Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Madhya 8.74
Loving Kṛṣṇa in Fearless Friendship
“Hearing this from Rāmānanda Rāya, the Lord again requested him to go a step further. In reply, Rāmānanda Rāya said, “Loving service to Kṛṣṇa rendered in fraternity is the highest perfection.”
What the purport teaches
- In the master-servant relationship, the devotee serves the Lord with respect and some fear.
- In friendship, the advanced devotee is fully convinced that Kṛṣṇa is his friend and will not be dissatisfied if he lives with Him on an equal level.
- This confidence, free from the respectful distance of a servant, is called viśrambha. Love of Godhead in friendship is called sakhya-prema.
Try this today
Read the description of viśrambha again and write one sentence about the confidence of Kṛṣṇa’s friends.
Ask yourself
What distinction do you notice between serving with fear and loving with the confidence of friendship?
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.