The Gopīs' Pure Unalloyed Love for Kṛṣṇa

This article presents a thematic survey of the Gopīs' prayers, lamentations, and ecstatic songs. It organizes the profound teachings found in the Vanisource category Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Verses Spoken by Gopīs.

The gopīs of Vṛndāvana are considered by Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu to be the topmost devotees of the Lord. Their love for Kṛṣṇa is described as rūḍha and adhirūḍha-mahābhāva, the highest stages of divine love where the devotee forgets their own happiness entirely for the sake of the Lord. Their verses are recorded in some of the most famous chapters of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, including the Veṇu-gīta (Song of the Flute), Gopī-gītā (Song of the Gopīs), and Bhramara-gītā (Song to the Bumblebee). These verses are not ordinary poetry but are the expressions of the soul's deepest longing for the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Charm of Kṛṣṇa's Childhood Pastimes

The elderly gopīs of Vṛndāvana often complain to Mother Yaśodā about Kṛṣṇa's mischievous activities. These complaints are expressions of intense affection that detail how Kṛṣṇa steals butter, releases the calves, and pinches the small children.

Kṛṣṇa's Stealing Butter and Feeding Monkeys

The gopīs describe Kṛṣṇa's expert thievery. They report that Kṛṣṇa not only steals the butter but feeds it to the monkeys and breaks the pots if He is satisfied, showing His independence from social norms.

  • "Our dear friend Yaśodā, your son sometimes comes to our houses before the milking of the cows and releases the calves, and when the master of the house becomes angry, your son merely smiles. Sometimes He devises some process by which He steals palatable curd, butter and milk, which He then eats and drinks. When the monkeys assemble, He divides it with them, and when the monkeys have their bellies so full that they won't take more, He breaks the pots. Sometimes, if He gets no opportunity to steal butter or milk from a house, He will be angry at the householders, and for His revenge He will agitate the small children by pinching them. Then, when the children begin crying, Kṛṣṇa will go away."
  • "When the milk and curd are kept high on a swing hanging from the ceiling and Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma cannot reach it, They arrange to reach it by piling up various planks and turning upside down the mortar for grinding spices. Being quite aware of the contents of a pot, They pick holes in it. While the elderly gopīs go about their household affairs, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma sometimes go into a dark room, brightening the place with the valuable jewels and ornaments on Their bodies and taking advantage of this light by stealing."

Gopīs Complain about Kṛṣṇa

Even while complaining, the gopīs reveal that they enjoy Kṛṣṇa's presence. They admit that when they catch Him, His beautiful face disarms them, and instead of chastising Him, they become immersed in bliss.

  • "When Kṛṣṇa is caught in His naughty activities, the master of the house will say to Him, 'Oh, You are a thief,' and artificially express anger at Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa will then reply, 'I am not a thief. You are a thief.' Sometimes, being angry, Kṛṣṇa passes urine and stool in a neat, clean place in our houses. But now, our dear friend Yaśodā, this expert thief is sitting before you like a very good boy. Sometimes all the gopīs would look at Kṛṣṇa sitting there, His eyes fearful so that His mother would not chastise Him, and when they saw Kṛṣṇa's beautiful face, instead of chastising Him they would simply look upon His face and enjoy transcendental bliss. Mother Yaśodā would mildly smile at all this fun, and she would not want to chastise her blessed transcendental child."

Song of Kṛṣṇa's Flute (Veṇu-gīta)

In the famous Veṇu-gīta, the gopīs glorify the sound of Kṛṣṇa's flute. They describe how the vibration of the flute captivates the entire cosmic manifestation, including the rivers, clouds, birds, and even the demigoddesses.

Effect on Demigoddesses and Animals

The gopīs narrate that the wives of the demigods become bewildered by lust upon hearing the flute. They also describe how the cows drink the nectar of the flute-song through their ears, standing stunned like painted figures.

  • "Kṛṣṇa's beauty and character create a festival for all women. Indeed, when the demigods' wives flying in airplanes with their husbands catch sight of Him and hear His resonant flute-song, their hearts are shaken by Cupid, and they become so bewildered that the flowers fall out of their hair and their belts loosen."
  • "Using their upraised ears as vessels, the cows are drinking the nectar of the flute-song flowing out of Kṛṣṇa's mouth. The calves, their mouths full of milk from their mothers' moist nipples, stand still as they take Govinda within themselves through their tear-filled eyes and embrace Him within their hearts."
  • "The gopīs said: When Mukunda vibrates the flute He has placed to His lips, stopping its holes with His tender fingers, He rests His left cheek on His left arm and makes His eyebrows dance. At that time the demigoddesses traveling in the sky with their husbands, the Siddhas, become amazed. As those ladies listen, they are embarrassed to find their minds yielding to the pursuit of lusty desires, and in their distress they are unaware that the belts of their garments are loosening."
  • "O girls! This son of Nanda, who gives joy to the distressed, bears steady lightning on His chest and has a smile like a jeweled necklace. Now please hear something wonderful. When He vibrates His flute, Vraja's bulls, deer and cows, standing in groups at a great distance, are all captivated by the sound, and they stop chewing the food in their mouths and cock their ears. Stunned, they appear as if asleep, or like figures in a painting."

