sevā sādhaka-rūpeṇa siddha-rūpeṇa cātra hi
tad-bhāva-lipsunā kāryā vraja-lokānusārataḥ
— Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 1.2.295

“Following after the inhabitants of Vraja, one should perform service in one’s physical body and in one’s siddha body, with a desire for a particular bhāva.”

1. The Two Bodies of Service

Rūpa Gosvāmī here reveals a complete vision of spiritual life — not an abstract meditation, but a practical art of living devotion.

We all live in two dimensions at once: the sādhaka-deha — this present, imperfect but sacred body through which we chant, serve, and practice, and the siddha-deha — the inner, spiritual identity revealed through the mercy of Śrī Guru.

Both are vehicles of sevā, and both must be honored. The sādhaka-deha is the field of practice, the siddha-deha is the field of realization.

To neglect either is to limp on the path of love.

2. Daily Life in the Sādhaka Body

In our waking hours, we live in the sādhaka-rūpa. This is the time for discipline, humility, and concrete acts of devotion.

Rising early to chant attentively. Offering food, water, and mind to Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa. Performing work or household duties as extensions of service. Honoring the Vaiṣṇavas. Keeping the heart clean and the senses under control.

In these daily acts, one serves the Lord in the mood of the residents of Vraja — not by imitation, but by aspiration.

When we sweep the floor, we remember the dust of Vṛndāvana.
When we cook, we remember Mother Yaśodā’s kitchen together with Rādhika.

When we teach or work, we remember that every gesture can be an offering. The sādhaka body thus becomes a living altar.

3. The Inner Current: Siddha-Sevā

At the same time, within the sādhaka’s world of outer activity flows the gentle current of siddha-sevā — inner meditation about one’s spiritual identity.

Guided by Śrī Guru’s revelation, the sādhaka inwardly serves in the heart of Vṛndāvana:

sweeping the pathways of Rādhā’s garden, stringing flowers for Her hair, preparing sandalwood paste, or arranging secret meetings of the Divine Couple.

This inner service is not fantasy; it is a cultivation of meditation (smaraṇa) rooted in revealed truth (śruti-smṛti-purāṇādi-pañcarātra-vidhi). Even while performing ordinary duties, the inner heart softly hums its own melody — the awareness that “I belong to Them.”
Thus, the external and internal merge into a single movement of sevā.

4. Following the Vraja-Vāsīs

The compass of rāgānugā-bhakti is vraja-lokānusārataḥ — “following after the inhabitants of Vraja.”

This means:

Externally, we follow the sādhaka examples of great souls who embody Vraja-bhāva, like Śrī Rūpa, Raghunātha, and Viśvanātha. Internally, we follow the eternal residents — the vraja-lokas — in our chosen line of service: the sakhīs, mañjarīs, friends, parents, or servants of Kṛṣṇa and as practitioners of mañjarī bhava, especially the mañjarīs, headed by our Śrī Rūpa Mañjarī.

In daily life, this “following” is expressed through meditation, prayer, and attitude.

When we act, we ask: “How would my vraja-svarūpa respond here? What would please Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī now?”

It is not imitation — it is tuning the inner frequency of the heart to Her world.

5. The Bridge Between Worlds

In the beginning, this dual practice may seem divided: outer duties and inner longing. But gradually, through grace and constant practice, the boundary thins. The sādhaka body and the siddha body begin to cooperate. Our gestures, speech, and thoughts become transparent — they allow Vraja to shine through. Then the verse ceases to be a guideline and becomes our state of being.

6. A Practical Meditation for Today

At dawn, before chanting, pause for a few breaths.

Offer this prayer in the heart:

“O Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa, through this body I wish to serve You in this world; through my siddha form, I wish to serve You eternally in Vraja. Please make my every act — seen and unseen — an offering at Your lotus feet.”

Then continue your day — cooking, teaching, walking — with this awareness hovering softly in the background.

That is sevā sādhaka-rūpeṇa siddha-rūpeṇa cātra hi in practice.

7. Grace and Continuity

Finally, it must be remembered that this path is entirely filled with grace. Without the mercy of Śrī Guru, one cannot know the vraja-lokānusaraṇa or one’s bhāva-lipsā. We do not “achieve” the siddha-deha — we RECEIVE what has been bestowed. Our daily effort is simply to keep the heart clean and receptive, so that grace can flow unobstructed.

8. The Secret of the Verse

To serve with both bodies — outer and inner — means to live in union: body and soul aligned in service, the visible and invisible harmonized in love. Then even a simple day — filled with work, sound, and sleep — becomes a day in Vraja.

In short:

Through the sādhaka body, we serve where we stand.

Through the siddha body, we serve where we belong.

Between the two, love flows like the Yamunā — unbroken, pure, and sweet.