Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Madhya 2.63
Contradictory Ecstasies Meet and Contend
“Because of the various kinds of ecstasy, contradictory states of mind occurred, and this resulted in a great fight between different types of ecstasy. Anxiety, impotence, humility, anger and impatience were all like soldiers fighting, and the madness of love of Godhead was the cause.”
What the purport teaches
- The purport calls the meeting of similar ecstasies from separate causes svarūpa-sandhi. The meeting of opposing ecstasies is called bhinna-rūpasandhi.
- Śābalya refers to different ecstatic symptoms combining and the friction between them. In the translation, these emotions are like fighting soldiers, with the madness of love of Godhead as the cause.
- Autsukya, or eagerness, arises when the desire to see the desired object becomes very strong or delay becomes intolerable. Restlessness, anxiety, hard breathing and impatience may accompany it.
Try this today
Write down the meaning of śābalya in one simple sentence, using the purport’s description.
Ask yourself
How does the image of fighting soldiers help you understand the meeting of contradictory ecstasies?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport; the practice and question are plain words for trying the verse today.