Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu
by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī | 180,912 words
The English translation of the Sri Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu verse 1.1.35; a medieval era Sanskrit book, written by Rupa Goswami (fl. 15th century) which represents a devotional (bhakti) masterpiece. In this work Goswami describes the nature and different forms of pure love (rasa) as well as various other topics on Vaishnavism and devotion.
Verse 1.1.35
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation:
सुदुर्लभा —
साधनौघैर् अनासन्गैर् अलभ्या सुचिराद् अपि ।
हरिणा चाश्वदेयेति द्विधा सा स्यात् सुदुर्लभा ॥१.१.३५॥sudurlabhā —
sādhanaughair anāsangair alabhyā sucirād api |
hariṇā cāśvadeyeti dvidhā sā syāt sudurlabhā ||1.1.35||
English translation
“Bhakti is rarely attained. Bhakti is difficult to attain in two ways: if undertaken in great quantity but without attachment (āsakti), bhakti cannot attained even after a long time; and even if practiced with attachment, Kṛṣṇa does not give bhakti to the practitioner immediately.”