There are five kinds of relationships with Krishna: Santa, Dasya, Sakhya, Vatsalya and Madhurya. Each rasa includes all the qualities of the preceding one, plus a distinguishing quality of its own.

Santa Rasa

Santa rasa is the neutral attitude of devotees who are in appreciation of the greatness of God, but are not actively engaged in His service. "Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur states that in Brajabhumi; the Yamuna River, the kadamba trees, the cows, Krishna's cowherding stick and flute all belong to the santa rasa (the mellow of neutrality or passive adoration)." (Caitanya Caritamrita Madhya 8.294 purport)

Dasya Rasa

In Dasya rasa there is freedom from all material attachments and doubts, and appreciation of the greatness of God. There is also active service in dasya rasa. This rasa may be mixed with other rasas. Citraka, Patraka and Raktaka are direct servants of Krishna. Those who are constantly engaged in the personal service of the Lord are called anugas, or followers.

Sakhya Rasa

In this rasa one feels that Krishna is my friend. The devotees relate with Krishna on equal terms and actually forget that Krishna is superior. The friends in Vrindavana are in such intimate friendship with Krishna that sometimes they think themselves as good as Krishna. "Krishna is their lovable friend, and they cannot forget Him for a moment. All day and all night they think of Krishna. At night when they are sleeping they think, 'Oh, in the morning I shall go and play with Krishna.' and in the morning they go to Krishna's house and stand by while Krishna is decorated by Mother Yasoda before going out with His friends to play in the fields." (SSR)

Twelve important cowherd boy friends of Krishna are: Sridama, Sudama, Arjuna, Subabu, Kusumasava, Mahabala, Subala, Vasudeva, Mahabahu, Lavanga, Stoka Krishna and Dama.

Within Vrindavana, Krishna's friends are generally divided into four groups:

Well-wishers,

Friends,

Confidential friends and

Intimate friends.

Krishna's well-wishers are a little older than Krishna, and they have some parental affection for Him. Because of their being older than Krishna, they always try to protect Him from any harm.

Friends who are younger than Krishna, who are always attached to Him and who give Him all kinds of service are called ordinary friends. Ordinary friends are called sakhas.

Vatsalya Rasa

When ecstatic love develops into the relationship of parenthood and becomes steadily established, the relationship is called vatsalya-rasa. The exhibition of this vatsalya-rasa standard of devotional service can be found in the dealings of Krishna with His devotees who represent themselves as superior personalities like father, mother and teacher.

Personalities in Parental Affection Toward Krishna

This list is in order of superior important. Mother Yasoda and Nanda Maharaja are considered the supermost of all elderly personalities.

Mother Yasoda

Maharaja Nanda

Mother Rohini, Balarama's mother

All the elderly gopis whose sons were taken away by Lord Brahma.

Devaki, the wife of Vasudeva

Other fifteen wives of Vasudeva

Kunti, the mother of Arjuna

Vasudeva, the real father of Krishna

Sandipani Muni, Krishna's teacher.

Madhurya rasa

Madhurya rasa is the relationship with Krishna as the lover and beloved. Although such conjugal feelings are not at all material, there is some similarity between this spiritual love and material activities. Persons who are interested only in material activities are unable to understand this spiritual conjugal love. The relationships with Krishna of Radharani, Krishna's wives in Dwarka, and the gopis are in Madhurya rasa. Conjugal love is divided into two portions: vipralambha or conjugal love in separation, and sambhoga, or conjugal love in direct contact.