Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 20
Rāsa-līlā Begins; Divine Multiplication; Moral Doubt and Its Resolution
तासां रतिविहारेण श्रान्तानां वदनानि स: । प्रामृजत् करुण: प्रेम्णा शन्तमेनाङ्ग पाणिना ॥ २० ॥
tāsāṁ rati-vihāreṇa śrāntānāṁ vadanāni saḥ prāmṛjat karuṇaḥ premṇā śantamenāṅga pāṇinā
Seeing that the gopīs were fatigued from conjugal enjoyment, my dear King, merciful Kṛṣṇa lovingly wiped their faces with His comforting hand.
FAQs
This verse portrays Kṛṣṇa as karuṇa—compassionate—tenderly wiping the gopīs’ faces when they became fatigued, emphasizing His loving care for His devotees.
Śukadeva presents Kṛṣṇa’s līlā to reveal the pinnacle of pure devotion (prema-bhakti), where the Lord reciprocates fully with surrendered devotees, not to promote mundane lust.
Serve devotees with gentleness and compassion—like Kṛṣṇa’s soothing care—seeing loving service as an expression of bhakti rather than selfish enjoyment.