Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 7
Gokula’s Wonder, Kṛṣṇa’s Bhakta-vaśyatā, the Move to Vṛndāvana, and the Slaying of Vatsāsura and Bakāsura
गोपीभि: स्तोभितोऽनृत्यद् भगवान्बालवत्क्वचित् । उद्गायति क्वचिन्मुग्धस्तद्वशो दारुयन्त्रवत् ॥ ७ ॥
gopībhiḥ stobhito ’nṛtyad bhagavān bālavat kvacit udgāyati kvacin mugdhas tad-vaśo dāru-yantravat
The gopīs would say, “If You dance, my dear Kṛṣṇa, then I shall give You half a sweetmeat.” By saying these words or by clapping their hands, all the gopīs encouraged Kṛṣṇa in different ways. At such times, although He was the supremely powerful Personality of Godhead, He would smile and dance according to their desire, as if He were a wooden doll in their hands. Sometimes He would sing very loudly, at their bidding. In this way, Kṛṣṇa came completely under the control of the gopīs.
FAQs
This verse shows that although Kṛṣṇa is Bhagavān, He willingly comes under the influence of the gopīs’ loving affection, behaving like a child who dances and sings at their urging.
In Vṛndāvana-līlā, their pure, selfless devotion (bhakti) and intimacy (mādhurya/vātsalya) draw Kṛṣṇa into playful obedience, revealing that love binds the Lord more than power or majesty.
Cultivate sincere devotion and simplicity—service done with affection and humility attracts divine grace more than display, status, or mere ritual formality.