Texts 11-12] Explanation of Devotional Service 1239

TRANSLATION

The manifestation of unadulterated devotional service is exhibited
when one’s mind is at once attracted to hearing the transcendental name
and quality of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is residing in
everyone’s heart. Just as the water of the Ganges flows naturally down
towards the ocean, such devotional ecstasy, uninterrupted by any material
condition, flows towards the Supreme Lord.

PURPORT

The basic principle of this unadulterated, pure devotional service is love
of Godhead. Mad-guna-sruti-mdtrena means ‘“‘just after hearing about the
transcendental quality of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” This
quality is called nirguna. The Supreme Lord is uncontaminated by the
modes of material nature; therefore He is attractive to the pure devotee.
There is no need to practice meditation to attain such attraction; the pure
devotee is already in the transcendental stage, and the affinity between
him and the Supreme Personality of Godhead is natural and is compared
to the Ganges water flowing towards the sea. The flow of the Ganges
water cannot be stopped by any condition; similarly, a pure devotee’s
attraction for the transcendental name, form and pastimes of the Su-
preme Godhead cannot be stopped by any material condition. The word
avicchinna, ‘“‘without interruptions,” is very important in this connection.
No material condition can stop the flow of the devotional service of a
pure devotee.

The word ahaituki means ‘“‘without reason.” A pure devotee does not
render loving service to the Personality of Godhead for any cause or for
any benefit, material or spiritual. This is the first symptom of unalloyed

DF OA ES

devotion. Anydbhildsita-siinyam: he has no desire to fulfill by rendering
devotional service. Such devotional service is meant for the purusottama,
the Supreme Personality, and not for anyone else. Sometimes pseudo-
devotees show devotion to many demigods, thinking the forms of the
demigods to be the same as the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s form.
It is specifically mentioned herein, however, that bhakti, devotional
service, is meant only for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana,
or Visnu or Krsna, not for anyone else.

Avyavahita means “without cessation.” A pure devotee must engage in
the service of the Lord twenty-four hours a day, without cessation; his life
is so molded that at every minute and every second he engages in some