Effect on Birds and Nature

The gopīs observe that the birds sit silently on the branches like great sages to listen to Kṛṣṇa. They describe how the flute invites the bamboo trees to shed tears of honey and the rivers to stop flowing.

  • "O mother, in this forest all the birds have risen onto the beautiful branches of the trees to see Kṛṣṇa. With closed eyes they are simply listening in silence to the sweet vibrations of His flute, and they are not attracted by any other sound. Surely these birds are on the same level as great sages."
  • "My dear gopīs, what auspicious activities must the flute have performed to enjoy the nectar of Kṛṣṇa's lips independently and leave only a taste for us gopīs, for whom that nectar is actually meant! The forefathers of the flute, the bamboo trees, shed tears of pleasure. His mother, the river on whose bank the bamboo was born, feels jubilation, and therefore her blooming lotus flowers are standing like hair on her body."
  • "O friend, Vṛndāvana is spreading the glory of the earth, having obtained the treasure of the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, the son of Devakī. The peacocks dance madly when they hear Govinda's flute, and when other creatures see them from the hilltops, they all become stunned."
  • "Blessed are all these foolish deer because they have approached Mahārāja Nanda's son, who is gorgeously dressed and is playing on His flute. Indeed, both the doe and the bucks worship the Lord with looks of love and affection."

Effect on Rivers and Clouds

The gopīs personify the rivers and clouds, explaining that the rivers embrace Kṛṣṇa's feet with their waves and the clouds offer an umbrella of water droplets to protect Him from the sun.

  • "When the rivers hear the flute-song of Kṛṣṇa, their minds begin to desire Him, and thus the flow of their currents is broken and their waters are agitated, moving around in whirlpools. Then with the arms of their waves the rivers embrace Murāri's lotus feet and, holding on to them, present offerings of lotus flowers."
  • "In the company of Balarāma and the cowherd boys, Lord Kṛṣṇa is continually vibrating His flute as He herds all the animals of Vraja, even under the full heat of the summer sun. Seeing this, the cloud in the sky has expanded himself out of love. He is rising high and constructing out of his own body, with its multitude of flower-like droplets of water, an umbrella for the sake of his friend."
  • "My dear gopī, sometimes Mukunda imitates the appearance of a wrestler by decorating Himself with leaves, peacock feathers and colored minerals. Then, in the company of Balarāma and the cowherd boys, He plays His flute to call the cows. At that time the rivers stop flowing, their water stunned by the ecstasy they feel as they eagerly wait for the wind to bring them the dust of His lotus feet. But like us, the rivers are not very pious, and thus they merely wait with their arms trembling out of love."
  • "O goddesses of Vraja, when Kṛṣṇa is enjoying Himself with Balarāma on the mountain slopes, playfully wearing a flower garland on the top of His head, He engladdens all with the resonant vibrations of His flute. Thus He delights the entire world. At that time the nearby cloud, afraid of offending a great personality, thunders very gently in accompaniment. The cloud showers flowers onto his dear friend Kṛṣṇa and shades Him from the sun like an umbrella."

Gopīs' Vows and Total Surrender to Kṛṣṇa

The young unmarried gopīs perform the Kātyāyanī-vrata to obtain Kṛṣṇa as their husband. During the Vastra-haraṇa pastime, Kṛṣṇa steals their clothes to test their complete surrender. They beg for their garments while acknowledging Him as the knower of religious principles.

Gopīs' Prayer to Goddess Kātyāyanī

The gopīs worship Goddess Kātyāyanī with a specific mantra, praying for the son of Nanda Mahārāja to become their husband. This demonstrates that their worship of demigods was solely for the purpose of attaining Kṛṣṇa.

  • "Each of the young unmarried girls performed her worship while chanting the following mantra. 'O goddess Kātyāyanī, O great potency of the Lord, O possessor of great mystic power and mighty controller of all, please make the son of Nanda Mahārāja my husband. I offer my obeisances unto you.'"

Gopīs' Surrender of Garments

When Kṛṣṇa steals their clothes, the gopīs plead with Him. They declare themselves as His maidservants but point out that He is the knower of dharma, eventually surrendering fully to His will.

