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As far as devotional service is concerned, there are two divisions. In the beginning there is vidhi-bhakti, or devotional service with regulative principles. In the higher stage there is rāga-bhakti, or devotional service in pure love.

The symptoms of highly developed devotional service for Kṛṣṇa, which are exhibited by the pure devotees , are sometimes imitated by those who are not actually pure devotees. Without devotional service to Kṛṣṇa, such symptoms are artificial, not actual. Sometimes those who are not conversant with the science of devotional service are captivated by the exhibition

Caitanya accepted these principles, He still requested Rāmānanda Rāya to further explain advanced devotional Lord Caitanya rejected all these because in the field of executing pure devotional service there is very Without self-realization, such artificial methods of devotional service cannot be accepted as pure devotional Self-realized, pure devotional service is completely different from all other kinds of transcendental In the highest stage one concentrates on the simple, favorable execution of pure devotional service.

A pure devotee accepts the transcendental loving service of the Lord but rejects all kinds of liberation This is stated by Lord Kapila in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.29.11–14), in His explanation of the nature of pure devotional service. As soon as a pure devotee hears the glories and transcendental qualities of the Supreme Personality of devotional service.

Thus he is eligible for pure devotional service.” In other words, those who attain self-realization by the execution of devotional service attain a transcendental body, and, being attracted to the transcendental qualities of Kṛṣṇa, engage fully in pure devotional

A devotee selects one of them and follows in his footsteps in order to be successful in his own devotional A pure devotee discharging devotional service with attachment always follows in the footsteps of a personality It is advised in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.294) that such a pure devotee should always remember

to Rūpa Gosvāmī that there was another danger to be encountered while watering the root of the devotional Thus one has to take precautions so that the plant of devotional service is not disturbed by animals, An offense to a pure devotee of the Lord is called vaiṣṇava-aparādha, the mad elephant offense. In the discharge of devotional service, an offense to the feet of a pure devotee creates havoc and stops Then the plant of devotional service will be properly protected.

King Bharata (after whom India is called Bhārata-varṣa) was also a pure devotee, and at an early age he left his household life, his beautiful devoted wife, his sons, friends and kingdom just as if they This is typical of a person who has developed bhāva in the course of his devotional service. is in thinking that some day or other Kṛṣṇa will be kind enough to favor him by engaging him in devotional In the Padma Purāṇa another instance of pure devotion is found.

Lord Caitanya recited this story to show that even a hunter can be engaged in the devotional service of Kṛṣṇa by the influence of pure devotees.

If due to some righteous activities which provoke devotional service one acquires some faith, one takes shelter of the good association of pure devotees and is influenced by their service attitude. By developing hearing and chanting, one can advance further and further in regulative devotional service As one so advances, his misgivings about devotional service and his attraction to the material world Gradually he develops a taste for devotional service, and that taste gradually develops into attachment

“My dear Rahūgaṇa, no one can attain the perfected stage of devotional service without being favored by a great soul, a pure devotee. Similarly, when the atheist Hiraṇyakaśipu asked his son Prahlāda Mahārāja how he had attained such a devotional attitude, the boy replied, “As long as one is not favored by the dust of the feet of pure devotees, one cannot even touch the path of devotional service, which is the solution to all the problems of material

The execution of duties to attain this perfection is known as devotional service, and in maturity such devotional service becomes love of God, the true goal of life for every living being. One should desire only to achieve the stage of transcendental loving service to the Lord – pure Kṛṣṇa The all-attractive features of Lord Kṛṣṇa help one attain this stage of pure devotional service, and

After speaking in this way about pure devotional service, Lord Caitanya began to describe that service He explained that in pure devotional service there can be no desire other than the desire to advance By making one’s bodily necessities secondary, one can primarily devote his time to the cultivation of Pure devotional service means engaging all one’s senses in the service of the Lord. devotional service.

Śrīvāsa represents the pure devotee, and Gadādhara represents the internal energy of the Lord for the advancement of pure devotion. The whole process of devotional service involves a transcendental reciprocation of the flavors of relationship Without such a diverse exchange of transcendental flavors, devotional service has no meaning.

Due to faith a person associates with pure devotees, and by such association he develops devotional service As devotional service develops, his misgivings diminish. Then he is situated in firm conviction, and from that conviction he develops a taste for devotional service advances to the stage of attachment for Kṛṣṇa, whereby he follows the regulative principles of devotional

“When pure devotees discuss subjects dealing with the Supreme Lord, who can cleanse all kinds of sinful of His devotee, they become overwhelmed with ecstasy and display different symptoms due to their devotional The Bhāgavatam (11.2.40) also states: “When pure devotees chant the Lord’s holy name, due to their spontaneous

the beginning of the decline of one’s conditioned life, and they occur if one associates with the pure By associating with pure devotees, one develops attraction for Kṛṣṇa. But if a living entity takes to those ritualistic activities by which pure devotional service to the Lord is developed in the association of pure devotees, then his mind naturally becomes attracted to devotional

displays mercy toward the innocent and is reluctant to associate with nondevotees, he may be considered a pure By developing devotional service, such a person can perceive that every living entity is part and parcel Such a pure devotee continues to develop all great qualities while engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and devotional service.

Devotional service is pure when one engages in the service of the Supreme Lord without any selfish motive The pure devotee does not desire to live on the same planet as the Supreme Lord, nor does he desire the Even if the Lord offers the pure devotee such rewards, he rejects them. The point is that a pure devotee is so much absorbed in the transcendental loving service of the Lord an ordinary materialistic businessman thinks of nothing else when he is absorbed in his business, a pure