Appendix B:

A Perfect Defintion
 of Pure Devotional Service

anyäbhiläñitä-çünyaà
jïäna-karmädy-anävåtam
änukulyena kåñëänu-
çélanaà bhaktir uttamä

Pure devotional service is: Activity that intentionally pleases

Kåñëa; without ulterior motive, and not covered by philosophical
or fruitive pursuits.
Here are three reasons why this is the perfect definition of
pure devotional service: (1) It is so precise that one cannot
mistake pure devotional service for anything else. (2) It is neither
overly exclusive, nor overly inclusive. (3) It perfectly applies in all
circumstances, to stages of devotees — in practice, and in
perfection.

1. Unmistakably Distinct
A good definition clearly distinguishes its object. For example, one
may define chair as "something with four legs." This is not so
precise, since animals also have four legs. To better distinguish a
chair, one may say, "it is an object with four legs." But tables also
fit that description. To clarify even further: "a chair is an object
that people sit on, which has four supporting legs." Still, benches
fit this description. Finally, one may define chair as "an object
that one person sits on, which has four supporting legs."
In a similar way, each word of Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé's
definition further clarifies the subject, negating all misconceptions
and making pure devotion unmistakably distinct.

Çélanam
One may wrongly think that uttama-bhakti ("pure devotion") is an
idle emotion: "Love," in a docile sense of the word. Çélanam
negates this misunderstanding by defining pure devotion as
active love.
 Kåñëa
Yes, pure devotion is active love, but for whom. Many people think
that the ultimate expression of devotion is to love your neighbors,
your spouse, your family, your "fellow man," the world, mother
nature, etc.
The word kåñëa negates this misunderstanding by defining
pure devotion as active love for Kåñëa.

Änukülyena
Another misconception: "He may not explicitly dedicate his life to
God, but he performs no evil actions, so he is a good man,
pleasing to the Lord."
The person described above is not sinful, but it is wrong to
think that he is on an equal platform with those who explicitly try
to please God. The word änukülyena negates this
misunderstanding by indicating that devotional service is not
merely incidentally pleasing to the Lord, it must be intended to
please Him.
Demons such as Kaàsa incidentally pleased Kåñëa, but this
does not make them devotees.

Anu
The next misconception: Yes, Pure devotion is active love
intended for Kåñëa's pleasure. I am doing that, "in my own way."
Different people have different conceptions of what pleases
God. Some conceive of simple piety as the summit of devotion.
Others imagine that illicit sex is somehow "spiritual." The prefix
anu- negates this misunderstanding by establishing that one can
please God in whatever way one so desires or imagines — our
activities can actually please God only when we find out what he
wants from us by connecting with a bona-fide spiritual master.

Anyäbhiläñitä-Çünyaà
A pious person may go to the temple and perform authorized
activities that are intended to please Kåñëa. But what is their
motive? They may be praying for a house, a TV, a good job... The
words anyäbhiläñitä-çünyaà (without ulterior motive) negate the
misconception that this type of worship is devotional service.

Jïäna-Karmädy Anävåtam
Finally, a person may engaged in authorized activities intended
for Kåñëa's pleasure, and without an ulterior motive — but pure
devotional service is not only apratihatä (unmotivated), it must
also be ahaituki (uninterrupted).
The words jïäna-karmädy anävåtam make it clear that pure
devotional service must not be covered, or interrupted, by any
other activities, such as philosophical speculation, and fruitive
pursuits.

2. Not Overly Inclusive or Exclusive

Each word of Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé's definition corrects the over-
inclusiveness caused by a particular misconception, as described
above. However, Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé uses his words carefully,
and thus avoids being overly exclusive.

Anu-Çélanaà
Docile love is an overly inclusive concept of bhakti, so Çréla Rüpa
Gosvämé defines it as anu-çélanam: activities. At the same time,
he avoids over-exclusiveness by implying that the word anu-
çélanam refers not only to bodily activities, but also to activities
of the mind and words. 1

Kåñëa
Thinking that anyone can be the object of pure devotion is overly
inclusive, so Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé defines that pure devotion is
exclusively for Kåñëa. At the same time, he avoids over-
exclusiveness by implying that "kåñëa" refers to Kåñëa and all His
energies in their connection with Him.

1 Further, Çréla Prabhupäda points out in The Nectar of Devotion that the mental activities
of Kåñëa consciousness are, in many ways, the most important. "Thinking, feeling, and
willing..." What we think about eventually manifests in what we do. Therefore the "mental
culture" of Kåñëa consciousness is most important.
 Änukülyena
"Pure devotional service is activity that pleases Kåñëa." Demons
sometimes inadvertently please Kåñëa. Since this definition
includes their activities as devotional service, it is overly inclusive.
Devotees sometimes seem to displease Kåñëa (like mother
Yaçodä in dämodara-lélä). Since this definition would not include
their activities as devotional service, it is overly exclusive.
Therefore, Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé introduces the word
änukülyena: the intention behind the action is of utmost
importance. Demons don't have favorable intentions. Thus their
actions are not devotional service. Devotees do have favorable
intentions. Thus their actions are pure devotional service.
In this way, the word änukülyena makes the definition
neither overly exclusive nor overly inclusive.

Anyäbhiläñitä-Çünyaà
Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé says that pure devotional service must be
devoid of all material desire. At the same time, he avoids over-
exclusiveness by adding the suffix -ta.

Jïäna-Karmädy Anävåtam
Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé also says that pure devotional service must
not be interrupted by other activities. He avoids over-
exclusiveness by saying anävåtam.

3. Applies in all Circumstances

Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé describes uttama-bhakti, the highest
devotional service, in such a way that it is applicable to all stages
of devotees, both in practice and in perfection.
In the Second Wave he describes exactly how this definition
applies to the stage of practice (sädhana-bhakti). In the Third
Wave, to bhäva-bhakti. And in the Fourth Wave, prema-bhakti.