Eraternal Devotion
منزلات
the chief. Śrīdāmā used to put on a yellow-colored dress. He would carry a buffalo horn, and his turban was of reddish, copper color. His bodily complexion was blackish, and around his neck there was a nice garland. He would always challenge Kṛṣṇa in joking friendship. Let us pray to Śrīdāmā to bestow his mercy upon us!
Sometimes Śrīdāmā used to address Kṛṣṇa: “Oh, You are so cruel that You left us alone on the bank of Yamunā, and we were all mad from not seeing You there! Now it is our great fortune that we are able to see You here. If You want to pacify us, You must embrace each one of us with Your arms. But believe me, my dear friend, a moment’s absence from You creates great havoc, not only for us but for the cows also. Everything becomes disarranged, and we become mad after You.”
There are other friends who are still more confidential. They are called  priya-narmā , or intimate friends. Counted among the  priya-narmā  friends are Subala, Arjuna, Gandharva, Vasanta and Ujjvala. There was talk among the friends of Rādhārāṇī, the  gopīs , about these most intimate friends. One  gopī  addressed Rādhārāṇī thusly: “My dear Kṛśāṅgī [delicate one], just see how Subala is whispering Your message into Kṛṣṇa’s ear, how he is delivering the confidential letter of Śyāmādāsī silently into Kṛṣṇa’s hand, how he is delivering the betel nuts prepared by Pālikā into Kṛṣṇa’s mouth, and how he is decorating Kṛṣṇa with the garland prepared by Tārakā. Did you know, my dear friend, that all these most intimate friends of Kṛṣṇa are always engaged in His service in this way?” Out of the many intimate  priya-narmās , Subala and Ujjvala are considered to be the most prominent.
Subala's body is described as follows. His complexion is just like molten gold. He is very, very dear to Krṣṇa. He always has a garland around his neck, and he wears yellow clothing. His eyes are just like lotus flower petals, and he is so intelligent that by his talking and his moral instructions, all the other friends take the highest pleasure. Let us all offer our respectful obeisances unto Krṣṇa's friend Subala!
The degree of intimacy shared by Krışına and Subala can be understood by the fact that the talks between them were so confidential that no one else could understand what they were saying.