Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu
by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī | 180,912 words
The English translation of the Sri Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu verse 1.4.16; 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 1.4.16
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation:
आदौ श्रद्धा ततः साधु-सङ्गो’थ भजन-क्रिया ।
ततो’नर्थ-निवृत्तिः स्यात् ततो निष्ठा रुचिस् ततः ॥१.४.१५॥
अथासक्तिस् ततो भावस् ततः प्रेमाभ्युदञ्चति ।
साधकानाम् अयं प्रेम्नः प्रादुर्भावे भवेत् क्रमः ॥१.४.१६॥ādau śraddhā tataḥ sādhu-saṅgo’tha bhajana-kriyā |
tato’nartha-nivṛttiḥ syāt tato niṣṭhā rucis tataḥ ||1.4.15||
athāsaktis tato bhāvas tataḥ premābhyudañcati |
sādhakānām ayaṃ premnaḥ prādurbhāve bhavet kramaḥ ||1.4.16||
English translation
“In the beginning one must have a preliminary desire for self-realization. This will bring one to the stage of trying to associate with persons who are spiritually elevated. In the next stage one becomes initiated by an elevated spiritual master, and under his instruction the neophyte devotee begins the process of devotional service. By execution of devotional service under the guidance of the spiritual master, one becomes free from all material attachment, attains steadiness in self-realization, and acquires a taste for hearing about the Absolute Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa. This taste
leads one further forward to attachment for Kṛṣṇa consciousness, which is matured in bhāva, or the preliminary stage of transcendental love of God. Real love for God is called prema, the highest perfectional stage of life.”