153 The Nectar of Devotion

dental to our experience, will be explained in this section as far as
possible, following in the footsteps of Srila Rupa Gosvami.

Without relishing some sort of mellow or loving mood in one’s
activities, no one can continue to perform such activities. Similarly,
in the transcendental life of Krsna consciousness and devotional ser-
vice there must be some mellow or specific taste from the service.
Generally this mellow is experienced by chanting, hearing, worship-
ing in the temple and being engaged in the service of the Lord. So
when a person feels transcendental bliss, that is called “relishing the
mellow.” To be more clear, we may understand that the various feel-
ings of happiness derived from discharging devotional service may be
termed the “mellows” of devotional service.

This relishing of transcendental mellow in discharging devotional
service cannot be experienced by all classes of men because this
sweet loving mood is developed only from one’s previous life’s activi-
ties, or by the association of unalloyed devotees. As explained above,
association with pure devotees is the beginning of faith in devotional
service. Only by developing such faith in the association of a pure
devotee, or by having in one’s previous life executed devotional activi-
ties, can one actually relish the mellow of devotional service. In other
words, this transcendental bliss is not to be enjoyed by any common
man unless he is so extraordinarily fortunate as to be in association
with devotees or to be continuing his previous birth’s devotional ac-
tivities.

The gradual process of development to the stage of devotional

service is explained in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, First Canto: ‘‘The be-
ginning is to hear about Lord Krsna in the association of devotees

who have themselves cleansed their hearts by association. Hearing
about the transcendental activities of the Lord will result in one’s
feeling transcendental bliss always.” It is also explained in the
Bhagavad-gita that for one who has actually come to the spiritual
platform, the first symptom visible will be that he is always joyful.
This joyous life is attained by one’s reaction to reading the Bhagavad-
gita or Srimad-Bhagavatam, or else from associating with persons
who are very interested in the spiritual life of Krsna consciousness—
specifically those who have made the determination to achieve the
