include("body.php"); ?>
Return to table of contents page
Krsna is the reservoir of all pleasures, the ocean of transcendental mellows. He appears in different ways to different devotees and manifests all the varieties of mellow rasa.
9. 1
mallanam-asa-nirnram naravaram strinam smaro murtiman
gopanam svajano'satam ksiti-bhujam santa svapritrom
sisum
mrtyur-bhoja-pater-virada-vidusam tattvam param yoginam
vrsninam paradevateti vidito rangam gatam sagrajam
(Sukadeva Goswami told Pariksit Maharaja, "O king! The
reservoir of all rasas, the fountainhead of all divine
mellows, Sri Krsna was seen in different ways by those who
are acquainted with him in different mellow relationships.
Now hear of this. ) When, accompanied by his elder brother
Balarama, Krsna entered the arena of Kamsa, he was viewed
according to the respective mentality of every spectator. He
appeared like a thunderbolt to the heroic athletes, and the
people in general saw him as a superhuman being. The ladies
saw Him as the god of Love, and the cowherds, with a mood of
friendship, saw him as their own kinsman. He was seen as a
strict Ruler and dispenser of justice by wicked monarchs, and
as a child by his parents. Kamsa, the king of the Bhojas, saw
Him as death personified. He was seen as athe universal form
by the worldly-minded and as the the indwelling Supersoul,
Paramatma, the Supreme Principle by the santa-rasa-yogis. He
was seen as the Supreme Deity by the Vrsnis. [Note:
Bhaktivinoda hakura remarks that this verse gives a clue as
to the different rasas in which devotees of different points
of view relate to the Lord. Bhaktivinoda says that in this
verse, the yogis are seen to be representative of santa-rasa
(the mellow of passive adoration), the Vrsnis of dasya-rasa
(the mellow of devotional servitude), while the cowherd boys
in the arena represent sakhya-rasa (the mellow of devotional
friendship) mixed with hasya-rasa (the sub-mellow of comedy).
The cowherd men, headed by Nanda Maharaja, exemplify
vatsalya-rasa (the mellow of parental devotion) and
karuna-rasa (the sub-mellow of compassion). The ladies
exhibit madhurya-rasa (the mellow of conjugal devotion). The
wrestlers exhibit virya-rasa (the sub-mellow of chivalry),
while the people in general are examples of adbhuta-rasa (the
sub-mellow of wonder.) The kings exhibit raudra-rasa (the
sub-mellow of anger) and the Bhojas, headed by Kamsa
exemplify bhayanaka-rasa (the sub-mellow of fear). The
wordly-minded, who view the Lord as the Universal Form relate
to Him in vibhatsa-rasa (the sub-mellow of ghastliness). In
this way, Krsna is the supreme object of the five principle
and seven secondary mellows or rasas. It is for this reason
that He is known as akhila-rasamrta-murti, or the embodiment
of all transcendental mellows. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.43.17)
The Supreme Absolute Truth is the personification of divine mellows.
9. 2
raso vai sam. rasam hyevayam labdhanandi bhavati.
ko hyevanyat kam pranyat yadesa akasa anando na syat esa
hyevanandayati.
Sri Krsna is the embodiment of all-ecstatic bliss; He is the
reservoir of all pleasure. Having derived ecstasy from Him,
the individual souls become blissful. For, who indeed, could
breathe, who could be alive if this Blissful Lord were not
present within the hearts of all souls. He alone bestows
ecstasy. (Taittiriya Upanisad 2.7)
The five principle rasas.
9. 3
santa, dasya, sakhya, vatsalya, madhura-rasa naya
krsna-bhakti-rasa madhye ei pa-ca pradhana
The chief transcendental mellows experienced with the Supreme
Personality of Godhead are five - santa, dasya, sakhya,
vatsalya, and madhura-rasa. (Caitanya-Caritamrta Madhya
19.185)
The seven secondary rasas.
