What distinguishes spiritual love from worldly love? Bhagawan explains the nature of pure devotion as exemplified by the Gopis and Prahlada.

If you take the love of the Gopis (milkmaids of Brindavan), you may ask for what purpose did they love Krishna. They had no concern for worldly things. They were concerned only with the spiritual quest. Anyone looking at the Gopis’ conduct from a worldly point of view might regard their actions as improper. Likewise, Prahlada’s love for the Divine was not understood by those who judged him from a worldly point of view. Would Prahlada have been able to bear with indifference all the tortures to which he was subjected if he were a worldly person? He went through ordeals as a child which no man could have endured. When the king’s minions goaded him with spears, he prayed to the Lord and praised His glories without shedding a tear or showing any sign of fear. If his devotion had been concerned with worldly desires, should he not have shed tears? Should he not have displayed fear, being a mere child? He did not do so because Lord Narayana was installed in his heart. The Lord’s name was ever on his tongue. The Narayana consciousness filled his entire being from head to foot. Because of this, none of the pains inflicted on him by physical instruments affected him at all. With his thoughts centred on God, the pains of the world did not affect him.