When a devotee follows in the footsteps of the devotees of Vṛndāvana, his devotional service is called rāgānugā bhakti.

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Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta Madhya 22.149

rāgātmikā-bhakti — 'mukhyā' vraja-vāsi-jane

tāra anugata bhaktira 'rāgānugā'-nāme

SYNONYMS

rāgātmikā-bhakti — spontaneous devotional service; mukhyā — preeminent; vraja-vāsi-jane — in the inhabitants of Vraja, or Vṛndāvana; tāra — that; anugata — following; bhaktira — of devotional service; rāgānugā-nāme — named rāgānugā or following after spontaneous devotional service.

TRANSLATION

"The original inhabitants of Vṛndāvana are attached to Kṛṣṇa spontaneously in devotional service. Nothing can compare to such spontaneous devotional service, which is called rāgātmikā bhakti. When a devotee follows in the footsteps of the devotees of Vṛndāvana, his devotional service is called rāgānugā bhakti.

PURPORT

In his Bhakti-sandarbha, Jīva Gosvāmī states:

tad evaḿ tat-tad-abhimāna-lakṣaṇa-bhāva-viśeṣeṇa svābhāvika-rāgasya vaiśiṣṭye sati tat-tad-rāga-prayuktā śravaṇa-kīrtana-smaraṇa-pāda-sevana-vandanātma-nivedana-prāyā bhaktis teṣāḿ rāgātmikā bhaktir ity ucyate. . . . tatas tadīyaḿ rāgaḿ rucyānugacchantī sā rāgānugā.

When a pure devotee follows the footsteps of a devotee in Vṛndāvana, he develops rāgānugā bhakti.

Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta Madhya 22.150

iṣṭe svārasikī rāgaḥ

paramāviṣṭatā bhavet

tan-mayī yā bhaved bhaktiḥ

sātra rāgātmikoditā

SYNONYMS

iṣṭe — unto the desired object of life; svā-rasikī — appropriate for one's own original aptitude of love; rāgaḥ — attachment; parama-āviṣṭatā — absorption in the service of the Lord; bhavet — is; tat-mayī — consisting of that transcendental attachment; yā — which; bhavet — is; bhaktiḥ — devotional service; sā — that; atra — here; rāgātmikā-uditā — called rāgātmikā, or spontaneous devotional service.

TRANSLATION

"'When one becomes attached to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, his natural inclination to love is fully absorbed in thoughts of the Lord. That is called transcendental attachment, and devotional service according to that attachment is called rāgātmikā, or spontaneous devotional service.'

PURPORT

This verse is found in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.272).

Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta Madhya 22.151

iṣṭe 'gāḍha-tṛṣṇā' — rāgera svarūpa-lakṣaṇa

iṣṭe 'āviṣṭatā' — ei taṭastha-lakṣaṇa

SYNONYMS

iṣṭe — in the desired object, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; gāḍha-tṛṣṇā — deep attachment; rāgera — of spontaneous love; svarūpa-lakṣaṇa — the primary symptom; iṣṭe — unto the Supreme; āviṣṭatā — absorption; ei — this; taṭastha-lakṣaṇa — the marginal symptom.

TRANSLATION

"The primary characteristic of spontaneous love is deep attachment for the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Absorption in thought of Him is a marginal characteristic.

Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta Madhya 22.152

rāgamayī-bhaktira haya 'rāgātmikā' nāma

tāhā śuni' lubdha haya kona bhāgyavān

SYNONYMS

rāga-mayī — consisting of attachment; bhaktira — of devotional service; haya — is; rāgātmikā — spontaneous love; nāma — the name; tāhā śuni' — hearing this; lubdha — covetous; haya — becomes; kona bhāgyavān — some fortunate person.

TRANSLATION

"Thus devotional service which consists of rāga [deep attachment] is called rāgātmikā, spontaneous loving service. If a devotee covets such a position, he is considered to be most fortunate.

: Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta Madhya 22.153

lobhe vraja-vāsīra bhāve kare anugati

śāstra-yukti nāhi māne — rāgānugāra prakṛti

SYNONYMS

lobhe — in such covetousness; vraja-vāsīra bhāve — in the moods of the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana, Vraja; kare anugati — follows; śāstra-yukti — injunctions or reasonings of the śāstras; nāhi māne — does not abide by; rāgānugāra — of spontaneous love; prakṛti — the nature.

TRANSLATION

"If one follows in the footsteps of the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana out of such transcendental covetousness, he does not care for the injunctions or reasonings of śāstra. That is the way of spontaneous love.

PURPORT

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura says that a devotee is attracted by the service of the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana — namely the cowherd men, Mahārāja Nanda, mother Yaśodā, Rādhārāṇī, the gopīs and the cows and calves. An advanced devotee is attracted by the service rendered by an eternal servitor of the Lord. This attraction is called spontaneous attraction. Technically it is called svarūpa-upalabdhi. This stage is not achieved in the beginning. In the beginning one has to render service strictly according to the regulative principles set forth by the revealed scriptures and the spiritual master. By continuously rendering service through the process of vaidhī bhakti, one's natural inclination is gradually awakened. That is called spontaneous attraction, or rāgānugā bhakti.

An advanced devotee situated on the platform of spontaneity is already very expert in śāstric instruction, logic and argument. When he comes to the point of eternal love for Kṛṣṇa, no one can deviate him from that position, neither by argument nor by śāstric evidence. An advanced devotee has realized his eternal relationship with the Lord, and consequently he does not accept the logic and arguments of others. Such an advanced devotee has nothing to do with the sahajiyās, who manufacture their own way and commit sins by indulging in illicit sex, intoxication and gambling, if not meat-eating. Sometimes the sahajiyās imitate advanced devotees and live in their own whimsical way, avoiding the principles set down in the revealed scriptures. Unless one follows the six Gosvāmīs — Śrī Rūpa, Sanātana, Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa, Śrī Jīva, Gopāla Bhaṭṭa and Raghunātha dāsa — one cannot be a bona fide spontaneous lover of Kṛṣṇa. In this connection, Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura says, rūpa-raghunātha-pade haibe ākuti kabe hāma bujhaba se yugala pirīti. The sahajiyās' understanding of the love affairs between Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa is not bona fide because they do not follow the principles laid down by the six Gosvāmīs. Their illicit connection and their imitation of the dress of Rūpa Gosvāmī, as well as their avoidance of the prescribed methods of revealed scriptures, will lead them to the lowest regions of hell. These imitative sahajiyās are cheated and unfortunate. They are not equal to advanced devotees (paramahaḿsas). Debauchees and paramahaḿsas are not on the same level.

Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta Madhya 22.154

virājantīm abhivyaktāḿ

vraja-vāsi-janādiṣu

rāgātmikām anusṛtā

yā sā rāgānugocyate

SYNONYMS

virājantīm — shining intensely; abhivyaktām — fully expressed; vraja-vāsi-jana-ādiṣu — among the eternal inhabitants of Vṛndāvana; rāga-ātmikām — devotional service consisting of spontaneous love; anusṛtā — following; yā — which; sā — that; rāga-anugā — devotional service following in the wake of spontaneous love; ucyate — is said.

TRANSLATION

"'Devotional service in spontaneous love is vividly expressed and manifested by the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana. Devotional service that accords with their devotional service is called rāgānugā bhakti, or devotional service following in the wake of spontaneous loving service.'

PURPORT

This verse is also found in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.270).

Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta Madhya 22.155

tat-tad-bhāvādi-mādhurye

śrute dhīr yad apekṣate

nātra śāstraḿ na yuktiḿ ca

tal lobhotpatti-lakṣaṇam

SYNONYMS

tat-tat — respective; bhāva-ādi-mādhurye — the sweetness of the loving moods (namely śānta-rasa, dāsya-rasa, sakhya-rasa, vātsalya-rasa and mādhurya-rasa) of the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana; śrute — when heard; dhīḥ — the intelligence; yat — which; apekṣate — depends on; na — not; atra — here; śāstram — revealed scriptures; na — not; yuktim — logic and argument; ca — also; tat — that; lobha — of covetousness to follow in the footsteps; utpatti-lakṣaṇam — the symptom of awakening.

TRANSLATION

"'When an advanced, realized devotee hears about the affairs of the devotees of Vṛndāvana — in the mellows of śānta, dāsya, sakhya, vātsalya and mādhurya — he becomes inclined in one of these ways, and his intelligence becomes attracted. Indeed, he begins to covet that particular type of devotion. When such covetousness is awakened, one's intelligence no longer depends on the instructions of śāstra [revealed scripture] or on logic and argument.'

PURPORT

This verse is also found in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.292).

Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta Madhya 22.156-157

bāhya, antara, — ihāra dui ta' sādhana

'bāhye' sādhaka-dehe kare śravaṇa-kīrtana

'mane' nija-siddha-deha kariyā bhāvana

rātri-dine kare vraje kṛṣṇera sevana

SYNONYMS

bāhya — externally; antara — internally; ihāra — of this spontaneous love of Godhead; dui — two; ta' — indeed; sādhana — such processes of execution; bāhye — externally; sādhaka-dehe — with the body of an advanced devotee; kare — does; śravaṇa-kīrtana — hearing and chanting; mane — the mind; nija — own; siddha-deha — eternal body or self-realized position; kariyā bhāvana — thinking of; rātri-dine — night and day; kare — executes; vraje — in Vṛndāvana; kṛṣṇera — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; sevana — service.

TRANSLATION

"There are two processes by which one may execute this rāgānugā bhakti — external and internal. When self-realized, the advanced devotee externally remains like a neophyte and executes all the śāstric injunctions, especially those concerning hearing and chanting. But within his mind, in his original, purified, self-realized position, he serves Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana in his particular way. He serves Kṛṣṇa twenty-four hours a day, all day and night.

: Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta Madhya 22.158

sevā sādhaka-rūpeṇa

siddha-rūpeṇa cātra hi

tad-bhāva-lipsunā kāryā

vraja-lokānusārataḥ

SYNONYMS

sevā — service; sādhaka-rūpeṇa — with the external body as a devotee practicing regulative devotional service; siddha-rūpeṇa — with a body suitable for eternal, self-realized service; ca — also; atra — in this connection; hi — certainly; tat — of that; bhāva — the mood; lipsunā — desiring to obtain; kāryā — to be executed; vraja-loka — of a particular servant of Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana; anusārataḥ — by following in the footsteps.

TRANSLATION

"'The advanced devotee who is inclined to spontaneous loving service should follow the activities of a particular associate of Kṛṣṇa's in Vṛndāvana. He should execute service externally as a regulative devotee as well as internally from his self-realized position. Thus he should perform devotional service both externally and internally.'

PURPORT

This verse is also found in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.295).

Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta Madhya 22.159

nijābhīṣṭa kṛṣṇa-preṣṭha pācheta' lāgiyā

nirantara sevā kare antarmanā hañā

SYNONYMS

nija-abhīṣṭa — one's own choice; kṛṣṇa-preṣṭha — the servitor of Kṛṣṇa; pācheta' lāgiyā — following; nirantara — twenty-four hours a day; sevā — service; kare — executes; antarmanā — within the mind; hañā — being.

TRANSLATION

"Actually the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana are very dear to Kṛṣṇa. If one wants to engage in spontaneous loving service, he must follow the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana and constantly engage in devotional service within his mind.

Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta Madhya 22.160

kṛṣṇaḿ smaran janaḿ cāsya

preṣṭhaḿ nija-samīhitam

tat-tat-kathā-rataś cāsau

kuryād vāsaḿ vraje sadā

SYNONYMS

kṛṣṇam — Lord Kṛṣṇa; smaran — thinking of; janam — a devotee; ca — and; asya — of His; preṣṭham — very dear; nija-samīhitam — chosen by oneself; tat-tat-kathā — to those respective topics; rataḥ — attached; ca — and; asau — that; kuryāt — should do; vāsam — living; vraje — in Vṛndāvana; sadā — always.

TRANSLATION

"'The devotee should always think of Kṛṣṇa within himself and should choose a very dear devotee who is a servitor of Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana. One should constantly engage in topics about that servitor and his loving relationship with Kṛṣṇa, and one should live in Vṛndāvana. If one is physically unable to go to Vṛndāvana, he should mentally live there.'

PURPORT

This verse is also found in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.294).

Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta Madhya 22.161

dāsa-sakhā-pitrādi-preyasīra gaṇa

rāga-mārge nija-nija-bhāvera gaṇana

SYNONYMS

dāsa — servants; sakhā — friends; pitṛ-ādi — parents; preyasīra gaṇa — conjugal lovers; rāga-mārge — on the path of spontaneous loving service; nija-nija — of one's own choice; bhāvera — of the ecstasy; gaṇana — counting.

TRANSLATION

"Kṛṣṇa has many types of devotees — some are servants, some are friends, some are parents, and some are conjugal lovers. Devotees who are situated in one of these attitudes of spontaneous love according to their choice are considered to be on the path of spontaneous loving service.

Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta Madhya 22.163

pati-putra-suhṛd-bhrātṛ-

pitṛvan mitravad dharim

ye dhyāyanti sadodyuktās

tebhyo 'pīha namo namaḥ

SYNONYMS

pati — a husband; putra — a son; suhṛt — a friend; bhrātṛ — a brother; pitṛ — a father; vat — like; mitra — an intimate friend; vat — like; harim — on the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ye — all those who; dhyāyanti — meditate; sadā — always; udyuktāḥ — full of eagerness; tebhyaḥ — unto them; api — also; iha — here; namaḥ namaḥ — repeated respectful obeisances.

TRANSLATION

"'Let me offer my respectful obeisances again and again to those who always eagerly meditate upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead as a husband, son, friend, brother, father or intimate friend.'

PURPORT

This verse appears in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.308).

: Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta Madhya 22.164

ei mata kare yebā rāgānugā-bhakti

kṛṣṇera caraṇe tāńra upajaya 'prīti'

SYNONYMS

ei mata — in this way; kare — executes; yebā — anyone who; rāgānugā-bhakti — spontaneous devotional service to Kṛṣṇa; kṛṣṇera caraṇe — for the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa; tāńra — his; upajaya — awakens; prīti — affection.

TRANSLATION

"If one engages in spontaneous loving service to the Lord, his affection for the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa gradually increases.

Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta Madhya 22.165

prīty-ańkure 'rati', 'bhāva' — haya dui nāma

yāhā haite vaśa hana śrī-bhagavān

SYNONYMS

prīti-ańkure — in the seed of affection; rati — attachment; bhāva — emotion; haya — there are; dui nāma — two names; yāhā haite — from which; vaśa — controlled; hana — is; śrī-bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

TRANSLATION

"In the seed of affection, there is attachment which goes by two names, rati and bhāva. The Supreme Personality of Godhead comes under the control of such attachment.

PURPORT

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura comments on this verse. Externally a devotee performs all the items of devotional service in nine different ways, beginning with śravaṇa and kīrtana, and within his mind he always thinks of his eternal relationship with Kṛṣṇa and follows in the footsteps of the devotees of Vṛndāvana. If one engages himself in the service of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa in this way, he can transcend the regulative principles enjoined in the śāstras and, through his spiritual master, fully engage in rendering spontaneous love to Kṛṣṇa. In this way, he attains affection at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa actually comes under the control of such spontaneous feelings, and ultimately one can attain association with the Lord.