa directly. (BRS 2.1.276) However, the word sādhaka is later used in BRS 3.3.53 and explained to mean sādhana-siddha. In that case the verse would indicate only two types of servants, nitya-siddha and sādhana-siddha, with siddhāś ca sādhakāḥ indicating only the sādhana-siddha.]
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
These types will also be found among the adhikṛta-dāsa-bhaktas, śānta-rasa-bhaktas and other devotees.
Purport (Nectar of Devotion)
Devotees attached to the transcendental loving service of the Lord may be described either as surrendered souls, as souls advanced in devotional knowledge, or as souls completely engaged in transcendental loving service. Such devotees are called (respectively) neophyte, perfect and eternally perfect.