SB 1.2 - Anarthas that cause unsteadiness in bhakti

Kṛṣṇa removes abhadrāṇi, inauspiciousness from the hearts of those eager to hear about Him. Specific anarthas (abhadrāṇi) cause unsteady devotional service. Viśvanātha Cakravartī defines six anarthas that initially cause unsteadiness:

(a) utsāha-mayī: enthusiasm indicating pride. Pride in personal devotional achievements causes beginning devotees to immaturely think that they have mastered everything.

(b) ghana-taralā: moving unsteadily between diligence and negligence. Such a devotee reads scripture one day; the next he is too sleepy.

(c) vyūḍha-vikalpā: flickering determination. ‘Should I remain a householder or become renounced?’ ‘Should I enjoy my youth or should I practice renunciation now?’ Such persons offer quotations from śāstra that confirm each choice.

(d) viṣaya-saṅgarā: an ongoing struggle with sense pleasure. Seeing themselves being carried away by sense enjoyment, devotees resolve to take shelter of Kṛṣṇa’s holy name. They try to be determined but their practice is intermittent and they are forced by their own nature to enjoy what they have renounced.

(e) niyamākṣamā: inability to improve devotional practices. ‘From now on I will chant 64 rounds’. ‘From today on, I will read a chapter of Bhagavad gītā daily’. Despite such good intentions and vows, these devotees cannot increase or improve their practices.

(f) taraṅga-raṅgiṇī: delighting in the material facilities that bhakti produces. Devotees become enamored by the small waves of position, followers and wealth in the ocean of bhakti.