Sri Caitanya-caritamrta: Adi-lila
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Chapter 4

Adi4.154

TEXT 154

krsnavalokana vina netra phala nahi ana

yei jana krsna dekhe, sei bhagyavan

SYNONYMS

krsna—Lord Krsna; avalokana—looking at; vina—without; netra—the eyes; phala—fruit; nahi—not; ana—other; yei—who; jana—the person; krsna—Lord Krsna; dekhe—sees; sei—he; bhagyavan—very fortunate.

TRANSLATION

There is no other consummation for the eyes than the sight of Krsna. Whoever sees Him is most fortunate indeed.

Adi4.155

TEXT 155

aksanvatam phalam idam na param vidamah

sakhyah pasun anuvivesayator vayasyaih

vaktram vrajesa-sutayor anuvenu-justam

yair va nipitam anurakta-kataksa-moksam

SYNONYMS

aksanvatam—of those who have eyes; phalam—the fruit; idam—this; na—not; param—other; vidamah—we know; sakhyah—O friends; pasun—the cows; anuvivesayatoh—causing to enter one forest from another; vayasyaih—with Their friends of the same age; vaktram—the faces; vraja-isa—of Maharaja Nanda; sutayoh—of the two sons; anuvenu-justam—possessed of flutes; yaih—by which; va—or; nipitam—imbibed; anurakta—loving; kata-aksa—glances; moksam—giving off.

TRANSLATION

[The gopis say:] “O friends, those eyes that see the beautiful faces of the sons of Maharaja Nanda are certainly fortunate. As these two sons enter the forest, surrounded by Their friends, driving the cows before Them, They hold Their flutes to Their mouths and glance lovingly upon the residents of Vrndavana. For those who have eyes, we think there is no greater object of vision.”

PURPORT

Like the gopis, one can see Krsna continuously if one is fortunate enough. In the Brahma-samhita it is said that sages whose eyes have been smeared with the ointment of pure love can see the form of Syamasundara (Krsna) continuously in the centers of their hearts. This text from Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.21.7) was sung by the gopis on the advent of the sarat season.

Adi4.156

TEXT 156

gopyas tapah kim acaran yad amusya rupam

lavanya-saram asamordhvam ananya-siddham

drgbhih pibanty anusavabhinavam durapam

ekanta-dhama yasasah sriya aisvarasya

SYNONYMS

gopyah—the gopis; tapah—austerities; kim—what; acaran—performed; yat—from which; amusya—of such a one (Lord Krsna); rupam—the form; lavanya-saram—the essence of loveliness; asama-urdhvam—not paralleled or surpassed; ananya-siddham—not perfected by any other ornament (self-perfect); drgbhih—by the eyes; pibanti—they drink; anusava-abhinavam—constantly new; durapam—difficult to obtain; ekanta-dhama—the only abode; yasasah—of fame; sriyah—of beauty; aisvarasya—of opulence.

TRANSLATION

[The women of Mathura say:] “What austerities must the gopis have performed? With their eyes they always drink the nectar of the form of Lord Krsna, which is the essence of loveliness and is not to be equaled or surpassed. That loveliness is the only abode of beauty, fame and opulence. It is self-perfect, ever fresh and extremely rare.”

PURPORT

This text from Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.44.14) was spoken by the women of Mathura when they saw Krsna and Balarama in the arena with King Kamsa’s great wrestlers Mustika and Canura.

Adi4.157

TEXT 157

apurva madhuri krsnera, apurva tara bala

yahara sravane mana haya talamala

SYNONYMS

apurva—unprecedented; madhuri—sweetness; krsnera—of Lord Krsna; apurva—unprecedented; tara—of that; bala—the strength; yahara—of which; sravane—in hearing; mana—the mind; haya—becomes; talamala—unsteady.

TRANSLATION

The sweetness of Lord Krsna is unprecedented, and its strength is also unprecedented. Simply by one’s hearing of such beauty, the mind becomes unsteady.

Adi4.158

TEXT 158

krsnera madhurye krsne upajaya lobha

samyak asvadite nare, mane rahe ksobha

SYNONYMS

krsnera—of Lord Krsna; madhurye—in the sweetness; krsne—in Lord Krsna; upajaya—arises; lobha—eager desire; samyak—fully; asvadite—to taste; nare—is not able; mane—in the mind; rahe—remains; ksobha—sorrow.

TRANSLATION

Lord Krsna’s own beauty attracts Lord Krsna Himself. But because He cannot fully enjoy it, His mind remains full of sorrow.

Adi4.159

TEXT 159

ei ta’ dvitiya hetura kahila vivarana

trtiya hetura ebe sunaha laksana

SYNONYMS

ei—this; ta’-certainly; dvitiya—second; hetura—of the reason; kahila—has been said; vivarana—description; trtiya—the third; hetura—of the reason; ebe—now; sunaha—please hear; laksana—the characteristic.

