3.11
dasya, sakhya, vatsalya, srngara--cari rasa
cari bhavera bhakta yata krsna tara vasa
SYNONYMS
dasya—servitude; sakhya—friendship; vatsalya—parental affection; srngara—conjugal love; cari—four; rasa—mellows; cari—four; bhavera—of the sentiments; bhakta—devotees; yata—as many as there are; krsna—Lord Krsna; tara—by them; vasa—subdued.
Servitude (dasya), friendship (sakhya), parental affection (vatsalya) and conjugal love (srngara) are the four transcendental mellows (rasas).
By the devotees who cherish these four mellows, Lord Krsna is subdued.
PURPORT
Dasya, sakhya, vatsalya and srngara are the transcendental modes of loving service to the Lord.
Santa-rasa, or the neutral stage, is not mentioned in this verse because although in santa-rasa one considers the Absolute Truth the sublime great, one does not go beyond that conception.
Santa-rasa is a very grand idea for materialistic philosophers, but such idealistic appreciation is only the beginning; it is the lowest among the relationships in the spiritual world.
Santa-rasa is not given much importance because as soon as there is a slight understanding between the knower and the known, active loving transcendental reciprocations and exchanges begin.
Dasya-rasa is the basic relationship between Krsna and His devotees; therefore this verse considers dasya the first stage of transcendental devotional service.