Verse Text
tatra saṅkulā –
eṣāṁ dvayos trayāṇāṁ vā sannipātas tu saṅkulā |
udbhavādau ca bhīmādau mukharādau krameṇa sā |
yasyādhikyaṁ bhaved yatra sa tena vyapadiśyate ||26||
Translation
Saṅkula-rati: When two or three of the three types of rati are found together in a person, it is called saṅkula-rati (mixed rati). It is found in Uddhava, Bhīma and Mukharā. A person is identified by the rati which is most prominent.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
In these three types of rati, there is permanence of the various ratis, whereas in svaccha-śuddha-rati the taste is not permanent, even though various types of rati manifest. Mukharā, referred to in the verse, is an old woman who acted as a nurse for Yaśodā. [Note: Mukharā was a friend of Kṛṣṇa’s grandmother.] Because of treating the quality and the possessor of the quality as non-different, a devotee is designated by the particular rati which is most prominent in him. Thus though Uddhava has sakhya-bhāva he is predominantly a servant. Thus he is designated as a servant.
Purport (Nectar of Devotion)
When transcendental humors in relationship with Kṛṣṇa become mixed (e.g., when the relationships with Kṛṣṇa in friendship, servitorship and parental love become mixed together), the result is called mixed humor or flavor. Such mixed transcendental flavors are manifested by such devotees as Uddhava, Bhīma and Mukharā, the personal attendant of Mother Yaśodā. Although devotional humors are sometimes found in mixtures, a particular humor is always found to be a prominent and constant factor. That prominent humor is to be accepted as the devotee’s main relationship with Kṛṣṇa. For example, Uddhava is in relationship with Kṛṣṇa as a friend, but in Uddhava’s character a trace of servitude to Kṛṣṇa is also visible. Such friendship is called friendship in reverence. The friendship typified by Śrīdāmā and Sudāmā, however, is the standard of friendship without any tinge of reverence.