Introduction
We here with present a new edition of Sri Gita-govinda, the famous composition of the pre-eminent transcendental poet, Sri Jayadeva Gosvami. This publication is born out of the causeless mercy of the founder of Sri Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti, acarya kesari nitya-lila pravista om visnupada astottara-sata Sri Srimad Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja. May he be pleased with our offering.
 
To enter into the internal mood (bhavartha) of such a sublime text as this Gita-govinda, one needs proper qualification. To read any great literary work and understand the words at their face value is one matter, but to appreciate the profound sentiments by which one becomes truly familiar with the text is entirely another experience.
 
Comprehension of the literal meaning of words is generally a simple affair, whereas assimilation of their underlying emotional Significance is not so easy. Therefore all ancient scriptures traditionally begin by defining specific parameters of eligibility for prospective readers. Some deeply realized authors have strictly forbidden unqualified persons to study their compositions and have even pronounced curses upon those who might dare to delve into that for which they are ineligible. What is the necessity of such strict prohibitions?
 
They are needed because unqualified persons will inevitably misinterpret elevated texts. The result is that both the author and the unqualified reader lose the potential benefits from such literature, and instead accrue harmful effects. In the beginning of the auspicious invocation of his book, the worshipful Sri Jayadeva Gosvami has also clarified the subject matter of eligibility thus:
Introduction
We here with present a new edition of Sri Gita-govinda, the famous composition of the pre-eminent transcendental poet, Sri Jayadeva Gosvami. This publication is born out of the causeless mercy of the founder of Sri Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti, acarya kesari nitya-lila pravista om visnupada astottara-sata Sri Srimad Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja. May he be pleased with our offering.
To enter into the internal mood (bhavartha) of such a sublime text as this Gita-govinda, one needs proper qualification. To read any great literary work and understand the words at their face value is one matter, but to appreciate the profound sentiments by which one becomes truly familiar with the text is entirely another experience. Comprehension of the literal meaning of words is generally a simple affair, whereas assimilation of their underlying emotional Significance is not so easy. Therefore all ancient scriptures traditionally begin by defining specific parameters of eligibility for prospective readers. Some deeply realized authors have strictly forbidden unqualified persons to study their compositions and have even pronounced curses upon those who might dare to delve into that for which they are ineligible. What is the necessity of such strict prohibitions? They are needed because unqualified persons will inevitably misinterpret elevated texts. The result is that both the author and the unqualified reader lose the potential benefits from such literature, and instead accrue harmful effects. In the beginning of the auspicious invocation of his book, the worshipful Sri Jayadeva Gosvami has also clarified the subject matter of eligibility.
 
yadi hari-smarne sarasam mano
yadi vilasa-kalasu kututhalam
madhura-kamala-kanta-padavalim
srnu tada jayadeva-sarasvatim