atrodite bhavej jātu na tṛptir darśanādiṣu ||
(Ujjvala-nīlāmaṇi: 14.79)
[The taṭastha-lakṣaṇa of the stage of prema-bhakti known as sneha:] “When this [i.e., sneha] arises, no satiation ever occurs by vision [of Kṛṣṇa] or otherwise [by hearing, meditating, or any other means].”
tvaṁ tu sarvaṁ parityajya snehaṁ svajana-bandhuṣu |
mayy āveśya manaḥ samyak sama-dṛg vicarasva gām ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 11.7.6; cited in Bhakti Sandarbha: 66)
[Kṛṣṇa:] “But you [i.e., O Uddhava] should completely forsake all affection for relatives and friends, fully absorb your mind in me, and, being of equal vision, wander the earth.”
atha viśveśa viśvātman viśva-mūrte svakeṣu me |
sneha-pāśam imaṁ chindhi dṛḍhaṁ pāṇḍuṣu vṛṣṇiṣu ||
tvayi me’nanya-viṣayā matir madhu-pate’sakṛt |
ratim udvahatād addhā gaṅgevaugham udanvati ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 1.8.41–42)
[Kuntī Devī to Śrī Kṛṣṇa:] “Now, O Lord of the universe, O Giver of consciousness to the universe, O Form of the universe, please cut these strong bonds of affection of mine for my relatives, the Pāṇḍavas and Vṛṣṇis [i.e., not my affection for them based on their endearment to you, but that affection which is based on bodily relationships and causes bondage; you are always attentive to their welfare, so why should I unnecessarily spend my life worrying about them?] O Madhupati, may my mind, having no other object [i.e., no thought of anything except you and your bhaktas], continuously [i.e., without cessation, or, without regard for obstacles] carry forth rati for you, just as the Gaṅgā carries forth its stream [i.e., its water, towards the ocean, disregarding all obstacles in its path].”
darśane sparśane vāpi śravaṇe bhāṣaṇe’pi vā |
yatra dravaty antaraṅgaṁ sa sneha iti kathyate ||
(Subhāṣita-ratna-bhāṇḍāgāram)
“That wherein the inner self melts upon seeing, touching, hearing, or conversing [with someone] is called sneha (affection).”
