Gopī-Vipralambha: The Search for Kṛṣṇa and the Revelation of Divine Footprints
कस्या: पदानि चैतानि याताया नन्दसूनुना । अंसन्यस्तप्रकोष्ठाया: करेणो: करिणा यथा ॥ २७ ॥
kasyāḥ padāni caitāni yātāyā nanda-sūnunā aṁsa-nyasta-prakoṣṭhāyāḥ kareṇoḥ kariṇā yathā
[Para gopī berkata:] Jejak kaki siapakah ini, gopī yang berjalan bersama putera Nanda? Pastilah Baginda meletakkan lengan-Nya di bahunya, seperti gajah meletakkan belalainya pada bahu gajah betina yang berjalan bersama.
In this verse, the gopīs identify that Kṛṣṇa has gone with one particular gopī by observing the footprints and the implied intimacy—her forearm resting on His shoulder—showing how deeply their love reads spiritual signs in Vraja.
Because they see paired footprints and infer from the marks that one gopī walked close to Kṛṣṇa and leaned on Him, indicating He accompanied her for some distance during the rāsa-līlā episode.
The verse highlights attentive remembrance: even in absence, a devotee looks for Kṛṣṇa’s presence through signs—scripture, holy name, and service—transforming longing into steady bhakti rather than distraction.