388 Sri Caitanya-caritamrta [Madhya-lila, Ch. 22
TRANSLATION
‘‘‘When transcendental devotional service by which love for Krsna is at-
tained is executed by the senses, it is called sadhana-bhakti, or the regulative
discharge of devotional service. Such devotion eternally exists within the
heart of every living entity. The awakening of this eternal devotion is the
potentiality of devotional service in practice.’
PURPORT
This verse is found in Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (1.2.2). Because living entities are
minute, atomic parts and parcels of the Lord, devotional service is already present
within them in a dormant condition. Devotional service begins with sravana
kirtana, hearing and chanting. When a man is sleeping, he can be awakened by
sound vibration; therefore every conditioned soul should be given the chance to
hear the Hare Krsna mantra chanted by a pure Vaisnava. One who hears the Hare
Krsna mantra thus vibrated is awakened to spiritual consciousness, or Krsna con-
sciousness. In this way one’s mind gradually becomes purified, as stated by Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu (ceto-darpana-marjanam). When the mind is purified, the
senses are also purified. Instead of using the senses for sense gratification, the
awakened devotee employs the senses in the transcendental loving service of the
Lord. This is the process by which dormant love for Krsna is awakened.
TEXT 106
Blast he-figral— Sta aH’ |
‘She’-AHCS Boteria Cal II Sow I
sravanadi-kriy4a —tara ‘svaripa’-laksana
‘tatastha’-laksane upajaya prema-dhana
SYNONYMS
sravana-adi-kriya —the process of hearing, chanting and so forth; tara—of that;
svarupa-laksana—symptoms of the nature;  tatastha-laksane—marginal
symptoms; upajaya—awakens; prema-dhana—love of Godhead.
TRANSLATION
“The spiritual activities of hearing, chanting, remembering and so forth are
the natural characteristics of devotional service. The marginal characteristic
is that it awakens pure love for Krsna.
