The Nectar of Devotion - 1970 ISKCON press edition ... - Prabhupada

Characteristics of Pure Devotional Service 15Lord Nrsimhadeva by his prayers, says: "My dear Lord of the universe,I am feeling transcendental pleasure in Your presence and havebecome merged in the ocean of happiness. I now consider the happinessof brahmananda to be no more than the water in the impressionleft by a cow's hoof in the earth, compared to this ocean of bliss."Similarly, it is confirmed in the Bhavartha-dipika, Sridhara Svami'scommentary on the Srimad-Bhagavatam: "My dear Lord, some ofthe fortunate persons who are swimming in the ocean of Your nectarof devotion, and who are relishing the nectar of the narration of Yourpastimes, certainly know ecstasies which immediately minimize thevalue of the happiness derived from religiousness, economic development,sense gratification and liberation. Such a transcendental devoteeregards any kind of happiness other than devotional service as nobetter than straw in the street."Attracting KaSrila Riipa Gosvami has stated that devotional service attracts evenKra. Kra attracts everyone, but devotional service attracts Kra.The symbol of devotional service in the highest degree is Radharai.Kra is called Madana-mohana, which means that He is so attractivethat He can defeat the attraction of thousands of Cupids. ButRadharani is still more attractive, for She can even attract Krsna.. . ..Therefore devotees call Her Madana-mohana-mohani-the attractor ofthe attractor of Cupid.To perform devotional service means to follow in the footsteps ofRadharai, and devotees in Vrndavana put themselves under thecare of Radharai in order to achieve perfection in their devotionalservice. In other words, devotional service is not an activity of thematerial world; it is directly under the control of Radharai. InBhagavad-gita it is confirmed that the mahatmas, or great souls, areunder the protection of daivi prakrti, the internal energy-Radharai.So, being directly under the control of the internal potency of Kra,devotional service attracts even Kr!la Himself.This fact is corroborated by Kra in the Eleventh Canto of