Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 16
The Kātyāyanī-vrata, the Stealing of the Gopīs’ Garments, and Kṛṣṇa’s Teaching on Purified Desire
श्रीभगवानुवाच भवत्यो यदि मे दास्यो मयोक्तं वा करिष्यथ । अत्रागत्य स्ववासांसि प्रतीच्छत शुचिस्मिता: । नो चेन्नाहं प्रदास्ये किं क्रुद्धो राजा करिष्यति ॥ १६ ॥
śrī-bhagavān uvāca bhavatyo yadi me dāsyo mayoktaṁ vā kariṣyatha atrāgatya sva-vāsāṁsi pratīcchata śuci-smitāḥ no cen nāhaṁ pradāsye kiṁ kruddho rājā kariṣyati
至尊人格首神说：如果你们真的是我的侍女，如果你们真的要做我说的事，那就带着你们天真的微笑到这里来，让每个女孩挑选她的衣服。如果你们不做我说的事，我就不把衣服还给你们。即使国王生气了，他又能做什么呢？
Śrīla Prabhupāda comments, “When the gopīs saw that Kṛṣṇa was strong and determined, they had no alternative but to abide by His order.”
FAQs
In this verse Krishna asks the gopis to follow His instruction to receive their garments, highlighting that approaching Him with obedience and surrender is central to bhakti.
Within the Vastra-harana episode, Krishna tests and deepens the gopis’ exclusive dependence on Him, directing them to come forward and accept their clothes only by complying with His words.
It teaches disciplined devotion: when spiritual guidance is given, progress comes by sincerely following it rather than negotiating from pride or fear.