9. 4
hasya, adbhuta, vira, karuna, raudra, vibhatsa, bhaya
pa-ca-vidha bhakte gauna sapta-rasa haya
In addition to the five direct mellows, there are seven
indirect mellows, known as laughter, wonder, chivalry,
compassion, anger, disaster, and fear.(Caitanya-Caritamrta
Madhya 19.187)
9. 5
sarvam khalv idam brahma taj-jalaniti santa upasita
Everything is Brahman; that is, everything that exists has
emanated from Brahman, the Supreme Absolute Truth. Nothing
can exist that is unrelated with Him. From Him everything
emanates, by Him everything is maintained, into Him
everything is dissolved. Therefore, one who is santa,
peaceful, who has intuitive wisdom, should worship Him
through devotional service [one who worships the Lord in this
way, free from any trace of material hankering, is said to be
a devotee in santa-rasa.] (Chandogya Upanisad 3.14.1)
Srimad-Bhagavatam's version on santa-rasa.
9. 6
munayo vatavasanam sramana urdhvamanthinam
brahmakhyam dhama te yanti santam sannyasino'galam
Sages who subsist on air, those who exert themselves in
penance, those who observe strict celibacy for life, those
who are peaceful (santa), and those who are sannyais, sinless
renouncers of worldly life, attain to the spiritual abode
which is known as Brahman. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.6.47)
Being fixed in Krsna is a quality of santa-rasa.
9. 7
samo man-nisthata-buddherdama indriyasam yamam
titiksa dumkha-sanmarso jihvopasthajayo dhrtim
The word sama or santa-rasa indicates that one is attached to
the lotus feet of Krsna. His mind is fixed in constantly
meditating on the Lord. Dama means controlling the senses and
not being deviated from the Lord's service; Tikiksa means to
tolerate unhappiness; Dhrti means complete control over the
tongue and the genitals. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.19.36)
The qualities and essential features of santa-rasa.
In santa-rasa, a devotee wants nothing but Krsna.
9. 8
svarga, moksa krsna-bhakta "naraka" kari' mane
"krsna-nistha," "trsna-tyaga" - santera "dui" gune
santera svabhava - krsne mamata-gandha-hina
"parabrahma" - "paramatma" - jnana-pravina
When a devotee is situated on the platform of santa-rasa, he
desires neither elevation to the heavenly planets nor
liberation. These are the results of karma and jnana, and the
devotee considers them no better than hell. A person situated
on the santa platform manifests the two transcendental
qualities of detachment from all material desire and full
attachment to Krsna. It is the nature of santa-rasa that not
even the smallest intimacy exists. Rather, knowledge of
impersonal Brahman and localized Paramama is
prominent.(Caitanya-Caritamrta Madhya 19.215,218)
Santa-rasa+service=Dasya-rasa.
