390 Sri Caitanya-caritamrta [Madhya-lila, Ch. 22
raga-hina jana bhaje sastrera ajfiaya
‘vaidhi bhakti’ bali’ tare sarva-sastre gaya
SYNONYMS

raga-hina—who are without spontaneous attachment to Krsna; jana—persons;
bhaje—execute devotional service; sdstrera ajfiaya—according to the principles
and regulations described in the revealed scriptures; vaidhi bhakti—regulative
devotional service; bali’—calling; tare—that; sarva-sadstre —all revealed scriptures;
gaya—sing.

TRANSLATION

“Those who have not attained the platform of spontaneous attachment in
devotional service render devotional service under the guidance of a bona
fide spiritual master according to the regulative principles mentioned in the
revealed scriptures. According to the revealed scriptures, this kind of devo-
tional service is called vaidhi bhakti.

PURPORT

In the beginning, one has to hear from a bona fide spiritual master. This is
favorable for advancing in devotional service. According to this process, one
hears, chants, remembers and engages in Deity worship, acting under the direc-
tions of the spiritual master. These are the essential primary activities of devo-
tional service. Devotional service must not be executed for some material pur-
pose. One should not even have a desire to merge into the Absolute Truth. One
has to render such service out of love only. Ahaituki, apratihata. Devotional ser-
vice must be without ulterior motives; then material conditions cannot check it.
Gradually one can rise to the platform of spontaneous loving service. A child is
sent to school by force to receive an education, but when he gets a little taste of
education at an advanced age, he automatically participates and becomes a
learned scholar. One cannot force a person to become a scholar, but sometimes
force is used in the beginning. A child is forced to go to school and read and write
according to the instructions of his teachers. Such is the difference between
vaidhi bhakti and spontaneous bhakti. Dormant love for Krsna exists in every-
one’s heart, and it simply has to be awakened by the regulative process of devo-
tional service. One has to learn to use a typewriter by following the regulative
principles of the typing book. One has to place his fingers on the keys in such a
way and practice, but when one becomes adept, he can type swiftly and cor-
rectly without even looking at the keys. Similarly, one has to follow the rules and
regulations of devotional service as they are set down by the spiritual master;
then one can come to the point of spontaneous loving service. This love is already
there within the heart of everyone (nitya-siddha krsna-prema).
