Character of One in Ecstatic Love 139
offering obeisances by bowing down before the Deity or is engaging
in some other service. During these ecstatic activities he sometimes
sheds tears. In this way his whole life is engaged in the service of the
Lord, with not a moment wasted on any other engagement.
Perseverance

When a person is undisturbed even in the presence of various
causes of disturbance, he is called reserved and perseverant. An ex-
ample of this perseverance and reservation is found in the behavior of
King Pariksit, as described in the First Canto, 19th Chapter, 13th
verse, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam. The King says there to all the sages
present before him at the time of his death, ‘““My dear brahmanas, you
should always accept me as your surrendered servant. I have come to
the bank of the Ganges just to devote my heart and soul unto the
lotus feet of Lord Krsna. So please bless me, that Mother Ganges may
also be pleased with me. Let the curse of the brahmana’s son fall
upon me—I do not mind. I only request that at the last moment of
my life all of you will kindly chant the holy name of Visnu, so that I
may realize His transcendental qualities.”

This example of Maharaj Pariksit’s behavior, his remaining patient
even at the last point of his life, his undisturbed condition of mind, is
an example of reservation. This is one of the characteristics of a devo-
tee who has developed ecstatic love for Krsna.

Detachment

The senses are always desiring sense enjoyment, but when a devo-
tee develops transcendental love for Krsna his senses are no longer
attracted by material desires. This state of mind is called detach-
ment. There is a nice example of this detachment in connection with
the character of King Bharata. In the Fifth Canto, 14th Chapter, 43rd
verse, of Srimad-Bhagavatam it is stated: ‘Emperor Bharata was so
attracted by the beauty of the lotus feet of Krsna that even in his
