Gokula’s Wonder, Kṛṣṇa’s Bhakta-vaśyatā, the Move to Vṛndāvana, and the Slaying of Vatsāsura and Bakāsura
श्रुत्वा तद्विस्मिता गोपा गोप्यश्चातिप्रियादृता: । प्रेत्यागतमिवोत्सुक्यादैक्षन्त तृषितेक्षणा: ॥ ५४ ॥
śrutvā tad vismitā gopā gopyaś cātipriyādṛtāḥ pretyāgatam ivotsukyād aikṣanta tṛṣitekṣaṇāḥ
Als die Kuhhirtenmänner und -frauen von der Tötung Bakāsuras im Wald hörten, waren sie sehr erstaunt. Als sie Kṛṣṇa sahen und die Geschichte hörten, empfingen sie Kṛṣṇa sehr eifrig, da sie dachten, dass Kṛṣṇa und die anderen Jungen aus dem Rachen des Todes zurückgekehrt seien. So blickten sie Kṛṣṇa und die Jungen mit durstigen Augen an und wollten ihre Augen nicht abwenden, jetzt wo die Jungen in Sicherheit waren.
Because of intense love for Kṛṣṇa, the cowherd men and women simply remained silent, thinking of how Kṛṣṇa and the boys had been saved. The cowherd men and women looked upon Kṛṣṇa and the boys and did not desire to turn their eyes aside.
This verse describes the gopas and gopis gazing at Krishna with “thirsting eyes,” showing that their love is so intense that mere seeing Him feels essential—like life itself.
Śukadeva narrates that upon hearing the report of Krishna’s extraordinary dealings and protection, they became amazed and looked at Him with renewed affection, as if He had been restored to them from death.
Cultivate sincere eagerness for darśana—regularly hearing about Krishna, remembering Him, and seeking His presence through bhakti practices with the same heartfelt priority the Vrajavasis show.