BRS 2.4.266

Madana means bee’s wax. The list of words starting with laghu (light, followed by uttāna, and kṣodiṣṭha) is considered in relation to the words starting with gariṣṭha (heavy, followed by gambhīra and mahiṣṭha) in order to explain the cause of being externally undisturbed or disturbed by vyabhicāri-bhāvas. However, the use of the words karkaśa (hard) and komala (soft) are used in order to explain the cause of solid or liquid nature (or degree of receptivity) of the heart in relation to the chief sthāyi-bhāva in a person. The word gariṣṭha indicates being unmoved by any object, because of having a dense nature (thick-skinned individual), which allows little contact with objects. The word laghiṣṭha indicates being moved by any object, because of lack of a dense nature, which allows quite a lot of contact with various stimuli. Samyag unmīlanam (“strongly appearing” in verse 258) means there is possibility that the bhāvas can appear strongly in gariṣṭha or karkaśa hearts, but these are prevented from manifesting externally because of the gariṣṭha or karkaśa hearts. Therefore, it will be explained in verse 269 that when the sthāyi-bhāva becomes extremely prominent, then even the gariṣṭha heart becomes very agitated (and the transformations become externally visible.) Being deep (gambhīra) means that there is no visible disturbance even by extensive contacts with objects, even with an object of powerful stimuli because contact is not thorough (cannot penetrate the depth). Being spread on the surface (uttāna) is the opposite: there is visible disturbance, by less extensive contacts, with a less a powerful object, because of thorough contact. Expansive (mahiṣṭha) means that though a person has extensive contact with the objects, and thorough contact with the object, with a somewhat suitable object, there is only a localized manifestation of disturbance. That means only one or two senses are affected. Kṣodiṣṭha (small) means that, just by a slight contact with the object, there is complete manifestation of bhāvas spontaneously. In explaining the nature of uttāna (shallow) the analogy of the pond indicates that the emotions are at some depth, or still somewhat hidden, whereas in explaining the nature of kṣodiṣṭha (small), the analogy of the hut indicates that there is nothing hidden at all. Thunderbolt, gold and lac are used to explain the phenomenon of becoming liquid (receptive) to various degrees. The person hard like a thunderbolt is completely hostile to Kṛṣṇa. The person who is hard like gold has equal amounts of hostility and affection for the Lord. The person who is hard like lac is affectionate with a slight tinge of hostility. On the other hand, bee’s wax, butter and nectar indicate three degrees of softness in affectionate devotees, who are respectively immature, moderate or advanced in their devotion. The meaning here is that these degrees of hardness or softness will produce even more differences in the pairs of three: gariṣṭha, gambhīra, mahiṣṭha and laghiṣṭha, uttāna and kṣodiṣṭha.