Within the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, the term *svarūpa* designates the eternal, spiritual identity of the individual soul (*jīva*) in relation to Kṛṣṇa. This identity is the soul’s original, constitutional nature, existing beyond all material conditioning and bodily designations, and is fundamentally characterized by being an eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa. That service is not generic or abstract, but is expressed through one of the primary devotional relationships (*rasas*): neutrality (*śānta*), servitude (*dāsya*), friendship (*sakhya*), parental affection (*vātsalya*), or conjugal love (*mādhurya*). In the Gaudiya understanding, this svarūpa is not something artificially constructed through practice; rather, it is eternally existent and becomes uncovered as material coverings are removed through bhakti-yoga.

Closely related to this is the notion of *kṛṣṇa-sambandha*, the eternal relationship between the soul and Kṛṣṇa. This sambandha is described as nitya (eternal), constitutional, and unchangeable, meaning that the fundamental connection between the jīva and Kṛṣṇa persists even when the soul is covered by ignorance or illusion. Each soul has a specific, unique sambandha that determines its particular form of loving service and the corresponding rasa in which that service is rendered. Spiritual practice in Gaudiya Vaishnavism is therefore oriented toward awakening conscious awareness of this pre-existing relationship, not toward manufacturing a new identity or bond.

From this perspective, realization of one’s svarūpa and kṛṣṇa-sambandha represents the fulfillment of the soul’s deepest potential. As devotion matures, the soul’s inherent nature as Kṛṣṇa’s servant becomes vividly manifest, and the devotee comes to participate in Kṛṣṇa’s eternal pastimes in Vṛndāvana in a specific role and mood. Liberation is thus understood not merely as freedom from suffering or material bondage, but as the restoration of the soul to its natural, blissful state of loving service, where identity (svarūpa) and relationship (kṛṣṇa-sambandha) are fully realized and harmoniously expressed.