Shloka 23
The Kātyāyanī-vrata, the Stealing of the Gopīs’ Garments, and Kṛṣṇa’s Teaching on Purified Desire
परिधाय स्ववासांसि प्रेष्ठसङ्गमसज्जिता: । गृहीतचित्ता नो चेलुस्तस्मिन्लज्जायितेक्षणा: ॥ २३ ॥
paridhāya sva-vāsāṁsi preṣṭha-saṅgama-sajjitāḥ gṛhīta-cittā no celus tasmin lajjāyitekṣaṇāḥ
Even after putting on their garments, the gopīs—so attached to the company of their beloved Śrī Kṛṣṇa—had their hearts captivated by Him and did not move, but stood there, casting shy glances at Him.
By association with their beloved Kṛṣṇa, the gopīs had become more attached to Him than ever. Just as Kṛṣṇa had stolen their clothes, He had also stolen their minds and their love. The gopīs interpreted the whole incident as proof that Kṛṣṇa was also attached to them. Otherwise, why would He have gone to the trouble of playing with them in this way? Because they thought that Kṛṣṇa was now attached to them, they glanced at Him with shyness, and being stunned by the rising of their ecstatic love, they could not move from where they stood. Kṛṣṇa had overcome their shyness and forced them to come out of the water naked, but now, having dressed properly, they again became shy in His presence. In fact, this incident increased their humbleness before Kṛṣṇa. They did not want Kṛṣṇa to see them staring at Him, but they cautiously took the opportunity to glance at the Lord.
FAQs
It describes that even after dressing again, the gopīs remained mentally absorbed in Kṛṣṇa, standing shyly with lowered, bashful glances, unable to leave His presence.
Because Kṛṣṇa’s intimate presence overwhelmed their hearts—devotion and loving attraction held their minds, while modesty made them stand silently with shy looks.
True bhakti gathers the mind naturally toward the Lord; cultivating remembrance (smaraṇa), humility, and modesty in devotion helps one become steady and less distracted by external impulses.