Chapter Six — The Five Rasas

Pañcadhā bhedam astīha tac chṛṇuṣva mahāmune,
Śānto dāsyas tathā sakhyaḥ vātsalyaś ca śṛṅgārakaḥ. (16)

O great sage, hear the five divisions of this relationship: peaceful adoration, loving service, friendship, parental affection, and conjugal love.

In the peaceful mode the devotee reveres the Lord as the supreme and serene Absolute. In service the devotee becomes the Lord’s servant. In friendship the Lord is one’s intimate companion; in parental love, one’s cherished child; and in the conjugal mode, one’s divine husband or beloved. Through these relationships the Lord’s name, form, play, and abode become directly meaningful to the devotee.

Eṣām aneka-bhedāḥ syus te saṃkṣepeṇa bravīmi te,
Mukhyaṃ rasa-svarūpaṃ ca kathayiṣyāmi tattvataḥ. (17)

Each of these has many subdivisions. I shall describe them briefly and explain the essential nature of each principal rasa according to truth.

Śāntiḥ sthāyī raso śānto vibhāvādyaiḥ samanvitaḥ,
Sādhu-saṅgānahaṅkāra-nirvedādyair yathākramam. (18)

When enduring serenity is joined with its proper causes, expressions, and supporting emotions, it becomes the peaceful rasa. It develops through the company of saints, freedom from ego, detachment, humility, and related dispositions.