Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 21
Gopī-gīta Aftermath: Kṛṣṇa Returns and Explains Divine Non-Reciprocation
Rāsa-līlā Dialogue
एवं मदर्थोज्झितलोकवेद- स्वानां हि वो मय्यनुवृत्तयेऽबला: । मयापरोक्षं भजता तिरोहितं मासूयितुं मार्हथ तत् प्रियं प्रिया: ॥ २१ ॥
evaṁ mad-arthojjhita-loka-veda svānām hi vo mayy anuvṛttaye ’balāḥ mayāparokṣaṁ bhajatā tirohitaṁ māsūyituṁ mārhatha tat priyaṁ priyāḥ
My dear girls, understanding that simply for My sake you had rejected the authority of worldly opinion, of the Vedas and of your relatives, I acted as I did only to increase your attachment to Me. Even when I removed Myself from your sight by suddenly disappearing, I never stopped loving you. Therefore, My beloved gopīs, please do not harbor any bad feelings toward Me, your beloved.
Here the Lord indicates that though the gopīs were already perfect in their love for Him, still, to inconceivably increase their perfection and show an example for the world, He acted as He did.
FAQs
In this verse Krishna implies His disappearance was not to reject the gopis but to engage their exclusive devotion; since they had given up worldly and even Vedic conventions for Him, they should not resent His momentary concealment.
After reappearing, Krishna addresses the gopis’ anguish and possible resentment, reminding them that their love is uniquely selfless and that His concealment occurred even while they were directly worshiping Him.
When spiritual progress includes periods of dryness or “absence,” take it as a call to deepen sincerity rather than blame God—continue steady devotion without resentment, trusting the process of purification.