Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 3
Rāsa-līlā Begins; Divine Multiplication; Moral Doubt and Its Resolution
रासोत्सव: सम्प्रवृत्तो गोपीमण्डलमण्डित: । योगेश्वरेण कृष्णेन तासां मध्ये द्वयोर्द्वयो: । प्रविष्टेन गृहीतानां कण्ठे स्वनिकटं स्त्रिय: । यं मन्येरन् नभस्तावद् विमानशतसङ्कुलम् । दिवौकसां सदाराणामौत्सुक्यापहृतात्मनाम् ॥ ३ ॥
rāsotsavaḥ sampravṛtto gopī-maṇḍala-maṇḍitaḥ yogeśvareṇa kṛṣṇena tāsāṁ madhye dvayor dvayoḥ praviṣṭena gṛhītānāṁ kaṇṭhe sva-nikaṭaṁ striyaḥ
The festive rāsa dance commenced, with the gopīs arrayed in a circle. Lord Kṛṣṇa expanded Himself and entered between each pair of gopīs, and as that master of mystic power placed His arms around their necks, each girl thought He was standing next to her alone. The demigods and their wives were overwhelmed with eagerness to witness the rāsa dance, and they soon crowded the sky with their hundreds of celestial airplanes.
Śrīla Bilvamaṅgala Ṭhākura has written the following verse about the rāsa dance:
FAQs
This verse states that Kṛṣṇa, the master of yoga (Yogeśvara), manifested among the gopīs in such a way that each pair experienced Him personally at their side—showing His divine, inconceivable potency and intimate reciprocation with pure devotion.
The verse describes the sky filling with celestial chariots because the devas, along with their wives, were overwhelmed with eagerness to witness Kṛṣṇa’s supremely wondrous līlā—an event so extraordinary that even heavenly beings long to behold it.
Remembering Kṛṣṇa as Yogeśvara encourages devotees to trust that the Lord can personally guide and sustain each sincere seeker, even amid many demands—inviting steadiness in devotion, prayer, and remembrance.