Verse Text
śucitvaujjvalya-vaidagdhyāt suveśatvāc ca kathyate |
śṛṅgārasya vibhāvatvam anyatrābhāsatā tataḥ ||24||
Translation
It is said that proper condition for madhura-rasa arises from purity, appropriate form and species, cleverness in love and good dress. Lack of these qualities in the vibhāva creates ābhāsa in the vibhāva of madhura-rasa.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
The points made in verse 18 are expanded on and summarized in this verse. Purity, appropriate form and species, cleverness and good dress are qualities which must be found in the ālambana for madhura-rasa to manifest properly. Vibhāvatvam, which is analyzed as viśeṣaḥ bhāvaḥ, means “special or excellent situation.” Thus the objects and experiencers of love (vibhāva) should have these excellent qualities inherent in them. Another version of the verse is:
pāvitraujjvalyia-vaidigdhya-suveṣatvair vibhāvagaiḥ
śṛṅgāraḥ puṣtām āgacched ābhāsatvam ato ’nyathā
Madhura-rasa becomes nourished by the vibhāvas of purity, appropriate form and species, cleverness in love and proper dress. Without these conditions the madhura-rasa becomes ābhāsa.