Gopī-Vipralambha: The Search for Kṛṣṇa and the Revelation of Divine Footprints
श्रीशुक उवाच अन्तर्हिते भगवति सहसैव व्रजाङ्गना: । अतप्यंस्तमचक्षाणा: करिण्य इव यूथपम् ॥ १ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca antarhite bhagavati sahasaiva vrajāṅganāḥ atapyaṁs tam acakṣāṇāḥ kariṇya iva yūthapam
Śukadeva berkata: Apabila Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa tiba-tiba menghilang, para wanita Vraja sangat berdukacita kerana tidak dapat melihat-Nya, bagaikan sekawan gajah betina yang kehilangan ketuanya.
This verse introduces Kṛṣṇa’s sudden disappearance, which intensifies the gopīs’ single-minded love (viraha-bhakti), making their devotion burn even brighter in separation.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaks this narration to King Parīkṣit, describing the gopīs’ condition when Kṛṣṇa becomes hidden from their sight.
When spiritual consolation seems absent, a devotee can deepen remembrance, prayer, and sincere longing—transforming apparent distance into more focused devotion.