33 / Conjugal Affection

Above even the humor of love between Krsna and His parents is
the relationship of conjugal love. This is exhibited between the Lord
and the young gopis in different ways—glancing, moving the eye-
brows, speaking very sweet words, and exchanging smiles.

There is a statement in Govinda-vilasa to this effect: ‘“Srimati
Radharani was looking for Krsna very anxiously and almost dis-
appointedly.”” When there is such indirect expression of conjugal
love, there is smiling, astonishment, enthusiasm, lamentation, anger,
dread and sometimes ghastliness. These seven exchanges of conjugal
love form another state of ecstatic love.

In a direct relationship of conjugal love, there is laughter, astonish-
ment, chivalry, lamentation, anger and dread, but there is no ghast-
liness. These expressions are considered to be the great reservoirs of
pleasure. When these seven kinds of ecstatic loving exchanges are
manifested, they attain the status of steadiness by which the taste
of conjugal love expands.

Laughter

After He had stolen some curd from the pots of two gopis, Krsna
told one of His gopi friends: ““My dear beautiful friend, I can take
oath that I have not stolen even a drop of curd from your pot! But
still, your friend, Radharani, is very shamelessly smelling the flavor
of My mouth. Kindly forbid Her from this devious policy of putting
Her face near Mine.” When Krsna was speaking like this, the friends
of Radharani could not check their laughter. This is an instance of
ecstasy in conjugal love.

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