257 The Nectar of Devotion
Bashfulness

When Radharani was first introduced to Krsna, She felt very bash-
ful. One of Her friends addressed Her in this way: “My dear friend,
You have already sold Yourself and all Your beauty to Govinda. Now
You should not be bashful. Please look upon Him cheerfully. One
who has sold an elephant to another person should not make a miser-
ly quarrel about selling the trident which controls the elephant.”
This kind of bashfulness is due to a new introduction ‘in ecstatic love
with Krsna.

The heavenly King, Indra, upon being defeated in his fight with
Krsna for possession of the parijata flower, became very bashful be-
cause of his defeat. He was standing before Krsna, bowing down his
head, when Krsna said, “All right, Indra, you can take this parijata
flower. Otherwise, you will not be able to show your face before
your wife, Sacidevi.” Indra’s bashfulness was due to defeat. In an-
other instance, Krsna began to praise Uddhava for his various high
qualifications. Upon being praised by Krsna, Uddhava also bowed
down his head bashfully.

In Hari-varnsa, Satyabhama, feeling slighted by Rukmini’s high
position, said, “My dear Krsna, the Raivataka Mountain is always full
of spring flowers, but when I have become persona non grata to You,
what is the use of my observing them?” This is an instance of bash-
fulness resulting from being defeated.

Concealment

There is a symptom of ecstatic love known as concealment, or try-
ing to hide one’s real mental condition by externally showing another
attitude. In this state of mind one tries to hide his mind by looking
away in different directions, by unnecessarily trying for something
which is impossible, or by using words which cover one’s real
thoughts. According to adcaryas expert in the study of psychological
activities, these attempts at hiding one’s real affections are another
part of ecstatic feeling for Krsna.

In the Tenth Canto, 32nd Chapter, 14th verse of Srimad-