TRANSLATION

This is a description of His second desire. Now please listen as I describe the third.

Adi4.160

TEXT 160

atyanta-nigudha ei rasera siddhanta

svarupa-gosani matra janena ekanta

SYNONYMS

atyanta—extremely; nigudha—deep; ei—this; rasera—of mellow; siddhanta—conclusion; svarupa-gosani—Svarupa Damodara Gosvami; matra—only; janena—knows; ekanta—much.

TRANSLATION

This conclusion of rasa is extremely deep. Only Svarupa Damodara knows much about it.

Adi4.161

TEXT 161

yeba keha anya jane, seho tanha haite

caitanya-gosanira tenha atyanta marma yate

SYNONYMS

yeba—whoever; keha—someone; anya—other; jane—knows; seho—he; tanha haite—from him (Svarupa Damodara); caitanya-gosanira—of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tenha—he; atyanta—extremely; marma—secret core; yate—since.

TRANSLATION

Anyone else who claims to know it must have heard it from him, for he was the most intimate companion of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Adi4.162

TEXT 162

gopi-ganera premera ’rudha-bhava’ nama

visuddha nirmala prema, kabhu nahe kama

SYNONYMS

gopi-ganera—of the gopis; premera—of the love; rudha-bhavarudha-bhava; nama—named; visuddha—pure; nirmala—spotless; prema—love; kabhu—at anytime; nahe—is not; kama—lust.

TRANSLATION

The love of the gopis is called rudha-bhava. It is pure and spotless. It is not at any time lust.

PURPORT

As already explained, the position of the gopis in their loving dealings with Krsna is transcendental. Their emotion is called rudha-bhava. Although it is apparently like mundane sex, one should not confuse it with mundane sexual love, for it is pure and unadulterated love of Godhead.

Adi4.163

TEXT 163

premaiva gopa-ramanam

kama ity agamat pratham

ity uddhavadayo ’py etam

vanchanti bhagavat-priyah

SYNONYMS

prema—love; eva—only; gopa-ramanam—of the women of Vraja; kamah—lust; iti—as; agamat—went to; pratham—fame; iti—thus; uddhava-adayah—headed by Sri Uddhava; api—even; etam—this; vanchanti—desire; bhagavat-priyah—dear devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

TRANSLATION

“The pure love of the gopis has become celebrated by the name ’lust.’ The dear devotees of the Lord, headed by Sri Uddhava, desire to taste that love.”

PURPORT

This is a verse from Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (1.2.285).

Adi4.164

TEXT 164

kama, prema,--donhakara vibhinna laksana

lauha ara hema yaiche svarupe vilaksana

SYNONYMS

kama—lust; prema—love; donhakara—of the two; vibhinna—separate; laksana—symptoms; lauha—iron; ara—and; hema—gold; yaiche—just as; svarupe—in nature; vilaksana—different.

TRANSLATION

Lust and love have different characteristics, just as iron and gold have different natures.

PURPORT

One should try to discriminate between sexual love and pure love, for they belong to different categories, with a gulf of difference between them. They are as different from one another as iron is from gold.

Adi4.165

TEXT 165

atmendriya-priti-vancha--tare bali ’kama’

krsnendriya-priti-iccha dhare ’prema’ nama

SYNONYMS

atma-indriya-priti—for the pleasure of one’s own senses; vancha—desires; tare—to that; bali—I say; kama—lust; krsna-indriya-priti—for the pleasure of Lord Krsna’s senses; iccha—desire; dhare—holds; prema—love; nama—the name.

TRANSLATION

The desire to gratify one’s own senses is kama [lust], but the desire to please the senses of Lord Krsna is prema [love].

PURPORT

The revealed scriptures describe pure love as follows:

sarvatha dhvamsa-rahitam
saty api dhvamsa-karane
yad bhava-bandhanam yunoh
sa prema parikirtitah

“If there is ample reason for the dissolution of a conjugal relationship and yet such a dissolution does not take place, such a relationship of intimate love is called pure.”

The predominated gopis were bound to Krsna in such pure love. For them there was no question of sexual love based on sense gratification. Their only engagement in life was to see Krsna happy in all respects, regardless of their own personal interests. They dedicated their souls only for the satisfaction of the Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna. There was not the slightest tinge of sexual love between the gopis and Krsna.

