The Transcendental Pastimes of Radha and Krishna 257
who are professional priests or paid recitors, cannot be accepted in this con-
nection. One who does not follow the principle of Pancharatra, and one who is
an impersonalist, and one who is addicted to sex life, cannot be compared
with persons who have dedicated their lives to the service of Krishna.

A pure devotee who is always engaged in Krishna Consciousness can
sacrifice everything for the service of the Lord. A person who has dedicated
his life to the service of Lord Chaitanya and Krishna and the Spiritual Master,
or a person who is following the principles of householder life, and similarly
those who are following the principles of the renounced life in the order of
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, are devotees and cannot be compared to the profes-
sional men.

When one is freed from all material contamination, any one of the rela-
tionships with Krishna is relishable transcendentally. Unfortunately, those who
are inexperienced in the transcendental science cannot appreciate these different
stages of relationship with the Supreme Lord, and they think that all such
different stages of relationship with the Supreme Lord, and all these explana-
tions, are due to Maya. But in Chaitanya Charitamrita, the author has given
a very nice practical example of this matter. He states that earth, water, fire,
air, and ether are the five elements, and these five elements develop from the
subtle form to the grosser form. For example, in the ether there is a characteristic
which is called sound. But in the air, there is the characteristic of ether, sound,
plus a sensation of touch. When one comes to the fire, there is the characteristic
of ether plus the characteristic of air, plus the characteristic which is called
form. So, in fire there are three characteristics; similarly, when we come to
water, there are four characteristics—namely sound, touch, form and taste.
When you go to earth, there are five characteristics, namely sound, touch,
form, taste, and smell. As there is a development of different characteristics,
beginning from ether down to earth, so, if we analyze the different relation-
ships with Lord Krishna and the devotee, we find that all the five characteristics
of the devotional attitude are present in the relationship of conjugal love.
Therefore, the relationship with Krishna in conjugal love can only be accepted
as the highest perfectional stage of love of God.

There is a nice verse from the Tenth Canto, 82nd Chapter of Srimad
Bhagwatam, which can be cited here: “Devotional service for the Supreme

Personality of Godhead is the life of every living entity.” And the Lord, addres-
sing the damsels of Vraja, informed them that their love for the Supreme
Personality of Godhead is the only cause of their achieving the association of
the Lord. It is said that Lord Krishna, in relationship with His devotees, accepts
