17 / Ecstatic Love

By the process of executing regulated devotional service, one is ac-
tually elevated onto the transcendental stage, beyond the material
modes of nature. At that time one’s heart becomes illuminated like
the sun. The sun is far above the planetary systems, and there is no
possibility of its being covered by any kind of cloud; similarly, when
a devotee is purified like the sun, from his pure heart there is a dif-
fusion of ecstatic love which is more glorious than the sunshine. Only
at that time is the attachment to Krsna perfect. Spontaneously, the
devotee becomes eager to serve the Lord in his ecstatic love. At this
stage the devotee is on the platform of uttama adhikari, perfect devo-
tion. Such a devotee has no agitation from material affections and is
only interested in the service of Radha and Krsna.

To clarify, in the previous chapters, the symptoms of devotional
service were explained along with instructions as to how they can be
executed with our present senses, gradually rising to the platform of
ecstasy of spontaneous love. And the two kinds of devotional service
—namely devotional service through regulative principles and through
spontaneous love—were discussed. Within the stage of the regulative
principles of devotional service there are two divisions—namely execu-
tive and effective. This effective portion of devotional service is
called bhava, or ecstasy. In this connection, there is a statement in
the Tantras that ecstasy is the first symptom of pure love for the
Personality of Godhead, and in that stage one is sometimes found
shedding tears or shivering. Not always are these symptoms manifest,
but occasionally. When King Ambarisa was put into difficulty by
Durvasa, he began to think of the lotus feet of the Lord, and thus

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