Chapter 15 – What are the ingresients of vatsalya ras ?

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In this verse the ingredients of ras are as follows –

Vibhâv –

  • Sthâyi-bhâv – the devotee should have a passion called ‘vâtsalya’.
  • The subject of ras – Sri Krishna and Baladev who are crawling.
  • The shelter of ras – Mothers Yashodâ and Rohini.
  • Uddipan – what excite ras – the childish age of Sri Krishna and Balarâm, sweet smile, childish pranks.

Reactions of ras – the devotee caresses, pets, kisses the forehead and wipes the dust off His body

The silent reactions of the devotee– tears, goose flesh, breasts overflowing with milk

The passing moods of the devotee – joy, âveg, eagerness.

The Mahâjan has described Vrajeshwari Mother Yashodâ’s vâtsalya ras so sweetly –

“Her heart burnt in anguish and torrential tears flowed from her eyes, while her heart was shattered in grief – how would He go to the woods (to graze the cattle)? Why, He didn’t even know the house and its surroundings well till now! How could a mother bear such sorrow?

O my dearest, O the darling of the Yâdavs1, is there no wealth at home that you should step in the woods? Let the other cowherd boys take the cattle.

I have no one else to call my own and no support but You. You are my only darling, how can you bear to leave me and let my life be engulfed in darkness?

You are only a suckling babe, and you want to go to the forest with the cows? How can I rest in peace at home?

O my dear, Your body is as soft as butter – why, the sun will melt You and You will be finished!! The mere thought of this makes my heart tremble! The sun is soaring overhead and the mercury is rising high; it is pouring fire – how will my little one survive?

The grasses are so huge – each one is like a spear! They will pierce your soft skin like anything! Your feet are like velvet flowers, how will You run when they enter Your feet?

When the Gem of Gokul (Gokul-mani) heard His mother weep so pathetically, He tried to console her in so many ways – He said – Mother, please do not grieve, I have nothing to fear for after all, I have this Shekhar Roy (poet) to accompany me.”

(to be contd……………….)



1 Cattle herdsmen