"The Nectar of Devotion" (also known as the "Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu" ) Translated by His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

"The Nectar of Devotion" (also known as the "Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu" )

Translated by His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

The following is from the English language translation of Srila Rupa  Goswami's 'Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu' called 'The Nectar of Devotion' by Srila Prabhupada.

The Supreme Lover is Krishna and He is situated in Vrindaban. The Supreme Beloved is Radharani. As Krishna is the Supreme Lover, there are 64 important qualifications of Krishna, on hearing which, the devotee takes transcendental pleasure.

The characteristics of Krishna are explained in the Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu as follows:

1. His body is well-constructed. 2. It is full of auspicious symptoms;

3. beautiful;
4. very glorious;
5. strong;
6. always looking like a boy of sixteen;
7. well-versed in different languages;
8. truthful;
9. decorated with pleasing words;
10. expert in speaking;
11. very learned;
12. intelligent;
13. influential;
14. joyful;
15. cunning;
16. expert;
17. grateful;
18. firmly convinced.
19. He knows how to deal with different circumstances;
20. is always conversant with Scriptural injunctions; 21. clean;
22. controlled by devotees;
23. steady;
24. self-controlled;
25. forgiving;
26. grave;
27. speculative;
28. fairdealing;
29. magnanimous;
30. religious;
31. a great hero;
32. merciful;
33. respectful;
34. competent;
35. gentle;
36. modest;
37. Protector of the surrendered soul; 38. Deliverer; 39. Friend of the devotees;
40. submissive to love;
41. all auspicious;
42. most Powerful;
43. famous;
44. devoted to all living entities;
45. worshipable by everyone;
48. full with opulence;
49. Supreme;
50. full with riches.

All the above-mentioned 50 qualities are fragmentally present in every living entity. When they are completely spiritually free and situated in their original condition, all the above-mentioned 50 qualities can be perceived in human life—but in minute quantity.

There are five other transcendental qualities, as mentioned below, which can be seen in Vishnu, the Supreme Lord, and partially in Lord Shiva also—but they are not visible in the living entities. They are as follows:

1. always situated in His original condition;
2. omniscient;
3. evergreen or always fresh;
4. eternally blissful;
5. conversant, the master of all perfection.

Besides the above-mentioned five transcendental qualities, there are five other qualities which can be seen in the Spiritual Sky, especially in the Vaikuntha planets where Narayana is the predominating deity. They are:

1. inconceivable potencies;
2. able to sustain innumerable Universes;
3. the Seed of all incarnations;
4. to give the highest perfection to enemies who are killed by Narayana,
5. the most attractive of the self-realized persons.

The above-mentioned 60 qualities are visible up to Narayana. And Krishna has four other special qualities which are:

1. able to manifest wonderful Pastimes,
2. His transcendental flute-playing;
3. eternal youth;
4. His Personal Beauty.

As Krishna has 64 transcendental qualities, described above, so Srimati Radharani has 25 transcendental qualities by creation, material and spiritual. But Radharani can control even Krishna by Her transcendental qualities.

Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī’s twenty-five chief transcendental qualities are:

1. She is sweetness personified.
2. She is a fresh young girl.
3. Her eyes are always moving.
4. She is always brightly smiling.
5. She has all the signs of fortunate lines in Her body. 6. By the flavor of Her person even Krishna becomes agitated.
7. She is expert in the art of singing.
8. She can speak very nicely and sweetly.
9. She is expert in presenting Herself by feminine attraction.
10. She is modest and gentle.
11. She is always very merciful.
12. She is transcendentally cunning.
13. She knows how to dress nicely.
14. She is always shy.
15. She is always respectful.
16. She is always patient.
17. She is very grave.
18. She is enjoyable by Krishna.
19. She is always situated on the highest devotional platform.
20. She can give shelter to all kinds of devotees.
21. She is the most famous of submissive devotees.
22. She is always affectionate her all and very affectionate to elderly people.
23. She is always obliged by the dealings of Her associates.
24. She is the greatest among all the girlfriends of Krishna and chief gopī.
25. She always keeps Krishna under Her control.

This is from the Caitanya Caritamrita -

1. She is very sweet;
2. She is always freshly youthful;
3. Her eyes are restless;
4. She smiles brightly;
5. She has beautiful, auspicious lines;
6. She makes Kṛṣṇa happy with Her bodily aroma;
7. She is very expert in singing;
8. Her speech is charming;
9. She is very expert in joking and speaking pleasantly;
10. She is very humble and meek;
11. She is always full of mercy;
12. She is cunning;
13. She is expert in executing Her duties;
14. She is shy;
15. She is always respectful;
16. She is always calm;
17. She is always grave;
18. She is expert in enjoying life;
19.She is situated at the topmost level of ecstatic love;
20 -She is the reservoir of loving affairs in Gokula;
21. She is the most famous of submissive devotees;
22. She is very affectionate to elderly people;
23. She is very submissive to the love of Her friends;
24. She is the chief gopī;
25. She always keeps Kṛṣṇa under Her control.
(Sri Caitanya Caritamrta 2:23:87-91 translation and purport).

So Krishna and Radharani are both transcendentally qualified, and both are attractive for each other. But still, in that transcendental attractiveness, Radharani is better than Krishna.

Glossary.

Narayan - The four-armed form of Krishna Who presides over the Vaikuntha planets; Lord Vishnu.

Lord Shiva - The expansion of Krishna who acts as a demigod, supervises the material mode of ignorance and who annihilates the material cosmos at the end of the cosmic manifestation.

Vrindaban - The transcendental abode of Krishna. The town of Vrindaban in the Mathura District of Uttar Pradesh, India is where Krishna appeared 5000 years ago.

Vaikuntha planets - The eternal planets of the Spiritual Sky.