Verse Text
tatra pūrva-rāgaḥ –
prāg-asaṅgatayor bhāvaḥ pūrva-rāgo bhaved dvayoḥ ||26||
Translation
Pūrva-rāga: The love in separation of the two lovers before they ever meet each other is called pūrva-rāga.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
The bhāva of the two lovers (dvayoḥ) who have not previously met is called pūrva-rāga (prior affection). Pūrva-rāga is called bhakti-rasa, but acts as an uddīpana (stimulus) for the lover. The other states should be understood to act in the same way.
Purport (Nectar of Devotion)
When the lover and the beloved have a distinct feeling of not meeting each other, that stage is called pūrva-rāga, or preliminary attraction.