For the month of kātyāyanī-vrata the gopīs chanted the mantra bestowed by Bhagavati Paurṇamāsī and performed austerity. Kṛṣṇa came on the last day with His four sakhās and stole their cloth. Then
He spoke and argued with them. Kṛṣṇa purified them and they became completely clean, without any attachment to the mind, senses, body, or any others. Now, they only had a desire for Kṛṣṇa to accept them. But when Kṛṣṇa came and asked them to come forth, they had the idea, “This is adharma.” Kṛṣṇa taught the meaning of dharma and adharma. The soul is the part and parcel of the Supreme Soul. The soul is very near and close to the Supreme Soul, but having turned away from Him, many different ideas have come. With independent desires, people think the soul should be shy before the Lord. Sometimes the soul is happy and sometimes sad. Ultimately, the Supreme Soul has responsibility for taking care of all souls. Therefore one should not think independently. Kṛṣṇa said, “It is My duty how to decorate, dress, and keep you. This is My responsibility. But you don’t understand this. You hope that I will give you your cloth back in the water. This is not kindness. This is your independent desire. By this desire you have gone distance from me. Come to me fully surrendered.”
As the self of the body takes care of its parts without shyness. Similarly, all souls are the parts and parcels of Kṛṣṇa; therefore Kṛṣṇa knows how to protect, decorate and keep all souls.
Kṛṣṇa said to the gopīs, “You took birth in religious families. If you follow good etiquette and principles, then you will never be disturbed. You did wrong, then immediately punishment came; now you should carefully maintain your life. Never go the wrong way.”
If anyone does sādhana, and then gets siddhī, they should not be proud; they should not forget their own Gurudeva or mantra. Then they will not have protection. When false pride comes, then they will go the wrong way without any protection. When the gopīs’ vrata was complete, they became light-hearted and forgot the mantra and vrata they had performed. It is dangerous to think that I am perfect and have no need anymore for mantra, shelter, puja; they thought, “I got all siddhi.”
Kṛṣṇa came by His mercy and stole the gopīs’ cloth. Then when they were in the water, they deeply chanted this mantra. Then by the mantra’s potency they forgot all their bodily attachment.
The sakhās teased the girls, but Kṛṣṇa said, “This is not good, if anyone does wrong, and you repeat and remind them, this is very bad. If someone did wrong, you should never repeat this. They already suffered, now you are taunting and teasing them, this is not good. The kumārīs are not naked. If you look at them like that, this is your fault. This thinking is your fault and you will go the wrong way. They are very small kids, two or three years old. Small babies don’t know if they are naked or wearing cloth.”
The sakhās became very shy and offered praṇāma to Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa taught all the sakhās as well as the Vraja-devīs.
Without any condition Kṛṣṇa gave the gopīs a boon. He said, “After one year I will call you and you will come to Me. I am your good friend and will help you.”
Kṛṣṇa came on the last day of the gopīs’ vrata. A short while afterwards, Śrīmatī Rādhārānī and the sakhīs came. When Kṛṣṇa gave back the clothes to the vraja-kumārīs and they had no more attachment to their bodies, then the nitya-siddha gopīs, under guidance of Śrīmatī Rādhārānī, Lalitā and Viśākhā, all came. The sādhana-siddha gopīs met with Śrīmatī Rādhārānī and they received Her blessing and mercy, and made relationship and followed Her footsteps.
The sādhana-siddhas made relation with the nitya-siddha Vraja-devīs. Then every day in the morning, they did not worship kātyāyanī, they worshipped Lord Kṛṣṇa. They made Kṛṣṇa’s Deity and offered puṣpāñjali and chanted mantra. How did they worship? They cooked something, made flower garlands, and in groups they went to Śrīmatī Rādhārānī. Under the guidance of Śrīmatī Rādhārānī they went to Nandagrāma where they cleaned, swept, and served. They learned how to cook many nice sweets and other preparations from Śrīmatī Rādhārānī. They also made beautiful outfits for Kṛṣṇa.
The gopīs waited for one year. Day and night the kumārīs thought of Kṛṣṇa and served Him continuously with their mind and body. They did not go out of Vraja-maṇḍala. They served under the guidance of the Vraja-devīs. With their eyes they did not watch any other face or shape, and with their ears did not hear any other’s melody and tone. With their feet they never left Vraja. They continuously followed the rules and regulations of the gopīs. But they worshipped in secret, not showing their pūjā to anyone.
Madhukaṇṭha asked, “Dear brother Snigdhakaṇṭha, please tell me, for one month the Vraja-devīs worshipped devī with much paraphernalia. Why did they stop, and what happened afterwards?”
