Shloka 22
The Kātyāyanī-vrata, the Stealing of the Gopīs’ Garments, and Kṛṣṇa’s Teaching on Purified Desire
दृढं प्रलब्धास्त्रपया च हापिता: प्रस्तोभिता: क्रीडनवच्च कारिता: । वस्त्राणि चैवापहृतान्यथाप्यमुं ता नाभ्यसूयन् प्रियसङ्गनिर्वृता: ॥ २२ ॥
dṛḍhaṁ pralabdhās trapayā ca hāpitāḥ prastobhitāḥ krīḍana-vac ca kāritāḥ vastrāṇi caivāpahṛtāny athāpy amuṁ tā nābhyasūyan priya-saṅga-nirvṛtāḥ
Walau para gopī benar-benar diperdaya, dipermalukan, diejek, diperlakukan seperti boneka permainan, dan pakaian mereka dirampas, mereka sama sekali tidak memusuhi Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Mereka justru bersukacita karena mendapat kesempatan bergaul dengan Sang Kekasih.
Śrīla Prabhupāda comments, “This attitude of the gopīs is described by Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu when He prays, ‘My dear Lord Kṛṣṇa, You may embrace Me or trample Me under Your feet, or You may make Me brokenhearted by never being present before Me. Whatever You like, You can do, because You have complete freedom to act. But in spite of all of Your dealings, You are My Lord eternally, and I have no other worshipable object.’ This is the attitude of the gopīs toward Kṛṣṇa.”
FAQs
This verse highlights that the gopīs, though teased and embarrassed and even deprived of their garments, felt no resentment because Kṛṣṇa’s association itself was their highest joy—showing the supremacy of pure, selfless devotion.
Because their love was centered on Kṛṣṇa alone; being with Him fulfilled them so completely that they did not see His playful actions as offensive, but as part of intimate divine līlā.
Cultivate devotion that prioritizes remembering and serving God over ego and offense-taking—learning to respond to life’s discomforts with humility, trust, and steady focus on spiritual association.