Marginal Qualities (tatastha-laksana)

1) Anyabhilasita-sunyam (devoid of desires)

Pure devotional service is not done with any extraneous desire in mind. In other words, there are no selfish motivations or personal agendas. This is not to say that a pure devotee has no desires, because love is full of desire. That desire, however, is a purely spiritual one. Occasionally, a pure devotee may express a desire that seems self-orientated – for example, when one is in a dangerous situation they may desire self-preservation. Since such superficial desires are temporary and not an integral part of one’s being they are not considered to weaken one’s devotion.

2) Jnana (impersonal / dry speculation)

Pure devotional service harbours no aspirations for useless, speculative knowledge, or the prospect of impersonal liberation. Devotees do pursue knowledge, but study the bhakti-sastra (devotional scriptures) with the sole aspiration to deepen their devotion.

3) Karma (ritualistic / fruitive activities)

Pure devotional service is not dependent on material, pious actions, and ritualistic observances that lead to improved material situations. When one begins to think that their bhakti needs to be fortified by such things, the purity of devotion becomes compromised.