45 / Laughing Ecstasy

In the fourth division of Bhakti-rasdmrta-sindhu, Srila Ripa Go-
svami has described seven kinds of indirect ecstasies of devotional
service—known as laughing, astonishment, chivalry, compassion, an-
ger, dread and ghastliness. In this portion, Srila Rupa Gosvami fur-
ther describes these ecstasies of devotional feelings, some being com-
patible and others incompatible with one another. When one kind of
ecstatic devotional service overlaps with another in a conflicting way,
this state of affairs is called rasabhasa, or perverted presentation of
mellows.

Expert learned scholars say that laughing is generally found
amongst youngsters or in the combination of old persons and young
children. This ecstatic loving laughing is sometimes also found in per-
sons who are very grave by nature. Once an old mendicant ap-
proached the door of Mother Yasoda’s house, and Krsna told Yagoda,
“My dear Mother, I don’t wish to go near this skinny villain. If I go
there, he might put Me within his begging bag and take Me away
from You!” In this way, the wonderful child, Krsna, began to look at
His mother, while the mendicant, who was standing in the door, tried
to hide his smiling face, although he could not do so. He immediately
expressed his smiling. In this instance, Krsna Himself is the object of
laughing affairs.

Once one of Krgna’s friends informed Him, “My dear Krsna, if
You will open Your mouth, then I shall give You one nice sugar can-
dy mixed with yogurt.” Krsna immediately opened His mouth, but
instead of giving Him sugar candy with yogurt, the friend dropped a
flower in His mouth. After tasting this flower, Krsna turned His

365
