The priya-narma sakhya-rasa exceeds in excellence vatsalya-rasa and reaches the pitch of the sthayi of mahabhava. Within mahabhava it does not reach as far as the mahabhava of the handmaidens of Radha.
"The progression of the love for Krsna by the priya-narma-sakhas [most dear boyfriends] is up to anuraga. The gopis of Vraja who possess samartha-rati possess a deeper love of Syamasundara, which is up to the limit of mahabhava [the highest stage of love]. Among Subala and some of the other cowherd boys, the limits of their love can be found to also extend up to mahabhava. However, adhirudha-mahabhava [the second stage of mahabhava] is only found to be present in Sri Radha’s camp, and not within any other party or group. Then mohan [the first stage of adhirudha-mahabhava] is only to be found in Sri Radha, Lalita, Visakha, and their followers; and finally madan [the second, highest stage of adhirudha-mahabhava] is existent only in Sri Radha."
(Sri Ujjvala-nilamani-kiranah)
