Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Madhya 8.223
Follow the Path of Loving Service
“Those saintly persons who represent the Upaniṣads are vivid examples of this. By worshiping the Lord on the path of spontaneous love, they attained the lotus feet of Vrajendra-nandana, the son of Nanda Mahārāja.
What the purport teaches
- The inhabitants of Goloka Vṛndāvana eternally serve Kṛṣṇa according to their specific attachments. These include service as a servant, friend, father or mother.
- One who continuously serves Kṛṣṇa in a particular loving mood attains a spiritual body suitable for that service upon leaving the material body. Service in conjugal love is attained under the guidance of the gopīs.
- The śrutis, who represent the Upaniṣads, understood that serving Kṛṣṇa and following the gopīs were necessary to serve Him in conjugal love. They therefore engaged in spontaneous loving service and followed the gopīs’ footsteps.
Try this today
Read the śrutis’ example again today, noting their commitment to both service and following the gopīs.
Ask yourself
What does the example of the śrutis teach me about accepting guidance in loving service?
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.