FOREWORD

1FOREWORD

2This foreword that I am writing in the following lines

3is in keeping with the tradition of beginning a book

4with some introduction.

5The Vedas say, “raso vai saḥ” which means Brahman or

6God is the Embodiment of Supreme Bliss. This attribution

7is made in two senses (i) rasyati iti rasaḥ - that which

8is savoured or enjoyed, such as honey; and (ii) one who

9savours the ras, such as a bee. The ras or bliss which

10Brahman or Lord Krishna Himself enjoys is called

11svarupananda. In this, Lord Krishna by His divine power

12referred to as svarup shakti, enjoys the sweetness of His

13bliss.

14When He enjoys a special sweetness of this bliss through

15His devotees, it is known as svarupshaktyananda, which

16again is of two types (i) aishvaryananda in which God’s

17majesty and opulence is predominant and that of

18sweetness is secondary and (ii) manasananda, which has

19His sweetness alone. Comparatively, aishvaryananda is

20more relishable than svarupananda and still more