divine image, giving up whatever is dear to one's own self, meditation, and serving Him. "The service of the following four is approved by Krishna:--the _Tulsi_ plant, Vaishnavs, Mathura, and the book _Bhágabat_. "Direct all your efforts to [the service of] Krishna, witness His mercies, celebrate His Nativity and other days in the company of _bhaktas_. Ever fly to him for refuge, celebrate Kártik and other _bratas_. "These are the sixty-four modes of cultivating bhakti. The five chief of them are (1) the society of holy men, (2) _kirtan_ of Krishna's name, (3) listening to the reading of the _Bhágabat_, (4) dwelling at Mathura, and (5) reverential service of His image. Even a little of these five creates love for Krishna. "Some _bhaktas_ pursue only one of these modes, some many. When the mind has become steady, the wave of love surges up [in it]. Many _bhaktas_ have attained to success by following one mode only. Ambarisha and other _bhaktas_ cultivated many modes. (_Vide Bhágabat_, IX. iv. 15-17)-The man who by renouncing desire adores Krishna in obedience to the injunctions of the _Shastras_, is not indebted to the gods the _Rishis_ or the manes of his ancestors. (_Bhágabat_, XI. v. 37). He who adores Krishna's feet rejecting _shastric_ rites, feels nevertheless no temptation for forbidden sins. Even if he commits a sin unwittingly, Krishna purifies him and he need not practise penance for it. (_Bhágabat_, XL v. 38). Theological knowledge and monachism are not at all necessary means of cultivating bhakti; Krishna's society gives inoffensiveness and discipline. _Vide Bhágabat_, XI. xx. 31. "Hitherto I have held forth on the cultivation of _bhakti_ in accordance with the shastric teaching. Now, let me tell you, Sanátan, about _bhakti_ in compliance with natural inclination. This latter kind of _bhakti_ is chiefly found in the people of Brindában, and those who cultivate it are called _rágánuga_ ('inclination-led'). A passionate longing for the object of desire is the _swarup_ characteristic of inclination (_rág_); absorption in the object of desire is its _tatastha feature_. The nature of an 'inclination-led' _bhakta_ pays no heed to _shastric_ reasoning. "Its two types are _external_ and _internal_. In the external, the devotee through his physical organs performs listening (to chant) and chanting, while in his mind he imagines himself to be identical with his ideal [such as any _sakhi_ or cowherd mate of Krishna], and thus [in fancy] serves Krishna at Brindában day and night. With drawing himself into his own mind, such a votary ever remains close to his object, the dearest Krishna, and thus serves Him incessantly. In the path of inclination (_rág_), he takes Krishna as the object of his chief emotion, _viz._, as master, comrade, child or sweetheart. (_Bhágabat_, III. xxv. 35)