Shloka 18
The Kātyāyanī-vrata, the Stealing of the Gopīs’ Garments, and Kṛṣṇa’s Teaching on Purified Desire
भगवानाहता वीक्ष्य शुद्धभावप्रसादित: । स्कन्धे निधाय वासांसि प्रीत: प्रोवाच सस्मितम् ॥ १८ ॥
bhagavān āhatā vīkṣya śuddha-bhāva-prasāditaḥ skandhe nidhāya vāsāṁsi prītaḥ provāca sa-smitam
Seeing the gopīs struck with embarrassment, the Supreme Lord was pleased by their pure loving devotion. Placing their garments upon His shoulder, He smiled and spoke to them with affectionate grace.
Śrīla Prabhupāda comments: “[The gopīs’ ] simple presentation was so pure that Lord Kṛṣṇa immediately became pleased with them. All the unmarried gopīs who prayed to Kātyāyanī to have Kṛṣṇa as their husband were thus satisfied. A woman cannot be naked before any male except her husband. The unmarried gopīs desired Kṛṣṇa as their husband, and He fulfilled their desire in this way.”
FAQs
This verse shows that Kṛṣṇa becomes satisfied when He sees sincere, pure-hearted devotion; their inner purity moves Him, and He responds affectionately.
In the narrative, Kṛṣṇa’s smiling speech indicates affectionate, playful instruction—guiding the gopīs toward complete surrender while remaining pleased with their pure devotion.
Approach devotion with sincerity and purity of motive; when intention is clean and heartfelt, divine grace responds with compassion and guidance.