Shloka 28
The Kātyāyanī-vrata, the Stealing of the Gopīs’ Garments, and Kṛṣṇa’s Teaching on Purified Desire
श्रीशुक उवाच इत्यादिष्टा भगवता लब्धकामा: कुमारिका: । ध्यायन्त्यस्तत्पदाम्भोजं कृच्छ्रान्निर्विविशुर्व्रजम् ॥ २८ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca ity ādiṣṭā bhagavatā labdha-kāmāḥ kumārikāḥ dhyāyantyas tat-padāmbhojam kṛcchrān nirviviśur vrajam
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Thus instructed by the Bhagavān, the young girls, their desire now fulfilled, returned to Vraja only with great difficulty, all the while meditating upon His lotus feet.
The gopīs’ desire was fulfilled because Lord Kṛṣṇa had agreed to act as their husband. A young girl can never spend the night with any man except her husband, and thus when Kṛṣṇa agreed to engage the girls in the nocturnal rāsa dance during the coming autumn season, in effect He was agreeing to reciprocate their love for Him in the role of a husband.
FAQs
It describes the Vraja girls returning home while absorbed in remembrance of Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet, showing that devotion naturally expresses itself as continuous inner meditation.
Because their hearts were deeply attached to Kṛṣṇa; even after receiving His instruction and fulfillment, separating from His presence and resuming ordinary life in Vraja felt emotionally difficult.
Do your duties while keeping steady remembrance of Kṛṣṇa—through japa, prayer, and mindful recollection—so external responsibilities are carried with inner devotion.