Shloka 20
The Kātyāyanī-vrata, the Stealing of the Gopīs’ Garments, and Kṛṣṇa’s Teaching on Purified Desire
इत्यच्युतेनाभिहितं व्रजाबला मत्वा विवस्त्राप्लवनं व्रतच्युतिम् । तत्पूर्तिकामास्तदशेषकर्मणां साक्षात्कृतं नेमुरवद्यमृग् यत: ॥ २० ॥
ity acyutenābhihitaṁ vrajābalā matvā vivastrāplavanaṁ vrata-cyutim tat-pūrti-kāmās tad-aśeṣa-karmaṇāṁ sākṣāt-kṛtaṁ nemur avadya-mṛg yataḥ
Mendengar kata-kata Acyuta, gadis-gadis Vraja mengakui bahawa mandi telanjang telah menyebabkan mereka tersasar daripada vrata. Namun demi menyempurnakan nazar, dan kerana Śrī Kṛṣṇa ialah hasil tertinggi segala kebajikan, mereka bersujud kepada-Nya untuk penyucian dosa.
The transcendental position of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is clearly described here. The gopīs decided that it was better to renounce their so-called family tradition and traditional morality and simply surrender unto the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa. This does not mean that the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement advocates immoral activities. In fact, the devotees of ISKCON practice the highest standard of restraint and morality, but at the same time we recognize the transcendental position of Kṛṣṇa. Lord Kṛṣṇa is God and therefore has no material desire to enjoy young girls in sexual affairs. As will be seen in this chapter, Lord Kṛṣṇa was not at all attracted to enjoying the gopīs; rather He was attracted to their love and wanted to satisfy them.
FAQs
This verse shows the gopīs taking Kṛṣṇa’s instruction seriously, understanding what would constitute a lapse in their vow, and then seeking proper completion by surrendering and bowing to Him.
They realized Kṛṣṇa’s words were meant to guide them toward completing their Kātyāyanī-vrata without deviation, and they honored Him as the spotless, directly realized goal of those who act wholly for God.
Keep commitments with integrity, accept correction when needed, and complete spiritual practices with humility—seeing surrender to the Lord as the heart of all religious observance.