In the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (2.5.1), sthāyi-bhāva, permanent ecstasy, is thus described:
- aviruddhān viruddhāṁś ca bhāvān yo vaśatāṁ nayan
- su-rājeva virājeta sa sthāyī bhāva ucyate
- sthāyī bhāvo ‘tra sa proktaḥ śrī-kṛṣṇa-viṣayā ratiḥ
“These moods (bhāvas) bring under control the favorable ecstasies (such as laughing) and unfavorable ecstasies (such as anger). When these moods continue to remain as kings, they are called sthāyi-bhāva, or permanent ecstasies. Continuous ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa is called permanent ecstasy.”