The Path of Bhakti is a Path of Feeling | SB 9.11.19 | HG Vaisesika Dasa | 26 Mar 2026

If we want to serve Kṛṣṇa in a particular way, then Kṛṣṇa accommodates that. Take for example the Daṇḍakāraṇya ṛṣis; they thought, "Oh, He’s so beautiful! I want to be in a relationship with Him—a very deep, conjugal relationship." And Kṛṣṇa reciprocated. Prabhupāda points out here in the purport that the jñānīs wouldn't appreciate this verse. Jñānīs wouldn't appreciate that the devotees are pained by the Lord's lotus feet being pricked by thorns on the forest path. They wouldn’t be able to do that, what to speak of the karmīs. And therefore, we find that the devotional path—bhakti is a "feeling path." "Nāyam sukhāpo bhagavān dehinām gopikā-sutaḥ, jñānīnām cātma-bhūtānām yathā bhakti-matām iha." This is a verse Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu quoted many times. One instance that I’m sure you’re already thinking of is to Vyaṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa. When He was speaking to Vyaṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa about how the Supreme Goddess of Fortune tried to enter into the rāsa dance, but she wasn't able to do that because she couldn't change her mood in order to be a follower of the residents of Vṛndāvana—specifically the gopis. She wasn’t able to enter into the rāsa-līlā. Caitanya Mahāprabhu said that the supreme path is this "feeling path," and that the jñānīs don't have access to it. Neither do the karmīs. Nāyam sukhāpo bhagavān dehināṁ gopikā-sutaḥ—those who are attached to the body also can't feel it. They don’t get that special connection with Kṛṣṇa. Karmīs don’t get it, jñānīs don’t get it, and mystics don’t get it. But it comes very easily to devotees; it’s natural. Yathā bhakti-matām iha—with bhakti, this feeling of the heart for Kṛṣṇa in service as we see here, then one can very easily attain Kṛṣṇa. Thinking of today, and the "poor" people who couldn't find their way here to celebrate Lord Rāmacandra’s appearance day: How would they be benefited? The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam says: anugrahāya bhaktānāṁ mānuṣaṁ deham āsthitaḥ bhajate tādṛśīḥ krīḍā yāḥ śrutvā tat-paro bhavet (SB 10.33.36) What a great verse for an appearance day! You can thank me later—or thank the Bhāgavatam later. Anugrahaya means "mercy." It's interesting because graha means "a grabber," like the planets are grabbers. So anugraha means someone who pulls you in the right direction; someone who pulls you along. Do you ever thank somebody for pulling you along in the right direction in your life? Please say yes. Yeah, you should thank somebody. Anugrahāya bhaktānām mānuṣaṁ deham āsthitaḥ means that the Lord comes with a beautiful human form. Like we find at the end of the 11th Chapter of the Bhagavad-gītā, Arjuna is saying to Kṛṣṇa, "No more! I don't want to see this." Seeing the Universal Form of the Lord has shaken him deeply; it’s really scary. So Kṛṣṇa shows him His four-arm form, and then He shows him the saumya-vapu—His beautiful two-arm form. It is highly relatable and a form perfectly suited for very deep relationships with Kṛṣṇa, whether in friendship, parenthood, servitude, or, of course, the conjugal relationship. Kṛṣṇa, especially, is the epitome. That’s what "Kṛṣṇa" means: that He can facilitate all of those rasas. He’s the King of all rasas. ------------------------------------------------------------ To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://vaisesikadasayatra.blogspot.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Add to your wisdom literature collection: https://iskconsv.com/book-store/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://www.bbtacademic.com/books/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://thefourquestionsbook.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025