Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 11
Sādhu-saṅga, the Gopīs’ Prema, and the Veda’s Culmination in Exclusive Surrender
तास्ता: क्षपा: प्रेष्ठतमेन नीता मयैव वृन्दावनगोचरेण । क्षणार्धवत्ता: पुनरङ्ग तासां हीना मया कल्पसमा बभूवु: ॥ ११ ॥
tās tāḥ kṣapāḥ preṣṭhatamena nītā mayaiva vṛndāvana-gocareṇa kṣaṇārdha-vat tāḥ punar aṅga tāsāṁ hīnā mayā kalpa-samā babhūvuḥ
ഉദ്ധവാ! വൃന്ദാവനഭൂമിയിൽ ഏറ്റവും പ്രിയനായ എന്നോടൊപ്പം ഗോപികൾ കഴിച്ചുകൂട്ടിയ ആ രാത്രികൾ അവർക്കു ക്ഷണാർദ്ധംപോലെ തോന്നി. എന്നാൽ എന്റെ സാന്നിധ്യം ഇല്ലാതായപ്പോൾ അതേ രാത്രികൾ അവർക്കു കല്പസമം നീണ്ടതായി അനുഭവപ്പെട്ടു.
Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī comments as follows. “The gopīs suffered extreme anxiety in the absence of Lord Kṛṣṇa, and though outwardly appearing bewildered, they actually achieved the highest perfectional stage of samādhi. Their consciousness was intensely and intimately attached to Lord Kṛṣṇa, and by such Kṛṣṇa consciousness their own bodies seemed very far away from them, even though people normally consider their body to be their closest possession. In fact, the gopīs did not think about their own existence. Although a young woman normally considers her husband and children to be her dearmost possessions, the gopīs did not even consider the existence of their so-called families. Nor could they think of this world or life after death. Indeed, they were not at all aware of these things. Just like great sages who become detached from the names and forms of the material world, the gopīs could not think of anything, because they were rapt in loving remembrance of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Just as rivers enter the ocean, similarly, the gopīs completely merged into consciousness of Lord Kṛṣṇa through intense love.”
FAQs
This verse shows that time feels effortless and brief in Krishna’s presence, but in separation it stretches unbearably—illustrating how intense love for Krishna makes remembrance and longing a powerful form of bhakti.
Uddhava is expressing the bhakti psychology of divine love: union makes time seem to vanish, while separation magnifies time, revealing the depth of his attachment to Krishna.
When spiritual practice feels dry or long, increase Krishna-smaraṇa—hearing, chanting, and remembering—so the heart reconnects; love makes the “weight” of time and suffering lighter.