Elation, malice, griet and desire-are all the deformations of the mind. As long as the mind retains these deformations, one cannot attain the culmination of devotion. Elation 'is not a natural steady state of happiness but a surge of joy on getting the favourable. Think if favourable turns into unfavourable..... It is an inexorable law of the world-the unfavourable side by side with the favorable. What is the state if this happens?-dissatisfaction. At one time one is served food according to ones taste; then a surge of joy and at another time, food is not according to one's taste; then dissatisfaction. The devotee is always alert to this cycle of favourable and unfavourable; that is why he is completely beyond the deformations of joy and dissatisfaction.

Grieving over the past and planning for future desires one spoils one's present. He deprives himself from the pleasures of the present moment. What has slipped out of our hands why does one regret over it and what is not within one's reach why hanker for the same? If he remains in grief he will try to pull himself out of the same by making new plans. If he makes new plans then he will land himself again in grief due to their consequences. The true devotee protects himself from all this.

If something good has happened, is happening he offers the same to the divine Lord; no desire for fruits; there is no possibility of evil happening because the state is of 'devotion' meaning thereby steadfast in devotion. Whether the chain is of gold or iron it is bound to bind. Desire whether for good or for evil consequence is always a bondage. That is why move towards good from bad; if good happens naturally, nothing wrong is with it but in it also beware of sukh sangain badhnati-Gita 14/6 (bondage due to attachment). The desirable results of good deeds creates a happy state of mind and because of this state the bondage of attachment to this state take place. The inner state of feelings should be of total devotion. Then only one can become eligible for being the Lord's favourite.