Madhya-līlā

Chapter 22: The Process of Devotional Service

Verse 105 of 160
Cc Madhya 22.105

কৃতিসাধ্যা ভবেত্সাধ্য ভাবা সা সাধনাভিধা নিত্যসিদ্ধস্য ভাবস্য প্রাকট্যং হৃদি সাধ্যতা

कृतिसाध्या भवेत्साध्य भावा सा साधनाभिधा नित्यसिद्धस्य भावस्य प्राकट्यं हृदि साध्यता

kṛti-sādhyā bhavet sādhya- bhāvā sā sādhanābhidhā nitya-siddhasya bhāvasya prākaṭyaṁ hṛdi sādhyatā

Synonyms

kṛti-sādhyāwhich is to be executed by the senses; bhavetshould be; sādhya-bhāvāby which love of Godhead is acquired; that; sādhana-abhidhācalled sādhana-bhakti, or devotional service in practice; nitya-siddhasyawhich is eternally present; bhāvasyaof love of Godhead; prākaṭyamthe awakening; hṛdiin the heart; sādhyatāpotentiality..

Translation

" 'When transcendental devotional service by which love for Kṛṣṇa is attained is executed by the senses, it is called sādhana-bhakti, or the regulative discharge of devotional service. Such devotion eternally exists within the heart of every living entity. The awakening of this eternal devotion is the potentiality of devotional service in practice.'

Purport

This verse is found in Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.2). Because living entities are minute, atomic parts and parcels of the Lord, devotional service is already present within them in a dormant condition. Devotional service begins with śravaṇa kīrtana, hearing and chanting. When a man is sleeping, he can be awakened by sound vibration; therefore every conditioned soul should be given the chance to hear the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra chanted by a pure Vaiṣṇava. One who hears the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra thus vibrated is awakened to spiritual consciousness, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness. In this way one's mind gradually becomes purified, as stated by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu (ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam). When the mind is purified, the senses are also purified. Instead of using the senses for sense gratification, the awakened devotee employs the senses in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. This is the process by which dormant love for Kṛṣṇa is awakened.

Verse 105 of 160
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