Samartha Rati (समर्था रति)
Samartha Rati is the highest state of Madhurya Bhav, marked by completely selfless love in which the devotee seeks only Shri Radha-Krishna's happiness.
Samartha Rati (समर्था रति | samarthā rati) is the highest state of Madhurya Bhav, characterized by completely selfless love for Shri Radha-Krishna.
It is also called Gopi Prem.
Complete Selflessness
In Samartha Rati, the devotee regards Shri Krishna as her Beloved and Shri Radha as her Swamini (स्वामिनी | svāminī), or Ladyship.
There is no desire for one's own happiness. The devotee desires only to serve Shri Radha-Krishna and give Them happiness.
Her own happiness lies entirely in Their happiness. This sentiment is called Tat-Sukha-Sukhitvam (तत्सुखसुखित्वम् | tatsukhasukhitvam)—being happy in the happiness of the Beloved.
The Ashta Mahasakhis (अष्ट महासखी | aṣṭa mahāsakhī), the eight principal Gopis, exemplify this completely selfless love.
Related Concepts
Madhurya Bhav — the devotional sentiment in which God is loved as the Beloved.
Sadharani Rati — a lower level of Madhurya Bhav in which desire for one's own happiness remains.
Samanjasa Rati — a higher level of Madhurya Bhav than Sadharani Rati, but self-interest has not disappeared completely.
Gopi Prem — another name for Samartha Rati, emphasizing the completely selfless love exemplified by the Gopis.
Go Deeper
Gopi Prem
→ The nature of the completely selfless Divine love of the Gopis for Shri Radha-Krishna.
JKP Literature
Reference
Mohit
