Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 15
Gopī-gīta Aftermath: Kṛṣṇa Returns and Explains Divine Non-Reciprocation
Rāsa-līlā Dialogue
सभाजयित्वा तमनङ्गदीपनं सहासलीलेक्षणविभ्रमभ्रुवा । संस्पर्शनेनाङ्ककृताङ्घ्रिहस्तयो: संस्तुत्य ईषत्कुपिता बभाषिरे ॥ १५ ॥
sabhājayitvā tam anaṅga-dīpanaṁ sahāsa-līlekṣaṇa-vibhrama-bhruvā saṁsparśanenāṅka-kṛtāṅghri-hastayoḥ saṁstutya īṣat kupitā babhāṣire
Śrī Kṛṣṇa had awakened romantic desires within the gopīs, and they honored Him by glancing at Him with playful smiles, gesturing amorously with their eyebrows, and massaging His hands and feet as they held them in their laps. Even while worshiping Him, however, they felt somewhat angry, and thus they addressed Him as follows.
FAQs
This verse shows the gopīs praising and embracing Kṛṣṇa, yet speaking with slight displeasure—illustrating māna, a refined feature of Vraja-prema where intimacy includes playful resentment born of deep love.
After welcoming Him with smiles, glances, and affectionate touch, they still felt hurt by His earlier behavior (such as disappearing), so their devotion expressed itself as gentle reproach rather than ordinary anger.
It teaches that genuine devotion is intimate and honest—one may serve, praise, and remain faithful even while expressing heartfelt feelings to God, transforming emotion into deeper remembrance and surrender.