Assignment :

In your own words, explain the definition of pure devotional Service with reference to the svarupa and tatastha
laksana, Srila Prabhupada's comments, examples and specific Sanskrit words. (Understanding)

Title :
Kåtänuyäträ-Vidyäbhir Hari-Bhaktir Anuttamä

By :
Aniruddha Dasa

Introduction :

Bhakti means Devotional Service. Devotion signifies one's Faith and Love towards an object or a person. And
Service implies to serve the center of affection. It may seem like that Service rendered is subject to one's will,
but in reality, no one has control over the discharge of Service in Love or Faith. It is involuntary.

“The basic principle of the living condition is that we have a general propensity to love someone . No one can
live without loving someone else. This propensity is present in every living being.” (Preface, NOD)

Every living being has propensity to love someone. And it erupts automatically, no matter how much one
resists. One may love their partner, friends, business, or even a dog. And they also expect reception of Love
from them. This is called Prema Svabhava. Jiva inherits it from Krishna, but with comparatively less quantity.

“That missing point is Kṛṣṇa, and The Nectar of Devotion teaches us how to stimulate our original love for
Kṛṣṇa and how to be situated in that position where we can enjoy our blissful life.” (Preface, NOD)

Pure Devotional Service :

The intensity of Love and devotion varies among devotees. And on the degree of Faith, there are stages of
devotion. The topmost level is called Uttama Bhakti or Pure Devotional Service (hereafter mentioned as
"PDS").

anyabhilasita-sunyam jnana-karmady-anavrtam anukulyena krsnanu-silanam bhaktir uttama

"One should render transcendental loving Service to the Supreme Lord Krsna favorably and without desire for
material profit or gain through fruitive activities or philosophical speculation. That is called pure devotional
Service." (BRS 1.1.11)

This definition burns the weeds of misled interpretations of Bhakti by whimsical religionists and speculative
philosophers. One can see clearly here how Krishna-Prema is the ultimate objective (abhidheya), and we need
to rediscover our constitutional relationship with Krishna (sambandha), who is not just a God but is “THE”
Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Svarupa-Laksana and Tatastha-Laksana :

Characteristics of anything is called "Lakshana," and it comes from "Lakshaya" - Aim. Features which plays a
role in developing the core identity itself is called "Swarup Lakshana." "Swarup" means the nature, and it
originates from "Svabhava" - One's Nature. Thus "Swarup Lakshana" is the core characteristic. As a
businessman without business is preposterous. Similarly, there is an essential characteristic that is vital to a
specific expression. Such permanent and perpetual property is called "Swarup Lakshana."

“Bodily features, nature and form are the personal characteristics. Knowledge of His activities provides the
marginal characteristics.” (CC 2.20.357)

Then there are secondary qualities that aren't essential or eternal. They are called "Tatastha Lakshana".
"Tatastha" consists of two words and are supplementary and incidental,
"Tat" indicating the Shore and "Asta" means Situated. Thus, it implies coastline qualities.

They are different from their Svarupa or Svabhava, i.e., different from the personification and don't constitute
its essential nature. There is an external relation between these characteristics and what they define.
For example, a businessman is punctual, but that doesn't mean All Punctual Persons are businessmen, and All
Businessmen are Punctual.

“The primary characteristic of spontaneous Love is deep attachment for the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Absorption in thought of Him is a marginal characteristic.” (CC 2.20.357)

I've made this diagram so one may understand the terminology of these two characteristics clearly.

From the above viewpoints, PDS can be fragmented into the following considering its characteristics:

❖ Svarūpa-lakṣana (Constitutional Symptoms)

Three fundamental characteristics of PDS are:

• Kṛṣṇa: Krishna is the Centre of Worship

Krishna should be the only and ultimate benefactor of bhakti process. It's a mandatory requirement.

