CHAPTER 23
Life’s Ultimate Goal—Love of Godhead

The following summary study of the Twenty-third Chapter is given by Srila Bhakti-
vinoda Thakura in his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya. In this chapter Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu describes the symptoms of emotion and love and the awakening of
one’s original loving relationship with the Lord, as well as the characteristics of a
devotee who has actually attained that stage. He then describes the gradual in-
crease of love of God up to the point of mahabhdava. He then describes the five
divisions of attraction and how they continue. He also describes the mellow
derived from conjugal love, which is the supreme emotion. Conjugal love is
divided into two categories — svakiya and parakiya. Svakiya refers to loving affairs
between husband and wife, and parakiya refers to loving affairs between two
lovers. There are a number of descriptions in this connection. There is also a de-
scription of the sixty-four transcendental qualities of Krsna. Srimati Radharani has
twenty-five transcendental qualities.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then describes those candidates who are eligible to
taste the mellows of devotional service. Their fundamental natures and their
varieties are also described. The Lord also informs Sanatana Gosvami about all the
confidential paraphernalia of devotional service. He gives a description of Goloka
Vrndavana, where the Lord is engaged in His eternal pastimes described in the
Hari-varnsa. There is also an opposing and favorable description of kesa-avatdra.
All these instructions are mentioned herein.

In this way Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu blessed Sanatana Gosvami, placing His
own hand on his head. Thus Sanatana received the power to describe these sub-
jects in books like Hari-bhakti-vilasa.

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