Definition of ‘bhâv-shâvalya’

“When a group of bhâvs rub against each other it is called ’bhâv–shâvalya’.”

– (B.R.S.2.4.104)

Example of bhâv-shâvalya

Sri Râdhâ is in a sulking mood. Lalitâ has told Her not to speak to Govinda. Yet, She is pining for Him. At the same time She does not want to let go of Her ’mân’. So She is saying -“Aho! These doe-eyed girls are indeed blessed because Govinda, the handsome youth sports with them. I am so impatient for Him that Lalitâ will surely scold me. Alas! I so badly want to embrace the moon-faced Govinda. Shame on the cruel creator who has produced this poison called ‘mân’!!” – (V.M)

Here we can see a mixture of suspicion, impatience and amarsha. This is called ‘bhâv–shâvalya’. Srila Vishwanâth Chakravartipâd has written-

“In ‘bhâv-shâvalya’ one bhâv disappears and then another bhâv takes its place, while in ‘bhâv-sandhi’, both bhâvs exist simultaneously. This is the difference.”

– (purport to B.R.S.2.4.245)

Sri Râdhâ is sometimes expressing bhâv-sandhi and sometimes bhâv-shâvalya. In this frame of mind She is criticising Sri Krishna, sometimes glorifying Him, sometimes She is sulking, sometimes She is showing pride, and in this manner She is behaving crazily. Sri Lilâshuk has echoed Her feelings in this verse.

First, in a love-crazy state, She felt as if She was seeing Sri Krishna face to face – He was smeared with sindur^[1] from the body of some other beloved. Seeing Him She felt amarsha. Her nature is of the type called ‘dhirâ-adhirâ-madhyâ’. So She told Sri Krishna sarcastically, with tears in Her eyes – “O Dev! (Here the root word is ‘div’, which means ‘one who sports with other woman’) You have sported with some other woman, so you better go back to her.”

Characteristic of dhirâ-adhirâ-madhyâ

“The beloved who tearfully chastises her lover with sarcasm is called ‘dhirâ-adhirâ’ ” – (U.N.5.39)

For example – Sri Râdhâ, Who was in mân, said-“O Gopendra-nandan (son of the King of the Gopas (Nanda Mahârâj))! Go away and don’t make me cry. If you stay here, the queen of Your heart will be angry. The flowers decorating Your head have stolen some of the alaktak from her lotus-feet. Go return it to her and decorate her feet once more.” – (U.N.5.40)

Srila Vishwanâth Chakravartipâd has explained this verse in his Ânanda Chandrikâ purport so nicely for us to relish it even more. He writes-

Râdhârâni said – “O Gopendra-nandan! You are a prince – and the lover of hundreds and crores of lascivious women. If an ordinary person such as me cries and kills herself, what does it matter to You? You stand to lose nothing. So You had better go, don’t make me cry any more. If you go away, I will try to forget you, but if You keep standing here, it won’t be possible.” When Sri Krishna heard the mânini Srimati Râdhâ speaking thus, He fell at Her feet and begged to be forgiven.

Srimati said – “If she hears that You are begging forgiveness from me, she will be very angry with You. Now You may ask how would she know? Well, she is the queen of Your heart, so she is bound to know everything. You can’t keep any secret from her. I can also see that You have committed a grave offence! You have stolen the alaktak from her feet with the flower garland adorning Your head. I suggest You should return to her and decorate her feet with that garland as well as replenish the alaktak. It is morally right that the thief himself should return the stolen goods to the owner, You see! There is no need to fall at my feet. I am always highly pleased with You, but I will be more pleased if You return quickly to her (meaning, “get lost!”).”

When Sri Krishna disappeared from Her vision, Sri Râdhâ felt as if She had driven Him away. Therefore, She was repentant and once again, She became eager to behold Him. She prayed, “O my darling! You are my beloved. I am ignorant. I have mistakenly disrespected You. So is it right of You to discard me? Please give me darshan!” Hearing this Sri Krishna again appeared and begged Her forgiveness. He stood before Her with folded palms like an offender. Then Srimati felt ill will towards Him, which always follows amarsha. She assumed the mood of the ‘dhirâ-madhyâ’ beloved.

Definition of Dhirâ-madhyâ

“A sweetheart who taunts her lover with sarcastic words is called ‘dhirâ-madhyâ’.” – (U.N.34)

Example-

“Sri Krishna had visited Chandrâvali. When He came to Sri Râdhâ She could see the marks of kohl, pân-stains, sindur and nails on His body. She was full of anger. She taunted Him – “Aha! You are looking like the red and blue form of Lord Shiva! How nicely You have decked up! O Pashupati (Shiva, or in another sense ‘cattle-grazer’)! Why didn’t You bring Pârvati with You? The picture would have been complete. In the early morning I would have easily got darshan of Sri Hara-Gauri.”

– (U.N.5.36)

In the above verse, ‘O Pashupati’ has two meanings. It could mean ‘Lord Shiva’, on the other hand it could also mean ‘the ‘pati’ (master) of ‘pashu’ (animals), thereby meaning that ‘You are a cowherd and You do not have any taste (otherwise how could You choose someone like Chandrâvali?)’ Also, it indirectly means that Chandrâvali is a ‘pashu’ or someone without intelligence or taste. Here the word ‘pashu’ is used in a collective sense, which means, He has enjoyed with not only Chandrâvali, but also all her sakhis. These words prove Sri Râdhâ is outspoken, has sharp intelligence and is controlled.

In the present verse, Srimati is saying with sarcasm – “O One and only Friend of the universe! You are not just my Friend, but also the Friend of all the Gopis. Why only the Gopis? You are a Friend of each and every woman who is attracted by Your flute. It is not Your fault. You have to please everybody. You cannot afford to please just me. Go and please them.”

As soon as Srimati spoke, Shyâmsundar disappeared. Once again, She was thirsty for His darshan. She felt a bhâv called ‘mati’ that always follows impatience.