Snigdhakaṇṭha answered, “The kumārīs worshipped devī for the attainment of anurāga and relation with Kṛṣṇa. By her mercy they achieved great love and strength, and from that time they were connected to Kṛṣṇa and were ready to serve Him continuously. The nitya-siddha Vraja-devīs took care of the sādhana-siddhas, helping them and teaching them everything.”
Madhukaṇṭha then asked, “The gopīs were attached to Kṛṣṇa, but Gargamuni arranged their marriage with other boys. Then did they go distance from Kṛṣṇa?”
Snigdhakaṇṭha said, “No, they were chaste and honest and had relation only with Kṛṣṇa. They never went distance from Kṛṣṇa. Vṛṣabhānu Mahārāja and Nanda Mahārāja were arranging the marriage of Rādhārānī and Kṛṣṇa. But Gargamuni came and said, “Don’t give Kṛṣṇa in marriage now, he has not gone to gurukula and has no Brahmin thread. You should wait. Promise not to marry Kṛṣṇa.”
All the gopīs were scared hearing this.
Snigdhakaṇṭha said, “There is no need to show marriage relation externally. Kṛṣṇa accepted them and they accepted Kṛṣṇa. They had relation heart to heart. They can’t come out of Kṛṣṇa’s heart and Kṛṣṇa can’t come out of their heart. Anytime they think of Kṛṣṇa, they bring Kṛṣṇa in their heart and play with Him there and embrace Him there—then they are very happy and pleased. Anytime Kṛṣṇa thought of them, they came near Kṛṣṇa. How did they come? Did they carry their physical bodies? No need. Internal relation and connection is very sweet and tasteful. Kṛṣṇa never forget them and they never forgot Kṛṣṇa. They had no other relation or attachment with any other person. They did not share themselves with others.
Madhukaṇṭha asked, “Rādhārānī and the gopīs went to other’s homes. How is this possible?”
Snigdhakaṇṭha said, “Just as a person goes to a shop and buys some item, but is not related with the shopkeeper, only takes what is necessary and brings its back to his house and family. Also, the shopkeeper makes many things and sells many sweets, but has no relation with those who he gives sweets for; he is only cooking for business purpose. Doing anything externally is so-called, but internally the Vraja-devīs were never distance from Kṛṣṇa. Outside they acted according to the etiquette of their families. Although they stayed a little distance from Kṛṣṇa, they had heartfelt love for Him. And how did they stay distance? Kṛṣṇa sent them. Kṛṣṇa arranged their marriage ceremony. He actually married everyone Himself. Then when the sakhās went back to their houses, they went and asked Kṛṣṇa, “How did these gopīs come in our homes?”
Kṛṣṇa said, “You are very sick from being in the mouth of the snake demon and you need treatment to get well. To help you, I sent the gopīs. They are respected. They are the expansions of Bhagavatī Paurṇamāsī. Worship and respect them. They will help you. Don’t think they are your own property.”
The sakhās never addressed, looked at, or touched the gopīs. They respected them. Also, the sakhās were so busy playing with Kṛṣṇa, absorbed in sakhya-rasa, that they had no desire for anything else. The sakhīs stayed at a distance, but from there they continuously did all programs for Kṛṣṇa’s service. They became more and more greedy to serve Kṛṣṇa with tasteful arrangements.
Kṛṣṇa said, “Lakṣmī stays on My chest in a gold line, but she is very restless and goes near her followers and disciples, and gives boons. She goes wherever she is worshipped and called. But the Vraja-devīs never leave My heart for a moment, and I never leave them.”
Therefore He tested the gopīs. One day He played the flute. He called, “Please come, I am waiting for you.” At midnight, without thinking of the consequences, the gopīs fearlessly came to meet with Kṛṣṇa. Then they danced, played, sung and served Kṛṣṇa the complete night, which lasted as long as the night of Brahmā.
The Vraja-devīs love for Kṛṣṇa is natural. In this world one has friendship for some time, and if at a distance, one will be disturbed, “You left me, I am not yours, you are not mine.” But the gopīs had no disturbance due to distance from Kṛṣṇa. “Anywhere you are, or I am, You are mine, and I am yours.” We should have this fixed determination. “No matter what, I will not lose my love or relationship. This is fixed. Whether in the ocean, on top of a mountain, in the plains, or far away— no problem. You are mine.”
Therefore Mahāprabhu says
āśliṣya vā pāda-ratāṁ pinaṣṭu mām adarśanān marma-hatāṁ karotu vā yathā tathā vā vidadhātu lampaṭo mat-prāṇa-nāthas tu sa eva nāparaḥ
“You are not the property of any other. You are mine.” The Vraja-devīs had this faith. They felt, “In front of me You may like any other; but You are mine, and I am Yours—this is the truth.”
