Great worldly literature helps to relish Divine Rasa

It is seen that even dry and hard hearts melt, when they come in contact with great creations of great poets.
Hence it is needless to say that appreciating readers will relish much more Rasa by reading these literature pieces.
In fact such readers are so great, that ordinary people are not fit to sit near their feet even.
In worldly literature, the descriptions of separation of lovers melt our hearts and are especially helpful in relishing Divine Rasa.
Malati-Madhava is one such creation.
Sri Rasikottama has mentioned in his book Premapattana:

“The books such as ‘Kadambari’ and ‘Malati-Madhava’ prepare the foundation of relishing extraordinary Rasa and enable us to enjoy pure happiness while discussing the transcendental pastimes of the Divine Couple, Sri Sri Radha Krishna. Hence we can’t overlook their contribution.”

Many relishers of Divine Rasa consider the study of worldly literature favorable for devotional practice.
But we would like to state that bhakti could not be obtained without the association of pure devotees and their mercy.
Worldly literature will be helpful to neophyte devotees who want to relish divine Rasa and whose hearts are by and large filled with Bhakti-Rasa.

The Avadhuta-Brahmin in the Srimad Bhagavatam learned from the natural activities of the birds and the animals. He accepted them as his spiritual master and obtained those lessons which were favorable for his spiritual life.
In the same way, great worldly literature will neither be destructive nor deterrent to our devotional practice.
Such great preceptors like Srila Jiva Goswami has written in his book ‘Sarvasamvadini’:

“The studies of rhetorics, the science of love making and performing arts helps in experiencing the sweetness of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”

Here Srila Jiva Goswami refers to worldly rhetoric and to the kamasutra of Vatsyayana, since any spiritual kamatantra doesn’t exist.

Sripad Vishvanatha Cakravartipada has written in his ‘Suratakathamritam’:

“Lord Krishna said: Dear Radhe, the kingdom of King Madana (the God of Love) is ruled according to the laws of the sage Vatsyayana. Hence I have been ordered to behave like this by the great powerful King Madana who has been advised by the sage Vatsyayana.”

The opinions of two preceptors are infallible:
Firstly, Bharata Muni and secondly Vatsyayana.
Srila Jiva Goswami too is not referring to any spiritual book of rhetoric or any other science of love making.

Even Lord Caitanya, Who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the very embodiment of Bhakti-Rasa has relished Vraja-Rasa by uttering a verse from ‘Kavyaprakasa’, a worldly literature.

In this book a worldly heroine says:

“A certain heroine is telling her friend – ‘He Who had stolen my virginity later on became my husband. It was a night in the month of Caitra (March-April). Now once again that sweet night of the month of Caitra has arrived. The same joyous breezes of the south, carrying the scent of bloomed Malati-flowers, are blowing now also. I am the same person. Even then I long for that night of our first meeting on the banks of the river Reva, under the Vetasi tree.”

Mahaprabhu, Who was in the mood of Radhika, often repeated this verse. Nobody knew why. Only Svarupa Damodara, who was very close to Sriman Mahaprabhu, realized the true meaning. He always sang songs to bring out the true inner meaning of this verse and enhanced Mahaprabhu’s happiness.
By the mercy of Mahaprabhu, Sri Rupa Goswami, who was a poet of transcendental Rasa, also understood the reason for uttering this verse. He wanted to reveal Mahaprabhu’s heartfelt desire to the devotees. Hence, he created a verse in the mood of the earlier one:

“On meeting Sri Krishna at Kuruksetra, Srimati Radhika is telling her friend: ‘Oh friend! He is the same Krishna Who had wandered in Vrindavan with me. I am the same Radha. The pleasure of our meeting is the same. Even then, my heart longs to sport in the wood-lands of Vrindavana only, on the banks of the river Yamuna, where Krishna used to enchant the living and the non-living by playing the fifth note ever so sweetly on his flute.

Krishnadas Kaviraja writes:
“Dear devotees, please listen to the meaning of this verse in short. When Mahaprabhu beheld Lord Jagannatha in Puri, His feelings were same as that of Srimati Radhika when She saw Sri Krishna at Kuruksetra. Although He was close to Her, She thought like that – ‘He is in Royal clothing, surrounded by horses, elephants and guards. Where is the cowherd boy? Where are the lonely gardens of Vrindavan? I will be satisfied only if I get Krishna in the same mood in Vrindavan alone.

Sriman Mahaprabhu relished the verse belonging to a worldly poem in the mood of relishing Vraja-Rasa.
By His own conduct, Mahaprabhu taught the relishers of Bhakti-Rasa that if one choses a substance that helps one to relish transcendental Bhakti-Rasa, then it will not be detrimental nor will it be an obstruction to one’s devotion.

In the Caitanya Caritamrita we find:

“By relishing Rasa Himself, Mahaprabhu taught the devotees since He was a touchstone of Divine Love.”

– Radhakunda Mahanta Sri Srimat Ananta das Babaji Maharaja in his book “Rasa Darshan”