Fraternal Devotion 333

the chief. Sridama 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 Krsna in joking friendship.
Let us pray to Sridama to bestow his mercy upon us!

Sometimes Sridama used to address Krsna: “Oh, You are so cruel
that You left us alone on the bank of Yamuna, 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-narma, or intimate friends. Counted among the priya-
narma friends are Subala, Arjuna, Gandharva, Vasanta and Ujjvala.
There was talk among the friends of Radharani, the gopis, about
these most intimate friends. One gopi addressed Radharani thusly:
“My dear Krsangi [delicate one], just see how Subala is whispering
Your message into Krsna’s ear, how he is delivering the confidential
letter of Syamadasi silently into Krgna’s hand, how he is delivering
the betel nuts prepared by Palika into Krsna’s mouth, and how he is
decorating Krsna with the garland prepared by Taraka. Did you
know, my dear friend, that all these most intimate friends of Krsna
are always engaged in His service in this way?” Out of the many inti-
mate priya-narmas, 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 Krsna. 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 Krgna’s friend Subala!

The degree of intimacy shared by Krsna and Subala can be under-
stood by the fact that the talks between them were so confidential
that no one else could understand what they were saying.
