CC Madhya 23.14-15

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta - Madhya-līlā - Chapter 23: Life's Ultimate Goal — Love of Godhead

Madhya-līlā 23.13 - Madhya-līlā 23.16

Compare Versions: CC 1975 with CC 1996

His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

TEXTS 14-15

ādau śraddhā tataḥ sādhu-

saṅgo 'tha bhajana-kriyā

tato 'nartha-nivṛttiḥ syāt

tato niṣṭhā rucis tataḥ

athāsaktis tato bhāvas

tataḥ premābhyudañcati

sādhakānām ayaṁ premṇaḥ

prādurbhāve bhavet kramaḥ

SYNONYMS

ādau — in the beginning; śraddhā — firm faith, or disinterest in material affairs and interest in spiritual advancement; tataḥ — thereafter; sādhu-saṅgaḥ — association with pure devotees; atha — then; bhajana-kriyā — performance of devotional service to Kṛṣṇa (surrendering to the spiritual master and being encouraged by the association of devotees, so that initiation takes place); tataḥ — thereafter; anartha-nivṛttiḥ — the diminishing of all unwanted habits; syāt — there should be; tataḥ — then; niṣṭhā — firm faith; ruciḥ — taste; tataḥ — thereafter; atha — then; āsaktiḥ — attachment; tataḥ — then; bhāvaḥ — emotion or affection; tataḥ — thereafter; prema — love of God; abhyudañcati — arises; sādhakānām — of the devotees practicing Kṛṣṇa consciousness; ayam — this; premṇaḥ — of love of Godhead; prādurbhāve — in the appearance; bhavet — is; kramaḥ — the chronological order.

TRANSLATION

" 'In the beginning there must be faith. Then one becomes interested in associating with pure devotees. Thereafter one is initiated by the spiritual master and executes the regulative principles under his orders. Thus one is freed from all unwanted habits and becomes firmly fixed in devotional service. Thereafter, one develops taste and attachment. This is the way of sādhana-bhakti, the execution of devotional service according to the regulative principles. Gradually emotions intensify, and finally there is an awakening of love. This is the gradual development of love of Godhead for the devotee interested in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.'

Madhya-līlā 23.13 - Madhya-līlā 23.16