9. 9
kevala "svarupa-jnana" haya santa-rase
"purnaisvarya-prabhu-jnana" adhika haya dasye
isvara-jnana, sambhrama-gaurava pracura
"seva" kari' krsne sukha dena nirantara
sastrera guna dasye ache, - adhika "sevana"
ataeva dasya-rasera ei dui guna
On the platform of santa-rasa, one only realizes his
constitutional position. However, when one is raised to the
platform of dasya-rasa, he better understands the full
opulence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. On the
dasya-rasa platform, knowledge of the Supreme Personality of
Godhead is revealed with awe and veneration. By rendering
service unto Lord Krsna, the devotee in dasya-rasa gives
constant happiness to the Lord. The qualities of santa-rasa
are also present in dasya-rasa, but in dasya-rasa service is
added. Thusthe dsaa-rasa platform contains the qualities of
both santa-rasa and daya-rasa. (Caitanya-Caritamrta Madhya
19.219-221)
Srimad-Bhagavatam's version on dasya-rasa
9. 10
ittham satam brahma-sukhanu-bhutya, dasyam gatanam
paradaivatena
mayasritanam naradarakena, sardham vijahram
krta-punya-pu-jam
Those who are engaged in self-realization, appreciating the
Brahman effulgence of the Lord, and those engaged as servants
of the Supreme Lord, who accept Him as master, as well as
those who are under the clutches of maya, thinking the Lord
an ordinary person, cannot understand that certain exalted
personalities - after accumulating heaps of pious activities
- are now playing with the Lord in friendship as cowherd
boys. [Note: this verse is cited by Ramananda Raya in his
conversation with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as an example of
the superiority of the mellow of friendship (sakhya-rasa)
over the mellow of servitude (dasya-rasa)] (Srimad-Bhagavatam
10.12.11)
The Srimad-Bhagavatam on the glories of dasya-rasa
9. 11
tvayopa-bhukta-srg-gandha-vaso'lankara-carcitam
ucchistha-bhojino dasastava mayam jayemahi
Simply by decorating ourselves with the garlands, fragrant
oils, clothes and ornaments that You have already enjoyed,
and by eating the remnants of Your meals, we, your servants,
will indeed conquer Your illusory energy. (Srimad-Bhagavatam
11.6.46)
The glories of being a servant of Krsna
9. 12
alpa kari' na maniha dasa hena nama
alpa bhagye dasa nahi karena bhagavan
agre haya mukti, tabe sarva-vandha-nasa
tabe se haite pare sri krsnera dasa
[Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said] Those who are devoid of a
service attitude and don't wish to call themselves
"Krsna-dasa," have little good fortune.The Lord will never
accept them as his servants. Let those who would be liberated
from material bondage accept the service of Sri Krsna.
(Caitanya-Bhagavata Madhya 17.103-104)
The version of the Srutis about Friendship, or sakhya.
9. 13
dva suparna yayuja sakhaya samanam vrksam parisasvajate
taroranyam pippalam svadvattayanasnannanyo'bhicakasiti
The Supreme Lord is the friend of the living being, and is so
kind upon him that he always accompanies the soul. In the
same way that two birds occupy the same branch of a tree, the
Lord sits in the heart of every living being ready to bestow
auspiciousness upon the soul. In this way the Lord acts as
the indwelling witnesss, even while the soul pursues the
fruits of karma and experiences mundane happiness and
distress. (Svetasvatara 4.6)
Srimad-Bhagavatam teaches that in the relationship of
friendship with Krsna, there may be quarrels of intimacy in
which the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
the infinite, is defeated by the finite.
9. 14
uvaha krsno bhavagan sri damanam parajitam
vrsabham bhadrasenastu pralambo rohinisutam
Being defeated, Krsna bore his friend Sridama upon his back,
Vrsabha and Pralambha took Balarama, the powerful son of
Rohini, upon his back. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.18.24)
Sakhya-rasa = santa-rasa + dasya-rasa + the feeling of kinship, friendship, and intimacy
9. 15
santera guna, dasera sevana - sakhye dui haya
daseyera sambrahma-gaurava-seva sakhye "visvasa" maya
kandhe cade, kandhe cadaya, kare krida-rana
krsne seve, krsne karaya apana-sevana
visrambha-pradhana sakhya - gaurava-sambhrama-hina
ataeva sakhya-rasera "tina" guna - cihna
"mamata" adhika krsne, atmasama-jnana
ataeva sakhyarasera vasa bhagavan
The qualities of santa-rasa and the service of daya-rasa are
both present on the platform of sakhya-rasa. On the platform
of fraternity, the qualities of daya-rasa are mixed with the
confidence of fraternity instead of awe and veneration. On
the sakhya-rasa platform, the devotee sometimes offers the
Lord service and sometimes makes Krsna serve him in exchange.
