Shloka 36
Gopī-Vipralambha: The Search for Kṛṣṇa and the Revelation of Divine Footprints
इत्येवं दर्शयन्त्यस्ताश्चेरुर्गोप्यो विचेतस: । यां गोपीमनयत्कृष्णो विहायान्या: स्त्रियो वने ॥ ३५ ॥ सा च मेने तदात्मानं वरिष्ठं सर्वयोषिताम् । हित्वा गोपी: कामयाना मामसौ भजते प्रिय: ॥ ३६ ॥
ity evaṁ darśayantyas tāś cerur gopyo vicetasaḥ yāṁ gopīm anayat kṛṣṇo vihāyānyāḥ striyo vane
Und jene Gopī hielt sich für die Vorzüglichste unter allen Frauen: „Mein Geliebter Kṛṣṇa hat die anderen Gopīs, obwohl von Kāma getrieben, verlassen und wollte nur mir allein erwidern.“ So wurde sie vom Stolz betört.
Previously all the gopīs had become proud of their association with Kṛṣṇa and then suddenly lost His association. Only Rādhārāṇī remained with Him. Now She has also become proud of that association and will suffer a similar fate. The Lord arranges all this to reveal the gopīs’ unparalleled devotion for Him, a devotion whose intensity fully manifests in moments of separation.
FAQs
Because Kṛṣṇa becomes unseen, and their love intensifies into viraha (separation), driving them to search for Him everywhere in Vṛndāvana.
It indicates Kṛṣṇa’s special attention to one gopī, which becomes a turning point that reveals subtle pride and deepens the lesson of humility in devotion.
It teaches that when spiritual sweetness feels absent, sincere seeking and remembrance can deepen devotion rather than weaken it.