278 Teachings of Lord Chaitanya

fest and very happy and expanded and unlimited, are limited for understanding
to the damsels of Vraja only, or to their followers.” As no one can understand
the expansion of spiritual energy of the Supreme Lord without the causeless
mercy of the Supreme Lord, similarly, no one can understand the transcendental
sex life between Radha and Krishna without following in the footsteps of the
damsels of Vraja. There are different names for the associates of Radharani:
they are called Shaktis, or personal associates, and also the Manjarys, the near
assistants.

It is very difficult to express their dealings with Krishna, as they have no
desire to mix with or to enjoy Krishna Personally. But they are always ready
to help Radharani be with Krishna. Their affection for Krishna and Radharani
is so pure that they are simply satisfied when Radha and Krishna are together,
and they simply enjoy the transcendental pleasure of seeing Radha and Krishna
combined, united. The actual form of Radharani is just like a creeper embracing
the tree of Krishna. The damsels of Vraja, the associates of Radharani, are just
like the leaves and flowers of the creeper. And when the creeper embraces the
tree, automatically the leaves and flowers also take the opportunity to embrace
the tree, along with the creeper.

This is confirmed in the Govinda Lilamrita as follows: Radharani is expressed
as the expansion of the pleasure potency of Krishna. As She is compared with
the creeper, Her associates, the damsels of Vraja, are just like the flowers and
and leaves of that creeper. When Radharani and Krishna enjoy Themselves,
the damsels of Vraja enjoy the pleasure more than Radharani Herself. Although
the associates of Radharani do not expect any personal attention from Krishna,
still Radharani is so pleased with Her associates that She arranges a meeting of
Krishna and the damsels of Vraja, individually. By many transcendental
maneuvers, Radharani tries to combine or unite the associates with Krishna.
Radharani takes more pleasure in these meetings than in Her own affairs.
And, when Krishna sees that both Radharani and Her associates are pleased
by His association, He becomes more satisfied. Such association and reciproca-
tion of love has nothing to do with material lust, but because it resembles such
unification between man and woman, or the similarity to the combination
of man and woman is there, therefore sometimes it is called, in transcendental
language, transcendental lust.

In Goutamiyatantra this combination of Radharani and Her relationships
with Krishna is explained as follows: “Lust means that one is attached to one’s
personal sense gratification. But, so far as the associates of Radharani and Rad-
harani Herself are concerned, They had no desire for Their personal sense gra-