In their mock-fighting, the cowherd boys would sometiems
climb on Krsna's shoulders, and sometimes they would make
Krsna climb on their shoulders. Since the platform of
fraternity is predominated by confidential service, awe, and
veneration are absent. Therefore, sakhya-rasa is
characterized by three qualities. On the platform of
sakhya-rasa, the Supreme Personaity of Godhead is obliged to
the devotees who are intimate with Krsna and think themselves
equal to Him. (Caitanya-Caritamrta Madhya 19.222-224)
Vatsalya-rasa, the mellow of parenthood=santa+dasya+sakhya+the feeling of nurturing
9. 16
vatsalya santera guna, dasyera sevana
sei sei sevanera i-ha nama "palana"
sakhyera guna "asankoca, agaurava" sara
mamatadhikye tasana-bhartsana-vyavahara
apanake "palaka"-jnana, krsne "palya" jnana
"cari gune vasala-rasa amrta-samana
On the platform of vatsalya-rasa, or parental love, the
qualities of santa-rasa, dasya-rasa and sakhya-rasa are
transformed into a form of service called nurturing. The
essence of fraternal love is intimacy devoid of the formality
and veneration found in the dsaa-rasa. Due to a greater sense
of intimacy, the devotee functioning in paternal love
chastises and rebukes the Lord in an ordinary way. On the
platform of paternal love, the devotee considers himself the
Lord's maintainer and protector. Thus the Lord is the object
of protection, like a son, and therefore this mellow is full
of the four qualities of santa-rasa, dasya-rasa, and
sakhya-rasa and vatsalya-rasa. This is more transcendental
nectar. (Caitanya-Caritamrta Madhya 19.226-228)
Madhura-rasa,conjugal love=santa+dasya+sakhya+vatsalya-rasa+the desire for offering one's body in service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna.
9. 17
madhura rase krsna-nistha, seva atisaya
sakhyera asankoca, lalana-mamatadhikya haya
kanta-bhave nijanga diya karena sevana
ataeva madhura-rasera haya "pa-ca" guna
akasadiguna yena para para bhute
eka dui tina cari krame pa-ca prthivite
ei mata madhure saba bhava samahara
ataeva asvadadhikye kare camatkara
On the platform of conjugal love, attachment for Krsna,
rendering service unto Him, the relaxed feelings of
fraternity and the feelings of maintenance all increase in
intimacy. On the platform of conjugal love, the devotee
offers his body in the service of the Lord. Thus on this
platform all five transcendental qualities are present. All
the material qualities one after another in the material
elements, beginning with ether. By gradual evolution, first
one quality develops, then two Qualities develop, then three
and four, until all five qualities are found in earth.
Similarly, on the platform of conjugal lvoe, all the feelings
of the devotees are amalgamated. The intensified taste is
certainly wonderful. (Caitanya-Caritamrta Madhya 19.231-234)
Sthayi-bhava or permanent ecstasies, together with different kinds of affection (rati) are transformed into transcendental mellow (rasa). In other words, rati, or affection, is the root cause of rasa, divine mellow.
9. 18
premadi sthayibhava samagri milane
krsna-bhakti-rasarupe paya pariname
vibhava, anubhava, sattvika, vyabhicari
sthayibhava "rasa" haya ei cari mili'
When the permanent ecstasies [passive devotion, devotion in
servitude etc.] are mixed with different kinds of rati,
krsna-bhakti in ecstasy is transformed and becomes composed
of transcendental mellows (rasas). The permanent ecstasy
becomes a more and more tasteful transcendental mellow
through the mixture of special ecstasy, subordinate ecstasy,
natural ecstasy, and transitory ecstasy. (Caitanya-Caritamrta
Madhya 23.47-48)
The "cause" of rasa as the two forms of vibhava: alambana, the support, or the person who is the object of the sentiment (things in connection with Krsna, his flute, his devotees, etc.) and uddipana , the inspiration for awakening (Krsna Himself.)
9. 19
dvividha "vibhava" - alambana, uddipana
vamsisvaradi uddipana, krsnadi alambana
There are two kinds of particular ecstasies [vibhava]. One is
called the support, and the other is called the awakening.
