"A sakhá bhakta sits on Krishna's back, or carries him on his shoulders, or has a mock fight with him; he serves Krishna and at times makes Krishna serve him! The chief characteristic of the sakhya ras is free comradery, without any feeling of respect or awe. So this ras has three qualities; in it Krishna is loved more ardently, as he is held equal to the bhakta's self; hence this ras captivates the good. In the batsalya ras there are the above three qualities, plus tenderness, which in its excess leads to chiding and chastisement. Such a devotee regards himself as the patron and Krishna as the protégé; his service takes the form of paternal care. This ras, therefore has four qualities, and is like nectar.
"In the madhur ras all the above four qualities are present in a heightened form, and in addition to them the votary serves Krishna as a lover offering him his or her own person. Here five qualities are present. All the [four] emotions find their synthesis in the madhur, just as in the case of the five elements (sky, air, light, water and earth) the attributes of the first four are all united in the fifth. Hence is the madhur ras of wondrous deliciousness. This emotion has been fully described. Reflect how to spread it. While meditating, Krishna will illuminate your heart. Through Krishna's grace, even an ignorant man reaches the farthest shore of the emotions."
So saying the Master embraced Rup and started for Benares next morning. Rup begged leave to accompany Him as he could not bear the pang of parting. But the Master objected, "Let me lay down your duty. You are now within easy reach of Brindában; go there. Thence return to Bengal and join me at Puri." After giving him a (parting) embrace the Master embarked. Rup fell down there in a swoon. The Deccani Brahman took him to his house.
Then Rup and his brother went to Brindában. When the Master reached Benares, Chandra Sekhar met Him outside the village, as he had dreamt the previous night that the Master had come to his house and so he had come out of the village to wait for Him. Delighted to see the Master, he bowed at His feet and took Him home with him. At the news, Tapan Mishra came to the Master; forming a select assembly he invited Him and made Him dine at his house. Chundra Shekhar invited Bhattáchárya. After the feast Tapan Mishra begged Him, "Grant me kindly one favour that I beg of thee. So long as thou stayest at Kashi do not dine anywhere except in my house." The Master accepted his invitation as He knew that He would stay for a week only and would not dine with hermits. He lodged with Chandra Shekhar. The Maratha Brahman and many good men of the Brahman and Kshatriya castes visited the Master. [Text, canto 19.]
[[1]] The celebrated Vallabh-acharya (born in 1479), the founder of the Pushtimarga school of Vaishnavism. Ambuli is evidently Arail, a village on the Jamuna opposite Allahabad, which contains a temple of the Vallabh-acharya sect.
CHAPTER XVIII
Sanátan meets the Master and is taught of God's forms
At Gaur, Sanátan lay in prison, when to his delight he received Rup's letter. Then he spoke to his Muslim jailor: "You are a living saint, a very pious man, well-read in the Quran. [There it is written that] if a man ransoms a captive with his wealth, God gives him salvation. Formerly I had done you good turns; now show your gratitude by reliasing me. I offer you five thousand Rupees. Accept the sum, and by setting me free gain both money and religious merit."
The Muslim replied, "Hark you, Sir, I can let you off, but I fear the Sultan." Sanátan rejoined, "Fear not the Sultan. He has gone to Orissa. If he comes back, tell him that when Sanátan was sent to the bank of the Ganges to ease himself, he jumped into the river, sank down with his fetters, and could not be traced after much search. Fear not, I shall not live in this country, but turn darvesh and go to Mecca." The Muhammadan was still reluctant. So Sanátan heaped up seven thousand Rupees before him, at the sight of which his greed was roused. At night he sent Sanátan across the river after filing off his fetters. Sanátan avoided the road by Telia Garhi, the gate of Bengal, and travelling day and night entered the Pátrá hills. There he besought a rustic land owner to guide him over the hill. A palmist present with the landowner whispered to him that Sanátan had eight gold coins with himself. At this the man gladly promised to convey Sanátan over the hill by his own servants at night and asked to prepare his meal in the meantime. With marks of honour he gave him rice. Sanátan bathed in the river, broke his two days fast, and reflected, "Why does this land-owner show respect to me?" Then he asked [his attendant] Ishán if he had any property with himself. Ishan replied, "Seven gold coins." At this Sanátan rebuked him saying, "Why have you brought this deadly thing with yourself?" Then he gave the seven pieces to the land-owner and sweetly said, "Take these from me and honestly conduct me over the hill. I am a run-away from the king's prison and cannot take the Telia Garhi road. You will acquire merit if you help me to cross the hill." The land-owner replied, "I knew before that your servant had eight gold pieces with him, and I had determined to murder you at night for the money. It is well that you have told me of the money, and so I have been saved from the sin of murder. I am so pleased that I shall not take the coins, but guide you gratis for the sake of merit."
But Sanátan urged, "Some one else will murder me for the money. Accept it and save my life." Then the land-owner sent four footmen of his own, who led Sanátan across the hill by the forest paths at night. Emerging from the hill Sanátan asked Ishan, "I know you have still something left." "Yes, one gold coin," answered Ishán. Sanátan said, "Return home with it." So, leaving him, the holy man set out alone, a bowl in his hand, a tattered quilt on his back, and (therefore) fearless (of robbers). In course of time he reached Hajipur, [[1]] and in the evening sat down in a garden. His brother-in-law, Shrikánta, a royal officer, lived here, entrusted by the Sultan with three lakhs of Rupees to buy and despatch horses. From a height he discerned Sanátan, and at night came to him with only one attendant. The two had a friendly meeting, and Sanátan told the tale of his escape. Shrikanta said, "Stay here a day or two. Put on decent robes and cast off your rags." Sanátan replied, "No, I shall not linger a minute here. Help me to cross the Ganges, I shall go away at once." Shrikánta with care gave him a Bhutia blanket and ferried him over.