8.74

prabhu kahe, “eho haya, kichu age ara”

raya kahe, “sakhya-prema--sarva-sadhya-sara”

SYNONYMS

prabhu kahe—the Lord said; eho haya—this is also right; kichu—something; age—ahead; ara—more; raya kahe—Ramananda Raya replied; sakhya-prema—transcendental loving service in fraternity; sarva-sadhya-sara—the highest perfectional stage.

Hearing this from Ramananda Raya, the Lord again requested him to go a step further.

In reply, Ramananda Raya said, "Loving service to Krsna rendered in fraternity is the highest perfection.

PURPORT

As long as loving service is rendered to the Lord in the master-servant relationship, there is some fear, for the servant is always afraid of the master, despite the intimacy of self-interest.

In this stage the servant is always afraid of the master and respectful of Him.

When the devotee is further advanced, he has nothing to fear.

He considers the Lord and himself on an equal level.

At such a time, the devotee is fully convinced that Lord Krsna is a friend and cannot at all be dissatisfied if the devotee lives with Him on an equal level.

This understanding is called visrambha, that is, devoid of a respectful attitude.

When this attitude is chosen, it becomes sakhya-prema, or love of Godhead in friendship.

On this stage there is developed consciousness of equality between the Lord and the devotee.