Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 20
Kāliya-damana: Kṛṣṇa Subdues the Serpent and Purifies the Yamunā
गोप्योऽनुरक्तमनसो भगवत्यनन्ते तत्सौहृदस्मितविलोकगिर: स्मरन्त्य: । ग्रस्तेऽहिना प्रियतमे भृशदु:खतप्ता: शून्यं प्रियव्यतिहृतं ददृशुस्त्रिलोकम् ॥ २० ॥
gopyo ’nurakta-manaso bhagavaty anante tat-sauhṛda-smita-viloka-giraḥ smarantyaḥ graste ’hinā priyatame bhṛśa-duḥkha-taptāḥ śūnyaṁ priya-vyatihṛtaṁ dadṛśus tri-lokam
When the young gopīs, whose minds were constantly attached to Kṛṣṇa, the unlimited Supreme Lord, saw that He was now within the grips of the serpent, they remembered His loving friendship, His smiling glances and His talks with them. Burning with great sorrow, they saw the entire universe as void.
FAQs
This verse describes their minds as fully attached to the unlimited Lord, constantly recalling His friendship, smiles, glances, and words, and feeling the whole world empty when He was seized by the serpent.
Because their entire happiness and meaning of life centered on Krishna; when He was forcibly removed from their sight, everything else—even the vast three worlds—felt void and joyless.
It teaches single-pointed remembrance: even in anxiety or loss, keep the mind fixed on Krishna’s qualities and pastimes, letting remembrance deepen devotion rather than weaken it.