Madhurer Sthayi Bhava
Rupanuga Bhajana Darpana Song 9
madhurera sthāyī bhāba labhe
jate abirbhāba boli tāhā śuno eka
-mane abhijoga o biṣoya
sambandhābhimāna-dwoya tadīya biśeṣa upamāne
Abhiyoga (expression of heartfelt emotions as joking complaints)
swabhāba āśroya kori ' citte rati
abatori śṛṅgāra rasera kore puṣṭi
abhijoga ādi choya anye rati-hetu
hoya braja-debīra tāhe nāhi dṛṣṭi
Rati develops in the heart of the practicing devotee when all these features act together under the shelter of the 7th ingredient svabhava, and thus the conjugal mellow becomes nourished. However, all the Vraja gopis have natural rati as their svabhava, so for them there is no need of stimulation by the first six above-mentioned ingredients headed by abhiyoga.
swataḥ-siddhi rati tāṅre
sambandhādi-sahākāre samartha koriyā rākhe
sadā kṛṣṇa-sebā binā tāṅra udyamo
nāhika āra swīya sukha ceṣṭa nāhi kadā
The natural, spontaneous transcendental rati of the gopis is so strongly fixed up that they merely take help from the above-mentioned six ingredients, instead of depending on them for stimulation. Except for Krsna's service, there is no question of their ever performing any other endeavor. Indeed, it is verily impossible for them to strive for their own personal happiness at any time, even to the slightest degree.
ei rati prauḍha hoya mahā-bhāba
dāsa pāya jāra tulya prāpti āra nāi
sarbādbhuta camatkāra sambhogecchā
e prakāra barṇibāre bākya nāhi pāi
When this type of pure attachment becomes most matured, then the final stage it attains is called maha-bhava... the most exalted, sublime form of transcendental ecstasy. There is no comparison anywhere to such bliss. Their desire for this type of selfless union is the most wonderful thing to observe, and it really makes one astonished even to think of it. Therefore, I can certainly find no suitable words to describe the manifestation of this topmost divine grace called maha-bhava.
Translation
Abhiyoga (expression of heartfelt emotions as joking complaints)
Rati develops in the heart of the practicing devotee when all these features act together under the shelter of the 7th ingredient svabhava, and thus the conjugal mellow becomes nourished. However, all the Vraja gopis have natural rati as their svabhava, so for them there is no need of stimulation by the first six above-mentioned ingredients headed by abhiyoga.
The natural, spontaneous transcendental rati of the gopis is so strongly fixed up that they merely take help from the above-mentioned six ingredients, instead of depending on them for stimulation. Except for Krsna's service, there is no question of their ever performing any other endeavor. Indeed, it is verily impossible for them to strive for their own personal happiness at any time, even to the slightest degree.
When this type of pure attachment becomes most matured, then the final stage it attains is called maha-bhava... the most exalted, sublime form of transcendental ecstasy. There is no comparison anywhere to such bliss. Their desire for this type of selfless union is the most wonderful thing to observe, and it really makes one astonished even to think of it. Therefore, I can certainly find no suitable words to describe the manifestation of this topmost divine grace called maha-bhava.