The Solar Eclipse at Samanta-pañcaka and the Great Reunion of Yādavas, Pāṇḍavas, and Vraja
श्रीशुक उवाच गोप्यश्च कृष्णमुपलभ्य चिरादभीष्टं यत्प्रेक्षणे दृशिषु पक्ष्मकृतं शपन्ति । दृग्भिर्हृदीकृतमलं परिरभ्य सर्वा- स्तद्भावमापुरपि नित्ययुजां दुरापम् ॥ ३९ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca gopyaś ca kṛṣṇam upalabhya cirād abhīṣṭaṁ yat-prekṣaṇe dṛśiṣu pakṣma-kṛtaṁ śapanti dṛgbhir hṛdī-kṛtam alaṁ parirabhya sarvās tad-bhāvam āpur api nitya-yujāṁ durāpam
Sinabi ni Śukadeva: Habang tinititigan ang minamahal nilang si Kṛṣṇa, dati’y sinisisi ng mga gopī ang lumikha ng talukap ng mata, sapagkat sandali nitong hinaharangan ang kanilang paningin. Ngayon, matapos ang mahabang paghihiwalay, nang makita nilang muli si Kṛṣṇa, ipinasok nila Siya sa puso sa pamamagitan ng mga mata at niyakap Siya roon hanggang sa lubos na masiyahan. Sa gayon, nalubog sila sa tadh-bhāva—isang ekstasiyang pagninilay na mahirap maabot kahit ng mga yogī na laging nagsasanay.
According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī, just then Lord Balarāma saw the gopīs standing a short distance away. Seeing them trembling with eagerness to meet Kṛṣṇa, and apparently ready to give up their lives if they could not, He tactfully decided to get up and involve Himself elsewhere. Then the gopīs attained the state described in the current verse. In referring to the gopīs’ intolerant disrespect of Lord Brahmā, “the creator of eyelids,” Śukadeva Gosvāmī is giving vent to his own subtle jealousy of the gopīs’ favored position.
Because even a blink interrupts their direct vision of Kṛṣṇa; their love is so intense that any moment without seeing Him feels unbearable.
It states that the gopīs attained a spiritual state (tad-bhāva) that is difficult even for nitya-yogīs—showing that pure devotional love can surpass the achievements of constant meditative practice.
Cultivate steady remembrance of Kṛṣṇa—through hearing, chanting, and heartfelt attention—so that devotion becomes continuous and intimate rather than occasional or merely intellectual.