Bhakti is Very Intense Ananda or Transcendental Pleasure

(From "Bhakti Tattva Viveka" - click to read more from it.
You can also read the previous page: Govinda-bhasya – a commentary on Brahma-sutra (Vedanta-Sutra))

Sandrananda-visheshatma: By nature bhakti is very intense ananda or transcendental pleasure.

It has already been mentioned that Bhagavan is the complete saccidananda-svarupa and the jiva is anucidananda or an infinitesimal particle of spiritual bliss who is likened to a single particle of light situated within a ray of the unlimited spiritual sun.

Hence, cit and ananda are also present within the jiva in minute quantity.

People generally understand the word ananda to mean mundane pleasure, but whatever pleasure can be derived from all material pleasures combined is extremely negligible when placed before ananda-tattva.

Material pleasure is extremely weak and momentary, whereas cidananda, transcendental pleasure, is extremely intense.

Bhakti is very intense transcendental pleasure and the intrinsic pleasure of the jivas.

Brahmananda is negligible before bhakti.

Brahmananda is not the eternal bliss of the jiva; it is the so-called pleasure obtained from the negation of matter and material activities.

Srila Rupa Goswami has said (Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu 1.1.38):

brahmanando bhaved esha cet parardha-guni-kritah

naiti bhakti-sukhambhodheh paramanu-tulam api

“Even if the brahmananda experienced by impersonalists is multiplied by ten million times, the resulting ananda won’t be equal to even a drop of the ocean of pleasure derived from bhakti.” The purport is that by simple imagination we may extend brahmananda to whatever extent, but in reality it cannot even come near the intrinsic pleasure of the jiva, what to speak of equalling it.

The constitutional pleasure of the jiva is inborn and hence natural.

Brahmananda is unnatural due to arising from the jiva’s distorted endeavours and hence it is temporary.

It is said in Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya (and Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu 1.1.39):

tvat-sakshat-karanahlada-vishuddhabdhi-sthitasya me

sukhani gospadayante brahmany api jagad-guro

“O Bhagavan! By attaining Your darsana, I am now established in the ocean of pure bliss.

What to speak of material pleasure, even brahma-sukha now seems as insignificant as the water in a calf’s hoof-print.”

There are many similar statements found in the scriptures.(from Part 3 – "An Analysis of the Natural Attributes of Bhakti")

Another revelation, What is the confidential meaning of Bhagavad-gita?. Check out the previous page too: Govinda-bhasya – a commentary on Brahma-sutra (Vedanta-Sutra). You will benefit from reading the whole work: Bhakti Tattva Viveka.

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