Śrī Nandānandana Dhana Tadīya Ballabhā Gaṇa
Madhura-rase Alambana-rūpa Vibhāva — Primary Causes of Ecstatic Love in Madhura-rasa
The great treasure that is Lord Kṛṣṇa and His many beloveds are the ālambana (primary causes) of madhura-rasa. The gopīs are the lovers and Lord Kṛṣṇa is the only beloved in the gopīs' hearts.
But Lord Kṛṣṇa is also the lover and the gopīs are the beloveds in Kṛṣṇa's heart. Thus, in sthāyi-bhāva, Kṛṣṇa and the gopīs are both lovers and beloveds. Without sthāyi-bhāva this
exchange of love cannot take place.
For the rasas to be manifest in vibhāva, the ālambanas are necessary. In Vraja the ālambanas are first Lord Kṛṣṇa, who is the master of Rādhā and the gopīs, the gopīs' beloved, the taster
of the nectar of transcendental mellows, and more charming and enchanting that Kāmadeva, and second the gopīs, who are the girls of Vraja.
In this way Lord Kṛṣṇa tastes the eternal blissful nectar of svakīya and parakīya rasa. The very fortunate souls who become with Him the ālambana in this situation also taste the sweet
nectar of this rasa.