Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu .5.125
tathā ca nāṭyādau –
[tathaa cha naatyaadau –]
karuṇādāv api rase jāyate yat paraṁ sukham |
[karunaadaav api rase jaayate yat param sukham |]
sucetasām anubhavaḥ pramāṇaṁ tatra kevalam ||125||
[suchetasaam anubhavah pramaanam tatra kevalam ||125||]
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tathā ca nāṭyādau –
karuṇādāv api rase jāyate yat paraṁ sukham |
sucetasām anubhavaḥ pramāṇaṁ tatra kevalam ||125||
This is confirmed by statements in Nātya-śāstra: The absolute proof that karuṇa and the other negative rasas produce happiness is the experience of the soft-hearted devotees.
Purport
An apparently pitiable condition in devotional service may appear distressing to the inexperienced student, but the feelings of the devotee in this pitiable condition are considered to be ecstatic by expert devotees.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Jīva Gosvāmī
Gauḍīya
Durgama-saṅgamanī
Commentary
This verse is added from scripture to counter the objections that the above statements are only the opinion of the author.
My note
Source: vedabase.io