Shloka 16
The Kātyāyanī-vrata, the Stealing of the Gopīs’ Garments, and Kṛṣṇa’s Teaching on Purified Desire
श्रीभगवानुवाच भवत्यो यदि मे दास्यो मयोक्तं वा करिष्यथ । अत्रागत्य स्ववासांसि प्रतीच्छत शुचिस्मिता: । नो चेन्नाहं प्रदास्ये किं क्रुद्धो राजा करिष्यति ॥ १६ ॥
śrī-bhagavān uvāca bhavatyo yadi me dāsyo mayoktaṁ vā kariṣyatha atrāgatya sva-vāsāṁsi pratīcchata śuci-smitāḥ no cen nāhaṁ pradāsye kiṁ kruddho rājā kariṣyati
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: If you girls are actually My maidservants, and if you will really do what I say, then come here with your innocent smiles and let each girl pick out her clothes. If you don’t do what I say, I won’t give them back to you. And even if the king becomes angry, what can he do?
Śrīla Prabhupāda comments, “When the gopīs saw that Kṛṣṇa was strong and determined, they had no alternative but to abide by His order.”
FAQs
In this verse Krishna asks the gopis to follow His instruction to receive their garments, highlighting that approaching Him with obedience and surrender is central to bhakti.
Within the Vastra-harana episode, Krishna tests and deepens the gopis’ exclusive dependence on Him, directing them to come forward and accept their clothes only by complying with His words.
It teaches disciplined devotion: when spiritual guidance is given, progress comes by sincerely following it rather than negotiating from pride or fear.