The Pure And Eternal Service
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Paramhamsa Vani
Oct 31, 2025, 12:08:57 AM (6 days ago) Oct 31
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Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!
There are many categories of servitors (worshippers). Amongst them, three principal categories are (1) servitors inspired by intense love, (2) servitors urged by obligation of duty and (3) servitors encouraged by selfish worldly interests.
The last category of the servitors mentioned above cannot be stated to be pure servitor because the relationship between the served (God) and the servitor is non-eternal. Service will be stopped if the worldly interest of the servitor is not fulfilled and the relationship will be severed. It is somewhat like trading. Here acceptance of service is outward show and is only meant for fulfillment of mundane benefits. As the worldly interest is non-eternal, the relation between the Served and the so-called servitor is also not permanent. Therefore, this sort of conditional service certainly is opposite to that exists in the Eternal Spiritual Realm. This is the last category of service wherein there is only an endeavor within the domain of karma (actions sanctioned by the Vedas).
The first category of service is very pure and eternal. The second category of service, although not inspired by pure love, but by the obligation of the sense of duty and devotional rules sanctioned by the scriptures, is also eternal and stable. Service inspired by pure love and service by the obligation of the sense of duty and scriptural prescript are accepted as service. These two are 'raga-bhakti' and 'vaidhi-bhakti'. Service is eternal in both these two categories of servitors and the relationship between Served and servitor is eternal.
A pure servitor is independent but that independence is subject to the fulfillment of the desires of God, i.e., inspired by love of God. Therefore, some subscribe to the view that the pure servitor is also dependent. Although a raga-bhakta is bound by pure devotion to God (Supreme Lord Sri Krishna), there is no lack of his independence to serve. What is understood by the word 'arbitrariness' does not exist in a pure devotee. A servitor is not a wooden doll. The servitors are spiritual entities. The freedom of the servitor is eternally admitted, but that independence is never used against the service of God—the object of service.
--- Jagad-guru His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj
There are many categories of servitors (worshippers). Amongst them, three principal categories are (1) servitors inspired by intense love, (2) servitors urged by obligation of duty and (3) servitors encouraged by selfish worldly interests.
The last category of the servitors mentioned above cannot be stated to be pure servitor because the relationship between the served (God) and the servitor is non-eternal. Service will be stopped if the worldly interest of the servitor is not fulfilled and the relationship will be severed. It is somewhat like trading. Here acceptance of service is outward show and is only meant for fulfillment of mundane benefits. As the worldly interest is non-eternal, the relation between the Served and the so-called servitor is also not permanent. Therefore, this sort of conditional service certainly is opposite to that exists in the Eternal Spiritual Realm. This is the last category of service wherein there is only an endeavor within the domain of karma (actions sanctioned by the Vedas).
The first category of service is very pure and eternal. The second category of service, although not inspired by pure love, but by the obligation of the sense of duty and devotional rules sanctioned by the scriptures, is also eternal and stable. Service inspired by pure love and service by the obligation of the sense of duty and scriptural prescript are accepted as service. These two are 'raga-bhakti' and 'vaidhi-bhakti'. Service is eternal in both these two categories of servitors and the relationship between Served and servitor is eternal.
A pure servitor is independent but that independence is subject to the fulfillment of the desires of God, i.e., inspired by love of God. Therefore, some subscribe to the view that the pure servitor is also dependent. Although a raga-bhakta is bound by pure devotion to God (Supreme Lord Sri Krishna), there is no lack of his independence to serve. What is understood by the word 'arbitrariness' does not exist in a pure devotee. A servitor is not a wooden doll. The servitors are spiritual entities. The freedom of the servitor is eternally admitted, but that independence is never used against the service of God—the object of service.
--- Jagad-guru His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj
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