Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Ādi 3.11
Loving Service Subdues Kṛṣṇa
“Servitude [dāsya], friendship [sakhya], parental affection [vātsalya] and conjugal love [śṛṅgāra] are the four transcendental mellows [rasas]. By the devotees who cherish these four mellows, Lord Kṛṣṇa is subdued.”
What the purport teaches
- Dāsya, sakhya, vātsalya and śṛṅgāra are transcendental modes of loving service: servitude, friendship, parental affection and conjugal love. Kṛṣṇa is subdued by devotees who cherish these relationships.
- Śānta-rasa appreciates the greatness of the Absolute Truth, but such appreciation is only the beginning. It is the lowest among the relationships in the spiritual world.
- Active loving exchanges go beyond neutral appreciation. Dāsya is the basic relationship between Kṛṣṇa and His devotees and is therefore counted here as the first stage of transcendental devotional service.
Try this today
Take a moment today to express to Kṛṣṇa your wish to serve Him with love.
Ask yourself
How is active loving service different from simply appreciating the Lord’s greatness?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport; the practice and question are plain words for trying the verse today.