The Transcendental Pastimes of Radha and Krishna 255
sages, considered the Supreme Personality of Godhead by the devotees; and,
for the ordinary man, He is considered an ordinary human being.

Lord Chaitanya appreciated this statement by Ramananda Roy very
much, but still He said, “You can advance further.” At the request of Lord
Chaitanya, Ramanada Roy stated that the relationship with Krishna as son
and father, the relationship of parenthood, is a still higher transcendental
position.

Ramananda Roy’s meaning was that the friendly attitude toward Krishna,
increased by still more affection becomes the relationship between parents
and their children. In this connection Ramananda Roy quoted a nice verse
from Srimad Bhagwatam, Tenth canto, 8th chapter, where it is stated that the
King inquired from Sukdeva Goswami as to the magnitude of righteous activi-
ties which had been performed by Yasoda, the mother of Krishna, for which
the Supreme Personality of Godhead called her “mother,” and sucked at her
breast. And he quoted still another verse from Srimad Bhagwatam (Tenth
Canto, 9th Chapter), in which it is stated that Yasoda, the wife of Nanda,
a cowherd man, received mercy from the Supreme Personality of Godhead
which is incomparable, even by the mercy which is received by Brahma,
the first created living being, or Lord Shiva, or even the Goddess of Fortune,
Lakshmi, who is always situated on the chest of Lord Vishnu.

Lord Chaitanya asked Ramananda Roy to proceed further, to come to
the point of conjugal love. Ramananda Roy, understanding the mind of
Lord Chaitanya, immediately answered that the relationship of conjugal
love with Krishna is the highest position. In other words, intimate relation-
ship with Krishna develops from an ordinary conception of the Supreme Per-
sonality of Godhead, to the conception of Master and servant. And when it
has become confidential, it develops into a friendly relationship, and when
it is further developed, it is the relationship between parents and the children;
and when it is developed to the highest point of complete love and affection,
it is known as conjugal love with the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

In this connection, Ramananda Roy quoted a nice stanza from the Srimad
Bhagwatam, Tenth Canto, 47th Chapter, in which it is stated that the tran-
scendental mode of ecstasy which was exhibited during the Rasa Dance of the
Gopis with Krishna was never relishable even by the Goddess of Fortune,
who is always situated on the chest of the Lord in the spiritual kingdom.
What to speak of the experience of ordinary women?

Ramananda Roy then explained the gradual process of the development
of pure love with Krishna. He stated that a person who is related to the Supreme
