Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Ādi 4.21-22
Pure Loving Devotion Makes the Lord Subordinate
“If one cherishes pure loving devotion to Me, thinking of Me as his son, his friend or his beloved, regarding himself as great and considering Me his equal or inferior, I become subordinate to him.
What the purport teaches
- The Caitanya-caritāmṛta describes bhakti as ordinary devotional service, śuddha-bhakti as pure devotional service and viddha-bhakti as mixed devotional service.
- In pure loving devotion, a devotee may think of the Lord as his son, friend or beloved. The devotee considers the Lord his equal or inferior.
- The Lord becomes subordinate to a devotee who cherishes such pure loving devotion.
Try this today
Write down the three kinds of devotional service and their meanings, then reread the description of pure loving devotion.
Ask yourself
What strikes me about the Lord's willingness to become subordinate to pure love?
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.