The author of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta asserts with authority that sexual love is a matter of personal sense enjoyment. All the regulative principles in the Vedas pertaining to desires for popularity, fatherhood, wealth and so on are different phases of sense gratification. Acts of sense gratification may be performed under the cover of public welfare, nationalism, religion, altruism, ethical codes, Biblical codes, health directives, fruitive action, bashfulness, tolerance, personal comfort, liberation from material bondage, progress, family affection or fear of social ostracism or legal punishment, but all these categories are different subdivisions of one substance-sense gratification. All such good acts are performed basically for one’s own sense gratification, for no one can sacrifice his personal interest while discharging these much-advertised moral and religious principles. But above all this is a transcendental stage in which one feels himself to be only an eternal servitor of Krsna, the absolute Personality of Godhead. All acts performed in this sense of servitude are called pure love of God because they are performed for the absolute sense gratification of Sri Krsna. However, any act performed for the purpose of enjoying its fruits or results is an act of sense gratification. Such actions are visible sometimes in gross and sometimes in subtle forms.

Adi4.166

TEXT 166

kamera tatparya--nija-sambhoga kevala

krsna-sukha-tatparya-matra prema ta’ prabala

SYNONYMS

kamera—of lust; tatparya—the intent; nija—own; sambhoga—enjoyment; kevala—only; krsna-sukha—for Lord Krsna’s happiness; tatparya—the intent; matra—only; prema—love; ta’-certainly; prabala—powerful.

TRANSLATION

The object of lust is only the enjoyment of one’s own senses. But love caters to the enjoyment of Lord Krsna, and thus it is very powerful.

Adi4.167-169

TEXTS 167-169

loka-dharma, veda-dharma, deha-dharma, karma

lajja, dhairya, deha-sukha, atma-sukha-marma

dustyaja arya-patha, nija parijana

sva-jane karaye yata tadana-bhartsana

sarva-tyaga kari’ kare krsnera bhajana

krsna-sukha-hetu kare prema-sevana

SYNONYMS

loka-dharma—customs of the people; veda-dharma—Vedic injunctions; deha-dharma—necessities of the body; karma—fruitive work; lajja—bashfulness; dhairya—patience; deha-sukha—the happiness of the body; atma-sukha—the happiness of the self; marma—the essence; dustyaja—difficult to give up; arya-patha—the path of varnasrama; nija—own; parijana—family members; sva-jane—one’s own family; karaye—do; yata—all; tadana—punishment; bhartsana—scolding; sarva-tyaga kari’-giving up everything; kare—do; krsnera—of Lord Krsna; bhajana—worship; krsna-sukha-hetu—for the purpose of Lord Krsna’s happiness; kare—do; prema—out of love; sevana—service.

TRANSLATION

Social customs, scriptural injunctions, bodily demands, fruitive action, shyness, patience, bodily pleasures, self-gratification and the path of varnasrama-dharma, which is difficult to give up-the gopis have forsaken all these, as well as their own relatives and their punishment and scolding, for the sake of serving Lord Krsna. They render loving service to Him for the sake of His enjoyment.

Adi4.170

TEXT 170

ihake kahiye krsne drdha anuraga

svaccha dhauta-vastre yaiche nahi kona daga

SYNONYMS

ihake—this; kahiye—I say; krsne—in Lord Krsna; drdha—strong; anuraga—love; svaccha—pure; dhauta—clean; vastre—in cloth; yaiche—just as; nahi—not; kona—some; daga—mark.

TRANSLATION

That is called firm attachment to Lord Krsna. It is spotlessly pure, like a clean cloth that has no stain.

PURPORT

The author of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta advises everyone to give up all engagements of sense gratification and, like the gopis, dovetail oneself entirely with the will of the Supreme Lord. That is the ultimate instruction of Krsna in the Bhagavad-gita. We should be prepared to do anything and everything to please the Lord, even at the risk of violating the Vedic principles or ethical laws. That is the standard of love of Godhead. Such activities in pure love of Godhead are as spotless as white linen that has been completely washed. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura warns us in this connection that we should not mistakenly think that the idea of giving up everything implies the renunciation of duties necessary in relation to the body and mind. Even such duties are not sense gratification if they are undertaken in a spirit of service to Krsna.

Adi4.171

TEXT 171

ataeva kama-preme bahuta antara

kama--andha-tamah, prema--nirmala bhaskara

SYNONYMS

ataeva—therefore; kama-preme—in lust and love; bahuta—much; antara—space between; kama—lust; andha-tamah—blind darkness; prema—love; nirmala—pure; bhaskara—sun.

TRANSLATION

Therefore lust and love are quite different. Lust is like dense darkness, but love is like the bright sun.

Adi4.172

TEXT 172

ataeva gopi-ganera nahi kama-gandha

krsna-sukha lagi matra, krsna se sambandha

SYNONYMS

ataeva—therefore; gopi-ganera—of the gopis; nahi—not; kama-gandha—the slightest bit of lust; krsna-sukha—the happiness of Lord Krsna; lagi—for; matra—only; krsna—Lord Krsna; se—that; sambandha—the relationship.

