rañjakatvaṁ hi mādhuryaṁ cetaso druti-kāraṇam

rañjakatvaṁ hi mādhuryaṁ cetaso druti-kāraṇam |
sambhoge vipralambhe ca tad evātiśayocitam ||
(Alaṅkāra-kaustubha: 6.16)

“Mādhurya means delightfulness which is a cause [alt., means] of melting of the heart. It is most suitable in union, separation, and elsewhere [i.e., in instances of lamentation (karuṇa) and so forth].”

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