  • "The gopīs said: Dear Kṛṣṇa, don't be unfair! We know that You are the respectable son of Nanda and that You are honored by everyone in Vraja. You are also very dear to us. Please give us back our clothes. We are shivering in the cold water."
  • "O Śyāmasundara, we are Your maidservants and must do whatever You say. But give us back our clothing. You know what the religious principles are, and if You don't give us our clothes we will have to tell the king. Please!"

Ecstasy of the Rāsa Dance (Gopī-gītā)

During the Rāsa dance, Kṛṣṇa disappears to check the pride of the gopīs. In His absence, they search the forest, asking the trees and creepers for His whereabouts, and sing the Gopī-gītā, a song of intense longing and prayer for His return.

Searching the Forest

The gopīs ask the various trees of Vṛndāvana if they have seen Kṛṣṇa. They interpret the bowing of the trees and the eruptions on the creepers as signs that Kṛṣṇa has passed by and touched them.

  • "The gopīs said: O aśvattha tree, O plakṣa, O nyagrodha, have you seen Kṛṣṇa? That son of Nanda Mahārāja has gone away after stealing our minds with His loving smiles and glances."
  • "O kurabaka tree, O aśoka, O nāga, punnāga and campaka, has Balarāma's younger brother, whose smile removes the audacity of all proud women, passed this way?"
  • "O most kind tulasī, to whom the feet of Govinda are so dear, have you seen that infallible one walk by, wearing you and encircled by swarms of bees?"
  • "O trees, we see that you are bowing down. When the younger brother of Rāma walked by here, followed by intoxicated bees swarming around the tulasī mañjarīs decorating His garland, did He acknowledge your obeisances with His affectionate glances? He must have been resting His arm on the shoulder of His beloved and carrying a lotus flower in His free hand."
  • "Let us ask these creepers about Kṛṣṇa. Even though they are embracing the arms of their husband, this tree, they certainly must have been touched by Kṛṣṇa's fingernails, since out of joy they are manifesting eruptions on their skin."

Footprints of Rādhārāṇī

The gopīs discover Kṛṣṇa's footprints alongside those of a special gopī (Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī). They deduce that this gopī must have worshiped the Lord perfectly to be favored above all others.

  • "Certainly this particular gopī has perfectly worshiped the all-powerful Personality of Godhead, Govinda, since He was so pleased with Her that He abandoned the rest of us and brought Her to a secluded place."
  • "O girls! The dust of Govinda's lotus feet is so sacred that even Brahmā, Śiva and the goddess Ramā take that dust upon their heads to dispel sinful reactions."
  • "These footprints of that special gopī greatly disturb us. Of all the gopīs, She alone was taken away to a secluded place, where She is enjoying the lips of Kṛṣṇa. Look, we can't see Her footprints over here! It's obvious that the grass and sprouts were hurting the tender soles of Her feet, and so the lover lifted up His beloved."
  • "Please observe, my dear gopīs, how in this place lusty Kṛṣṇa's footprints are pressed more deeply into the ground. Carrying the weight of His beloved must have been difficult for Him. And over here that intelligent boy must have put Her down to gather some flowers."

Gopīs' Prayers for Kṛṣṇa's Return (Gopī-gītā)

In their song of separation, the gopīs pray to Kṛṣṇa not as a lover but as the Supersoul of all beings. They plead with Him to place His lotus feet, which destroy all sins, upon their burning breasts to relieve their distress.

  • "The gopīs said: O beloved, Your birth in the land of Vraja has made it exceedingly glorious, and thus Indirā, the goddess of fortune, always resides here. It is only for Your sake that we, Your devoted servants, maintain our lives. We have been searching everywhere for You, so please show Yourself to us."
  • "You are not actually the son of the gopī Yaśodā, O friend, but rather the indwelling witness in the hearts of all embodied souls. Because Lord Brahmā prayed for You to come and protect the universe, You have now appeared in the Sātvata dynasty."
  • "Your lotus feet destroy the past sins of all embodied souls who surrender to them. Those feet follow after the cows in the pastures and are the eternal abode of the goddess of fortune. Since You once put those feet on the hoods of the great serpent Kāliya, please place them upon our breasts and tear away the lust in our hearts."
  • "The nectar of Your words and the descriptions of Your activities are the life and soul of those suffering in this material world. These narrations, transmitted by learned sages, eradicate one's sinful reactions and bestow good fortune upon whoever hears them. These narrations are broadcast all over the world and are filled with spiritual power. Certainly those who spread the message of Godhead are most munificent."
  • "O hero, kindly distribute to us the nectar of Your lips, which enhances conjugal pleasure and vanquishes grief. That nectar is thoroughly relished by Your vibrating flute and makes people forget any other attachment."