They always drink this nectar of faith, and therefore never have any difficulty. This is their great fortune. If Kṛṣṇa has relation with anyone, and they have faith in Kṛṣṇa, then the sakhīs are very happy, “Oh, you like my Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is also your lover. Oh, very good. I will also help you. I will be your servant and follower.” If anyone has jealousy and envy, they like their own nature—they are not nearby Kṛṣṇa. If one is nearby Kṛṣṇa there is no more jealousy. Like Yaśodā Mātā. All say Kṛṣṇa is their own son, and she is pleased. Even the cows think, “Kṛṣṇa is my son.” Yaśodā Mātā has no problem; she thinks, “All like my son.” Similarly, the vraja-gopīs have no jealousy. Why does Śrīmatī Rādhārānī show māna and disturbance? She thinks, “I am unqualified, Kṛṣṇa doesn’t like me, he likes others. I am very small and foolish. All others are qualified. How can Kṛṣṇa be pleased?” Rādhārānī thinks of Her lacking. This is Her tṛnād api sunicena mood. One who is truly very high thinks he is very low. Sometimes Kṛṣṇa called and played with them and then again left them. For ten years He stayed in Vraja-bhūmi and then went to Mathurā and Dvārakā. Did the vraja-gopīs forget Kṛṣṇa after a long time of separation? No. This was not possible. Did they not serve? They continuously served Kṛṣṇa. They were never distant to him. They did not like anything else. Many things came to them—Uddhava came, Baladeva came, many others came. But they did not like anything. In the end, Uddhava saw that all the gopīs’ hearts had the playing place of Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa never went distance from gopīs. Externally He showed He was far away, but how could He leave their hearts. The gopīs say, “You try to run away from us, but how can You? We have arrested You in our hearts.” This is called true relation. In Vṛndāvana it was the summer season after the spring. There, all seasons have all types of flowers and fruits, and they use all these to serve Kṛṣṇa. In the summer they paste sandal and smear it on Kṛṣṇa’s body so that the sun never disturbs him. Meaning, the sun will come and touch Kṛṣṇa and try to make relation with Kṛṣṇa also. Kṛṣṇa dresses with very little cloth—no shoes, no umbrella, no shirt. Then the sun will always embrace Kṛṣṇa. The gopīs say, “No, this is not good. He heats you, but has no service tendency. The sun has no sweet mood, he is not soft. He is very hard and hot.” Sandal is very soft, sweet, has a good smell, and is very cooling. Therefore the vraja-gopīs rub this sandal on a stone and smear the paste on Kṛṣṇa’s body. This is like they have gone and embraced Kṛṣṇa themselves in the form of the candana, which is a golden colour. Then no other person can come to make relation with Kṛṣṇa. In the summer, the gopīs were busy in service of Kṛṣṇa, and protecting Him. When the vasanta season came, they arranged kuñjas and holī-līlā. They collected all types of flower pollens and smeared it on Kṛṣṇa’s body. Was this to cool? No. Kṛṣṇa would get more strength and energy. In all seasons, they collected anything good and used it for the service of Kṛṣṇa. Now how were the gopīs more qualified? They went to the farms, fields, gardens, and the bank of Govardhana and collected minerals there. They used the minerals to decorate the body of Kṛṣṇa. Everyday they dressed and decorated Kṛṣṇa with nice flowers. When? Kṛṣṇa went with the cows in the forest; they arranged kuñja kuṭīras there. They gave Kṛṣṇa sweet preparations. Kṛṣṇa has priya-narma sakhās. Kṛṣṇa orders them, “Today, take care of the cows, I am coming shortly.” When He went to the gopīs, some sakhās were also present. The sakhīs wear dress of sakhās. With the sakhās’ uniforms they go with Kṛṣṇa everywhere and ordinary people could not understand. The priya-narma-sakhās and sakhīs are like non-different. The sakhīs are with Nanda, Yaśodā, the cows, and Kṛṣṇa, and they move in the dress of sakhās. Like in the time of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, all His associates were gents; there were no ladies. Kṛṣṇa is in Vraja-maṇḍala, and there are many groups and parties. Many parties are Śrīmatī Rādhārānī’s. She changes the dress and uniform of sakhīs and sends them in the roles of sakhās to serve Kṛṣṇa. The sakhās know how to sing nice songs from the sāma-veda. The sakhīs learned the songs of the Vedas, and nicely sing to cool the mind of Kṛṣṇa. In the spring season, the sakhīs start a nice yajña. What sacrifice? They sit and start holī-līlā. Hari-katha spoken by Sripada Premananda Prabhu; rendition by Rasik Mohan Das This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.