Devotional Service in Attachment 117

charatra there is a verse in which it is stated: “When one is firmly convinced
that Vishnu is the only Object of love and worship, and there is no one else
and no demigod for his devotional service, it is accepted that he is feeling
intimacy in love of Godhead, as is approved by such personalities as Bhisma,
Prahlad, Uddhava and Narada.”

If someone, on account of some righteous activities which provoke devo-
tional service, is influenced by such an attitude of service, and takes shelter of
the good association of the pure devotees, then he develops an attachment for
chanting and hearing. In such a state of mind the development of chanting
and hearing makes him advance further and further in the matter of regulative
devotional service to the Supreme Lord. And, as he advances in the regulative
service of the Supreme Lord, so, proportionately, his misgivings for the
material world diminish. Beginning with faith, and advancing in the process
of hearing and chanting, the devotee becomes more and more firmly fixed
in that faith. That faith gradually develops into taste, and that taste gradually
develops into attachment. When the attachment becomes purer, then it is
exhibited in two characteristics, which are called Bhava and Rati. When this
principle of Rati becomes deeper, it is called love of Godhead. Love of God-
head is the ultimate goal of human life.

This process is summarized in the Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu by Rupa Gos-
wami: “The first thing required is faith, and from faith one associates with
pure devotees, and, by such association, one develops devotional service.
And when he develops devotional service, his misgivings are diminished.
Then he is situated in firm conviction, and from that conviction he develops
a taste and advances up to the attachment stage of life, known as the regulated
principles of devotional service. And, after that stage, when he still further
makes progress, it is called Bhava, or a permanent situation. Such love of God
can go further and deeper and deeper, and then is called the highest stage of
love of Godhead.”

In Sanskrit, this highest stage is called Prema. The word Prema can be
explained as love of God without any exchange or return. Actually, the words
Prema and love are not synonymous, but still one can say that Prema is the
highest stage of love. One who has attained this stage of Prema is the most
perfect human being. Srimad Bhagwatam also confirms this statement in the
Third Canto, Twenty-fifth Chapter: Only by the association of pure devotees
can one develop a taste for Krishna Consciousness; and when he tries to apply
such developed Krishna Consciousness in his life, one can achieve all other
things up to the stages of Bhava and Prema.
