--svatantramasvantantraM cha dvividhaM tatvaMishyate--
--svatantro bhagavAn vishnuH--
Sri Madhvacharya, in his tatvasaMkhyAna
Lucid definition of "Devotion" ("Bhakti")
parameshvara bhaktirnAma niravadhika ananta anavadya kalyANaguNatva GYAnapUrvakaH svAtmAtmIya samasta vastubhyo aneka guNAdhiko antarAya sahasrenApya pratibaddo nirantara premapravAhaH
— Sri JayatIrtha (aka Sri tIkachArya), commenting on “Bhakti” as presented by Sri MadhvacArya
Devotion to the Supreme Lord is that continuously surging flood of deep love & attachment to the Lord of the Universe, which is impregnable by any number of obstacles encountered in its march. It should be of such a quality & texture as would transcend all other forms of love which one may bear towards one’s own self, or to his nearest & dearest ones in life, or to his most cherished possessions. It should be founded on an unshakable intellectual & emotional conviction in the Majesty of the Lord – as the embodiment of all spiritual excellence.
Ed: This is not my own translation; this has probably come from the Dvaita list; I happened to see this in someone’s email footer.