Symptoms of Continuous Ecstasy 282
are almost like Krsna are considered to be great authorities in the
modes of friendly relations with the Supreme Personality of God-
head. On that friendly platform there are different kinds of laughing
and joking conversations. An example of such a friendly relationship
with Krsna is described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam when Krsna was
once thinking, “Today, while I was engaged in tending the cows in
the pasturing ground of Vrndavana, I went to collect some flowers in
a beautiful garden. At that time My friends, the cowherd boys, were
unhappy even to tolerate a two-minute separation from Me. And,
when they found Me, there was competition between us as to who
would touch the other first with the flowers we had in hand.”

One friend criticized Krsna thus: “My dear Damodara, although
You have been defeated by Sridama and have become sufficiently
minimized in strength, by a false expression of strength You have
somehow covered Your shameful condition of defeat.”

Parenthood, or Superiority

When Mother Yagoda heard that Krsna’s cows were being forcibly
moved by the strong servants of Kamsa and that the tender cowherd
boys were trying to protect their cows, she began to think, “How
can I protect these poor boys from the invasion of Karnsa’s ser-
vants?” This is an instance of a superior attitude in a devotee.

As soon as Mother Yagoda found her son Krsna returning from the
pasturing ground, she immediately began to pat Him, touching her
fingers to the cheeks of the Lord.
