Transcendental Affection (Servitude) 301

way. My dear Lord, O head of the Yadu dynasty, now I have come
to my senses, and I am taking shelter of Your lotus feet. Please en-
gage me in Your service.” This is another instance of surrendering
and taking shelter of the lotus feet of Krsna.

There are many instances in the various Vedic writings of persons
who were aspiring after liberation by speculative knowledge but gave
up this process in order to take complete shelter under the lotus feet
of Krsna. Examples of such persons are the brahmanas headed by
Saunaka in the forest of Naimisaranya.* Learned scholars accept
them as devotees having complete wisdom. There is a statement in
the Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya in which these great brahmanas and sages,
headed by Saunaka Rsi, told Sita Gosvami: “My dear great soul, just
see how wonderful it is! Although as human beings we are contami-
nated with so many taints of material existence, simply by our con-
versing with you about the Supreme Personality of Godhead we are
now gradually decrying our desire for liberation.”

In Padyavali a devotee says, ‘‘Persons who are attached to specula-
tive knowledge for self realization, who have decided that the su-
preme truth is beyond meditation and who have thus become situated
in the modes of goodness—let them peacefully execute their engage-
ment. As for us, we are simply attached to the Supreme Personality
of Godhead, who is by nature so pleasing, who possesses a com-
plexion like a blackish cloud, who is dressed in yellow garments and
who has beautiful lotus-like eyes. We wish only to meditate upon
Him.”

Those who are from the very beginning of their self realization at-
tached to devotional service are called sevanistha. Sevanistha means
simply attached to devotional service. The best examples of such devo-
tees are Lord Siva, King Indra, King Bahulasva, King Iksvaku,
Srutadeva and Pundarika. One devotee says: ‘““My dear Lord, Your
transcendental qualities attract even the liberated souls and carry
them to the assembly of devotees where Your glories are constantly
chanted. Even great sages who are accustomed to live in solitary

* These are the brahmanas to whom Srimad-Bhagavatam was spoken by Sita
Gosvami, as described in the author’s Srimad-Bhagavatam, Volume I, Chapter 1.
