Shloka 7
The Kātyāyanī-vrata, the Stealing of the Gopīs’ Garments, and Kṛṣṇa’s Teaching on Purified Desire
नद्या: कदाचिदागत्य तीरे निक्षिप्य पूर्ववत् । वासांसि कृष्णं गायन्त्यो विजह्रु: सलिले मुदा ॥ ७ ॥
nadyāḥ kadācid āgatya tīre nikṣipya pūrva-vat vāsāṁsi kṛṣṇaṁ gāyantyo vijahruḥ salile mudā
One day they came to the riverbank and, as before, set their garments aside on the shore. Singing the glories of Kṛṣṇa, they joyfully sported in the water.
According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, this incident occurred on the day the young gopīs completed their vow, which was a full-moon day. To celebrate the successful completion of their vow, the girls invited young Rādhārāṇī — the daughter of Vṛṣabhānu and the special object of their affection — along with other important gopīs, and brought them all to the river to bathe. Their playing in the water was meant to serve as the avabhṛtha-snāna, the ceremonial bath taken immediately upon the completion of a Vedic sacrifice.
FAQs
This verse describes the gopīs singing of Kṛṣṇa even during ordinary acts like bathing—showing that constant remembrance and kīrtana are natural symptoms of deep devotion.
In this chapter they are observing the Kātyāyanī-vrata, and as part of their daily practice they come to the river, set their clothes on the bank, and bathe—while keeping their hearts absorbed in Kṛṣṇa.
Bring bhakti into daily routines by keeping the mind on Kṛṣṇa through singing, japa, or remembrance—even while doing simple activities—so devotion becomes continuous rather than occasional.