kānta-sevā sukha-pūra, saṅgama haite sumadhura
kānta-sevā sukha-pūra, saṅgama haite sumadhura |
(Caitanya-caritāmṛta: 3.20.60)
[For the gopīs:] “Service to the beloved is an outpouring of joy, and is far sweeter than union.”
Texts
gopī-preme kare kṛṣṇa-mādhuryera puṣṭi
gopī-preme kare kṛṣṇa-mādhuryera puṣṭi |
mādhurya bāḍāya prema hañā mahātuṣṭi ||
(Caitanya-caritāmṛta: 1.4.198)
“The gopīs’ prema nourishes Kṛṣṇa’s mādhurya, and his mādhurya, becoming greatly satisfied, increases the prema [of the gopīs].”
snātānulipta-vapuṣaḥ pupuṣuḥ svabhās tan- nirmālya-mālya-vasanābharaṇena dāsyaḥ
snātānulipta-vapuṣaḥ pupuṣuḥ svabhās tan-
nirmālya-mālya-vasanābharaṇena dāsyaḥ |
prāsya svakāmam anuvṛtti-ratās tayor yāḥ
śrī-rūpa-mañjari-samāna-guṇābhidhānāḥ ||
tā vidyud-uddyuti-jayi-prapadaika-rekhā
vaidagdhya eva kila mūrtibhṛtas tathāpi |
yūtheśvarītvam api samyag arocayitvā
dāsyāmṛtābdhim anusasnur ajasram asyāḥ ||
(Kṛṣṇa-bhāvanāmṛta: 3.1–2)
“The dāsīs whose bodies are bathed and anointed and whose own lusters are nourished with her [i.e., Śrī Rādhā’s] remnant garlands, garments, and ornaments, [the dāsīs] who have cast away selfish desire and are engaged in pleasing them [i.e., Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa], [the dāsīs] who are known to possess qualities equal [in excellence] to the buds (mañjarīs) of their figures and splendors [alt., who are known to have qualities equal to those of Śrī Rūpa Mañjarī], [the dāsīs] one ray from the tips of whose toes defeats the brilliance of lightning, [the dāsīs] who are verily embodiments of cleverness, [the dāsīs] who nevertheless have no taste whatsoever for being a yūtheśvarī [even though they are fully qualified to be one], [those dāsīs] forever bath in the ocean of the nectar of servitude (dāsya) unto her [i.e., Śrī Rādhā].”
śrī-rādhā-pāda-padma-cchavi-madhuratara-prema-cij-jyotir ekā-mbodher
śrī-rādhā-pāda-padma-cchavi-madhuratara-prema-cij-jyotir ekā-
mbodher udbhūta-phena-stavaka-maya-tanūḥ sarva-vaidagdhya-pūrṇāḥ |
kaiśora-vyañjitās tad-ghana-rug-apaghana-śrī-camatkāra-bhājo
divyālaṅkāra-vastrā anusarata sakhe rādhikā-kiṅkarīs tāḥ ||
(Vṛndāvana-mahimāmṛta: 2.86)
“Their forms are made of clusters of foam arising from the superexcellent ocean of the spiritual light of prema made even sweeter by the luster of Śrī Rādhā’s lotus feet. They are replete with all expertise and vividly youthful, their figures are splendorous and astonishing with the intense luster thereof [i.e., of their youth] and adorned with charming ornaments and garments. O sakhī, follow those maidservants of Rādhikā.”
gopīnāṁ mahimā kaścit tāsām eko‘pi śakyate
gopīnāṁ mahimā kaścit tāsām eko‘pi śakyate |
na mayā svamukhe kartuṁ merur makṣikayā yathā ||
(Bṛhad Bhāgavatāmṛta: 1.7.156)
[Parīkṣit Mahārāja to Mother Uttarā:] “Even one particular greatness of those gopīs is not able to be uttered by me with my own mouth, just as [the greatness] of [Mount] Meru [cannot be swallowed] by a fly [with its own mouth].”
iti gauḍīya-bhakta-sudhībhir avaśyāvagamyaṁ
iti gauḍīya-bhakta-sudhībhir avaśyāvagamyaṁ …
(Sārārtha-darśinī-ṭīkā on Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 10.8.13)
“This is to be understood by wise Gauḍīya devotees.”
na viśvaset kumitre ca mitre cāpi na viśvaset
na viśvaset kumitre ca mitre cāpi na viśvaset |
kadācit kupitaṁ mitraṁ sarvaṁ guhyaṁ prakāśayet ||
(Cāṇakya-nīti-darpaṇa: 2.6)
“Do not trust a bad friend, and do not trust even a [good] friend either. When provoked, a friend may reveal all [your] secrets.”
icchec ced vipulāṁ maitrīṁ trīṇi tatra na kārayet
icchec ced vipulāṁ maitrīṁ trīṇi tatra na kārayet |
vāg-vādaṁ artha-sambandhaṁ tat-patnī-paribhāṣaṇam ||
(Subhāṣita-ratna-bhāṇḍāgāram)
“If you desire a great friendship, then do not engage in these three therein: (1) disputes, (2) financial agreements, or (3) intimate conversation with their spouse.”
api sampūrṇatā-yuktaiḥ kartavyāḥ suhṛdo budhaiḥ
api sampūrṇatā-yuktaiḥ kartavyāḥ suhṛdo budhaiḥ |
nadīśaḥ paripūrṇo’pi candrodayam apekṣate ||
(Unknown Source)
“Friends should be made by the wise, even if they are [already] endowed with abundance [alt., fulfillment]. Although completely full, the ocean awaits the rise of the moon.”
maitryā cākhila-jantuṣu
maitryā cākhila-jantuṣu |
samatvena ca sarvātmā bhagavān samprasīdati ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 4.11.13)
“Bhagavān, the Ātmā of all, is very pleased by friendship (between peers) and equality towards all living beings.”