From affection is born grief, from affection is born fear. For one freed from affection, there is no grief; whence fear?

Pemato — from affection: pema is a more intense synonym of piya — deep affection, passionate love. The lexical variation within the same structure allows exploring different nuances of attachment.

The distinction between piya (verse 212) and pema (verse 213) is one of intensity. Piya is the dear in a general sense; pema is deeper affection, love that penetrates to the bones. Both produce the same result: grief and fear.

Liberation from pema is not the destruction of the capacity to love but freedom from the compulsion that turns love into a source of suffering. Free love (mettā) generates no grief because it does not depend on the permanence of the object.

In contemplative practice, mettā meditation (unconditional love) is the alternative to possessive love. Mettā is expansive, without conditions, without specific object — and therefore without grief from separation.