Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 10
The Kātyāyanī-vrata, the Stealing of the Gopīs’ Garments, and Kṛṣṇa’s Teaching on Purified Desire
अत्रागत्याबला: कामं स्वं स्वं वास: प्रगृह्यताम् । सत्यं ब्रुवाणि नो नर्म यद् यूयं व्रतकर्शिता: ॥ १० ॥
atrāgatyābalāḥ kāmaṁ svaṁ svaṁ vāsaḥ pragṛhyatām satyaṁ bravāṇi no narma yad yūyaṁ vrata-karśitāḥ
少女们啊，来这里吧，随你们所愿，各自取回自己的衣裳。我说的是真话，并非戏弄；我见你们因持戒誓愿而疲惫。
FAQs
It presents the gopīs performing a vow for attaining Kṛṣṇa as their husband, and Kṛṣṇa responds by testing and deepening their exclusive surrender, as seen when He calls them to come and take back their garments.
Within the līlā, Kṛṣṇa is both teasing and instructing: He draws the gopīs out of fear and social hesitation so they approach Him directly, demonstrating wholehearted surrender and single-minded devotion.
When spiritual practice becomes austere or difficult, the verse reminds one to approach God honestly and directly—letting go of ego and hesitation—while trusting that divine tests are meant to purify devotion, not to harm.