▪ Direct Expansions (viṣṇu-tattva) constitutes direct incarnations and form of Krishna. Like
Narasimha, Rama, Balaram, Archa-Vigraha, Caturvyūha-Avatars, Pure Devotee (Guru).
 ▪ Marginal Expansions (jīva-tattvas) compounds fragmental energies like flora-fauna.

▪ Energy Expansions (śakti-tattva) composes power incarnations like Lakshmi Devi,

Paraphernalia, Pilgrimages.

Understanding these three distinctions, one should worship Krishna and his chief expansions only, and
nothing else.

“So Kṛṣṇa includes all such expansions, as well as His pure devotees.” (Introduction, NOD)

• Anu-śīlanaṃ: Everlasting Active Engagement

Aparādha (offense) means Apara (Without) - Radha (Internal Potency); anything which is done without
the sanction of Radharani is called Aparadha. Bhakti is a manifestation of Radharani, and she is the
topmost servitor and lover of Krishna. Thus, we need to learn how to please Krishna from her. Guru-
paramparā consists of servants (manjari) who pleases Radha. Therefore, one need to be initiated and
perform activities under the authority of pure devotees. Such actions are, by default, favorable to
Krishna.

“any activities that are not favorable to the transcendental favor of the Lord cannot be accepted as
devotional service.” (Introduction, NOD)

• Ānu-kūlyena: With Genuine Love

"Love" is another mandatory requirement. Pleasing Krishna without Love displeases him. And
Displeasing activities done for Krishna with True Love sincerely pleases him.

Yashoda rebuking & punishing Krishna is an act of Love because done with pure Vatsalaya-Rasa, even
though it makes him unhappy. Fighting with wrestlers of Kamsa pleases Krishna, but the adverse
emotion towards Krishna displeases him internally as it lacks genuine devotion.

“One who is interested in Kṛṣṇa becomes interested in His different pastimes and activities.”
(Introduction, NOD)

❖ Tatastha-lakṣana (Marginal Symtoms)

Two auxiliary characteristics of PDS are:

• Anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṃ: All Desires are Nullified

Sūnya means zero. Many high-ranking yogis aspire for liberation (mukti), superpowers (siddhi),
submergence with supreme (yukti), complete knowledge (sarva-jnana), self-satisfaction (atma-rama).
All such desires must nullify.

“Any desire except for the service of the Lord is called material desire. And “philosophical speculation”
refers to the sort of speculation that ultimately arrives at a conclusion of voidism or impersonalism.”
(Introduction, NOD)

Except, Serving Krishna and expect nothing in return - everything and anything must cease. Everything
else deals with the Self, making one Selfish. We've to become Krishna-ish.

• Jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam: Not Covered by Knowledge and Pursuit of Action

"Karam hi Puja hai" - Work is worship or to Speculate on Krishna always (sadaiva-chintan) are rational
actions, and even though scriptures support them at some point, still they aren't favorable. These are
ordinary activities and scriptures expounds them to maintain socio-religious order in society.
 Becoming too much involved in fruitive activities, like cultivation of knowledge which eclipses
(anāvṛtam) one's heart and devoids of Love for Krishna. Only the Actions done which are sanctioned by
previous Acharyas are favorable to Bhakti.

“If one becomes attracted simply to ritualistic activities without understanding Kṛṣṇa, his activities are
unfavorable to Kṛṣṇa consciousness.” (Introduction, NOD)

Conclusion :

Rūpa Gosvāmī's definition of uttama-bhakti is easy to understand. One doesn’t gets mislead. His explanation is
neither too-restrictive nor too-comprehensive. All stages of devotion, from Sraddha to Prema, are applied
precisely. It is a law-book for all the devotees.

Thus, this is my insignificant explanation on the esoteric element of Pure Devotional Service

Word Count:
1. Introduction 141 Words
2. Pure Devotional Service 80 Words
3. Svarupa-Laksana and Tatastha-Laksana 508 Words
4. Conclusion 35 Words

TOTAL 764 Words-

*Words in Italics have not been counted in the word count as they are references, words and verses quoted.