The vibration of Krsna's flute is an example of the
awakening, and Lord Krsna Himself is an example of the
support. (Caitanya-Caritamrta Madhya 23.50)
The object and shelter are two different kinds of objects of
bhakti;
These are known as two kinds of alambana.
9. 20
krsnas ca krsna-bhaktas ca buddhairalambana matam
ratyader-visayatvena tathadharatayapi ca
[The cause or basis for relishing transcendental mellow is
what is meant by vibhava. This vibhava is divided into two
categories - namely basic and impetuous. In the Agni Purana
the description of vibhava is given as follows.] The basis
from which ecstatic love is born is called vibhava, which is
divided into two - basic and impetuous. In other words, there
are two kinds of ecstatic love. The object of basic ecstatic
love is Krsna and His devotee. Lord Krsna is the object of
basic ecstatic love, and His pure devotee, a reservoir of
such love, is the object of impetuous ecstatic love. Impetous
ecstatic love, then, is that love which develops when one
sees and object which reminds him of Krsna, while Krsna
Himself is the cause of basic love. These are the two kinds
of alambana.
(Bhakti-Rasamrta-Sindhu, Daksina-vibhaga 1.16.)
Sri Krsna is the best of all objects of worship
9. 21
siddhanta-tas-tva-bhedo'pi sri krsna-svarupapayom
rasenot-krsyate krsna-rupamesa rasasthitim
Although the Lord of Laksmi, Narayana and Sri Krsnaare
essentially one and the same, the superexcellence of Sri
Krsna's position lies in His being the object of the highest
prema-rasa, because the very nature of rasa shows the most
supreme excellence of the Form of Sri Krsna in whom alone all
12 rasas find their highest expression. In other words,
according to transcendental realization, there is no
difference between the forms of Naayana and Krsna. Yet in
Krsna, there is a special transcendental attraction due to
the conjugal mellow, and consequently He surpasses Narayana.
This is the conclusion of transcendental
mellows.(Bhakti-Rasamrta-Sindhu, Purva-vibhaga 2.59)
Srimati Radharani is the best of all the asrayas, the sources of devotion
9. 22
anayaradhito nunam bhagavan harir-isvaram
yan-no vihaya govindam prito yamanayadraham
[The Vraja-gopis said] O my friend! Leaving us aside Sri
Krsna has gone off to a secluded place with a particular
gopi. She must truly be expert in worshiping (anayaradhito)
Him, for He was so pleased with Her service that He has left
us all behind. [The hidden meaning of this verse is that Sri
Radha, who is indicated here by the word "aradhita" is the
topmost maidservant and devotee of Sri Krsna, being the very
crown jewel of devotion.](Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.30.28)
9. 23
kamsarirapi samsara-vasana baddha-srnkhalam
radhamadhaya hrdaye tatyaja vraja-sundarim
Lord Krsna, the enemy of smsa, left aside the other gopis
during the rasa dance and took Srimati Radharani to His
heart, for She helps the Lord in realizing the essence of His
desires. (Gita-Govinda 3.1)
subdivisions of rasa
9. 24
"anubhava" - smita, nrtya-gitadi udbhasvara
stambhadi "satvika" anubhavera bhitara
The subordinate ecstasies are smiling, dancing, and singing,
as well as different manifestations in the body. The natural
ecstasies, such as being stunned, are considered among the
subordinate ecstasies [anubhava](Caitanya-Caritamrta Madhya
23.47)
9. 25
nirveda-harsadi - tetrisa "vyacari"
saba mili "rasa" haya camatkara-kari
There are other ingredients beginning with complete
despondency and jubilation. Altogether there are thirty-three
varieties, and when these combine, the mellow becomes very
wonderful. (Caitanya-Caritamrta Madhya 23.52)
Thus ends the Ninth Jewel of the Gaudiya Kanthahara:
Bhagavad-Rasa-Tattva
The ninth jewel: Bhagavad-rasa-tattva: the rasa principle
page