Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Madhya 8.215
Prema Is Service, Not Material Lust
“It is to be noted that the natural characteristic of the gopīs is to love the Supreme Lord. Their lusty desire is not to be compared to material lust. Nonetheless, because their desire sometimes appears to resemble material lust, their transcendental love for Kṛṣṇa is sometimes described as lust.
What the purport teaches
- The natural characteristic of the gopīs is to love the Supreme Lord. Their love is sometimes called lust because it appears to resemble material lust.
- Material lust should never be attributed to Kṛṣṇa, who is full of transcendental knowledge. Only prema, or love of Godhead, satisfies Him; prema is full service rendered unto the Lord.
- The gopīs never act for their own personal satisfaction. They derive greater pleasure from engaging other gopīs in Kṛṣṇa’s service than from serving Him themselves.
Try this today
Help someone with one small task in their service to Kṛṣṇa today, without seeking personal recognition.
Ask yourself
Am I seeking personal satisfaction in service, or seeking to satisfy Kṛṣṇa?
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.