3.2.3 Radha-snehadhika

The prana-sakhis and nitya-sakhis are more affectionate toward Radha. Of these two groups of sakhis, the first category is more prominent.
In his Ujjvala-nilamani-kirana, Srila Visvanatha Cakravartipada states that the prana-sakhis are chief amongst the nitya-sakhis who include all those who are Radha-snehadhika. 122

In his commentary on Ujjvala-nilamani 8.129 already partially quoted above, Srila Visvanatha Cakravartipada makes the following further distinction between these two types of manjari:

Those devotees who are to be followed for the attainment of spiritual perfection should be nitya-siddha or eternally perfected souls.
Those who are labdha-siddha (attained perfection), having become perfected either through grace or long practice, are seen in a slightly lesser light.
This difference has existed since eternity and is here expressed in this verse by making a division between the prana-sakhis and the nitya-sakhis, the latter being followers of the former. 123

The example given of these sakhis is found in Ujjvala-nilamani.
One day an outspoken girlfriend of Radha's who belongs to the prana-sakhi category tried to stop Radha from going to a pre-arranged tryst with Krishna. She said to Vrinda Devi, "Vrinde! Stop making all these clever arrangements for a liaison. Just go and tell the son of the cowherd king that it is the rainy season. There are so many poisonous snakes slithering about in the dark forests, how can he expect this timid girl, Radha, to find her way to the mountain cave? Tell him that he should take the trouble to come here in secret himself." 124