Shloka 19
The Kātyāyanī-vrata, the Stealing of the Gopīs’ Garments, and Kṛṣṇa’s Teaching on Purified Desire
यूयं विवस्त्रा यदपो धृतव्रता व्यगाहतैतत्तदु देवहेलनम् । बद्ध्वाञ्जलिं मूध्र्न्यपनुत्तयेऽहस: कृत्वा नमोऽधोवसनं प्रगृह्यताम् ॥ १९ ॥
yūyaṁ vivastrā yad apo dhṛta-vratā vyagāhataitat tad u deva-helanam baddhvāñjaliṁ mūrdhny apanuttaye ’ṁhasaḥ kṛtvā namo ’dho-vasanaṁ pragṛhyatām
Ihr habt, während ihr euer Gelübde ausführtet, nackt gebadet; das ist gewiss eine Beleidigung der Devas. Um die Sünde zu tilgen, erweist Ehrerbietung mit gefalteten Händen über dem Kopf und nehmt dann eure unteren Gewänder zurück.
Kṛṣṇa wanted to see the full surrender of the gopīs, and thus He ordered them to offer obeisances with their palms joined above their heads. In other words, the gopīs could no longer cover their bodies. We should not foolishly think that Lord Kṛṣṇa is an ordinary lusty boy enjoying the naked beauty of the gopīs. Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Absolute Truth, and He was acting to fulfill the loving desire of the young cowherd girls of Vṛndāvana. In this world we would certainly become lusty in a situation like this. But to compare ourselves to God is a great offense, and because of this offense we will not be able to understand Kṛṣṇa’s transcendental position, for we will wrongly take Him to be materially conditioned like ourselves. To lose transcendental sight of Kṛṣṇa is certainly a great disaster for one trying to relish the bliss of the Absolute Truth.
FAQs
This verse states that entering the water unclothed while observing a vow is treated as an offense toward the gods, and Kṛṣṇa instructs the gopīs to make amends by offering obeisances with folded hands placed on the head.
In the narrative, Kṛṣṇa uses this moment to correct a lapse in proper conduct during a sacred vow and to draw out the gopīs’ humility and full surrender, which is central to their pure devotion.
When we make spiritual commitments, we should honor them with sincerity and respect; if we slip, we should humbly acknowledge the mistake, offer repentance, and return to right conduct rather than justify the lapse.