Shloka 42
Gopī-Vipralambha: The Search for Kṛṣṇa and the Revelation of Divine Footprints
ततोऽविशन्वनं चन्द्रज्योत्स्ना यावद् विभाव्यते । तम: प्रविष्टमालक्ष्य ततो निववृतु: स्त्रिय: ॥ ४२ ॥
tato ’viśan vanaṁ candra jyotsnā yāvad vibhāvyate tamaḥ praviṣṭam ālakṣya tato nivavṛtuḥ striyaḥ
Kemudian para gopī masuk ke dalam hutan mencari Kṛṣṇa sejauh cahaya bulan masih kelihatan; tetapi apabila melihat kegelapan menyelubungi, mereka pun berpatah balik.
The gopīs entered a part of the forest so dense that even the light of the full moon couldn’t penetrate it. This scene is also described in the Viṣṇu Purāṇa:
FAQs
In this verse, the gopīs go into the forest only as far as the moonlight allows, but when dense darkness sets in they turn back—showing both their intense longing for Kṛṣṇa and the practical limits of the night journey.
Śukadeva explains that they perceived the forest had become covered in darkness; unable to proceed safely or see the path, they desisted and returned from that point.
When spiritual longing arises but circumstances limit outward action, one can “turn inward” like the gopīs—continuing remembrance, prayer, and kīrtana, letting separation deepen sincerity rather than diminish devotion.