Pain of Separation from Kṛṣṇa (Mathurā-gamana)

When Akrūra arrives to take Kṛṣṇa to Mathurā, the gopīs are plunged into an ocean of grief. They blame Providence for being cruel and lament that Kṛṣṇa, who breaks friendships easily, will forget them amidst the sophisticated women of the city.

Blaming Providence and Akrūra

The gopīs curse Providence for bringing them together with Kṛṣṇa and then separating them. They describe Akrūra not as "cruel" but as the most cruel person for taking away their life and soul.

  • "The gopīs said: O Providence, you have no mercy! You bring embodied creatures together in friendship and love and then senselessly separate them before they fulfill their desires. This whimsical play of yours is like a child's game."
  • "Having shown us Mukunda's face, framed by dark locks and beautified by His fine cheeks, raised nose and gentle smiles, which eradicate all misery, you are now making that face invisible. This behavior of yours is not at all good."
  • "He who is doing this merciless deed should not be called Akrūra. He is so extremely cruel that without even trying to console the sorrowful residents of Vraja, he is taking away Kṛṣṇa, who is more dear to us than life itself."
  • "Hard-hearted Kṛṣṇa has already mounted the chariot, and now the foolish cowherds are hurrying after Him in their bullock carts. Even the elders are saying nothing to stop Him. Today fate is working against us."

Fear of Forgetfulness

The gopīs worry that Kṛṣṇa will be enchanted by the women of Mathurā and will forget the village girls of Vraja. They express their inability to live without Him even for a moment.

  • "O gopīs, although our Mukunda is intelligent and very obedient to His parents, once He has fallen under the spell of the honey—sweet words of the women of Mathurā and been enchanted by their alluring, shy smiles, how will He ever return to us unsophisticated village girls?"
  • "Let us directly approach Mādhava and stop Him from going. What can our family elders and other relatives do to us? Now that fate is separating us from Mukunda, our hearts are already wretched, for we cannot bear to give up His association even for a fraction of a second."
  • "How can we exist without Ananta's friend Kṛṣṇa, who in the evening would return to Vraja in the company of the cowherd boys, His hair and garland powdered with the dust raised by the cows' hooves? As He played His flute, He would captivate our minds with His smiling sidelong glances."

Song to the Bumblebee (Bhramara-gītā)

When Uddhava visits Vṛndāvana, the gopīs, led by Rādhārāṇī, see a bumblebee and address it as a messenger of Kṛṣṇa. In their madness of divine love (divya-unmāda), they accuse Kṛṣṇa of being ungrateful like the bee, yet admit they cannot stop remembering Him.

Message to the Bumblebee

The gopīs chide the bumblebee, warning it not to touch their feet with the saffron from Kṛṣṇa's garland, which has been touched by the city women. They compare Kṛṣṇa's behavior to that of a bee who abandons a flower after taking its honey.

  • "The gopīs said: We know that you are the personal servant of Kṛṣṇa, the chief of the Yadus, and that you have come here on the order of your good master, who desires to give pleasure to His parents."
  • "The friendship shown toward others—those who are not family members—is motivated by personal interest, and thus it is a pretense that lasts only until one's purpose is fulfilled. Such friendship is just like the interest men take in women, or bees in flowers."
  • "Gentle Uddhava, is the elder brother of Gada now bestowing on the city women the pleasure that actually belongs to us? We suppose those ladies worship Him with generous glances full of affectionate, shy smiles."
  • "O saintly one, does Govinda ever remember us during His conversations with the city women? Does He ever mention us village girls as He freely talks with them?"

Inability to Forget Kṛṣṇa

Despite their accusations, the gopīs confess to Uddhava that Kṛṣṇa's pastimes are indelibly imprinted on their hearts. They describe the impossibility of forgetting the Lord, whose footprints mark the land of Vraja.

  • "Indeed, the greatest happiness is to renounce all desires, as even the prostitute Piṅgalā has declared. Yet even though we know this, we cannot give up our hopes of attaining Kṛṣṇa."
  • "Who can bear to give up intimate talks with Lord Uttamaḥśloka? Although He shows no interest in her, Goddess Śrī never moves from her place on His chest."
  • "Dear Uddhava Prabhu, when Kṛṣṇa was here in the company of Saṅkarṣaṇa, He enjoyed all these rivers, hills, forests, cows and flute sounds."
  • "All these remind us constantly of Nanda's son. Indeed, because we see Kṛṣṇa's footprints, which are marked with divine symbols, we can never forget Him."
  • "O master, O master of the goddess of fortune, O master of Vraja! O destroyer of all suffering, Govinda, please lift Your Gokula out of the ocean of distress in which it is drowning!"

Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani

This article is a thematic compilation of the teachings presented in the Vaniquotes category Bhagavatam Verses Spoken by Gopis. We invite you to visit the link to read the complete collection of verses presented in alphabetical order.

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