TRANSLATION

Thus there is not the slightest taint of lust in the gopis’ love. Their relationship with Krsna is only for the sake of His enjoyment.

Adi4.173

TEXT 173

yat te sujata-caranamburuham stanesu

bhitah sanaih priya dadhimahi karkasesu

tenatavim atasi tad vyathate na kim svit

kurpadibhir bhramati dhir bhavad-ayusam nah

SYNONYMS

yat—which; te—Your; sujata—very fine; carana-ambu-ruham—lotus feet; stanesu—on the breasts; bhitah—being afraid; sanaih—gently; priya—O dear one; dadhimahi—we place; karkasesu—rough; tena—with them; atavim—the path; atasi—You roam; tat—they; vyathate—are distressed; na—not; kim svit—we wonder; kurpa-adibhih—by small stones and so on; bhramati—flutters; dhih—the mind; bhavat-ayusam—of those of whom Your Lordship is the very life; nah—of us.

TRANSLATION

“O dearly beloved! Your lotus feet are so soft that we place them gently on our breasts, fearing that Your feet will be hurt. Our life rests only in You. Our minds, therefore, are filled with anxiety that Your tender feet might be wounded by pebbles as You roam about on the forest path.”

PURPORT

This text from Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.31.19) was spoken by the gopis when Krsna left them in the midst of the rasa-lila.

Adi4.174

TEXT 174

atma-sukha-duhkhe gopira nahika vicara

krsna-sukha-hetu cesta mano-vyavahara

SYNONYMS

atma-sukha-duhkhe—in personal happiness or distress; gopira—of the gopis; nahika—not; vicara—consideration; krsna-sukha-hetu—for the purpose of Lord Krsna’s happiness; cesta—activity; manah—of the mind; vyavahara—the business.

TRANSLATION

The gopis do not care for their own pleasures or pains. All their physical and mental activities are directed toward offering enjoyment to Lord Krsna.

Adi4.175

TEXT 175

krsna lagi’ ara saba kare parityaga

krsna-sukha-hetu kare suddha anuraga

SYNONYMS

krsna lagi’-for Lord Krsna; ara—other; saba—all; kare—do; parityaga—give up; krsna-sukha-hetu—for the purpose of Lord Krsna’s happiness; kare—do; suddha—pure; anuraga—attachments.

TRANSLATION

They renounced everything for Krsna. They have pure attachment to giving Krsna pleasure.

Adi4.176

TEXT 176

evam mad-arthojjhita-loka-veda-

svanam hi vo mayy anuvrttaye ’balah

maya paroksam bhajata tirohitam

masuyitum marhatha tat priyam priyah

SYNONYMS

evam—thus; mat-artha—for Me; ujjhita—rejected; loka—popular customs; veda—Vedic injunctions; svanam—own families; hi—certainly; vah—of you; mayi—Me; anuvrttaye—to increase regard for; abalah—O women; maya—by Me; paroksam—invisible; bhajata—favoring; tirohitam—withdrawn from sight; ma—Me; asuyitum—to be displeased with; ma arhatha—you do not deserve; tat—therefore; priyam—who is dear; priyah—O dear ones.

TRANSLATION

“O My beloved gopis, you have renounced social customs, scriptural injunctions and your relatives for My sake. I disappeared behind you only to increase your concentration upon Me. Since I disappeared for your benefit, you should not be displeased with Me.”

PURPORT

This text from Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.32.21) was spoken by Lord Krsna when He returned to the arena of the rasa-lila.

Adi4.177

TEXT 177

krsnera pratijna eka ache purva haite

ye yaiche bhaje, krsna tare bhaje taiche

SYNONYMS

krsnera—of Lord Krsna; pratijna—promise; eka—one; ache—there is; purva haite—from before; ye—whoever; yaiche—just as; bhaje—he worships; krsna—Lord Krsna; tare—to him; bhaje—reciprocates; taiche—just so.

TRANSLATION

Lord Krsna has a promise from before to reciprocate with His devotees according to the way they worship Him.

Adi4.178

TEXT 178

ye yatha mam prapadyante

tams tathaiva bhajamy aham

mama vartmanuvartante

manusyah partha sarvasah

SYNONYMS

ye—those who; yatha—as; mam—to Me; prapadyante—surrender; tan—them; tatha—so; eva—certainly; bhajami—reward; aham—I; mama—My; vartma—path; anuvartante—follow; manusyah—men; partha—O son of Prtha; sarvasah—in all respects.

TRANSLATION

“In whatever way My devotees surrender unto Me, I reward them accordingly. Everyone follows My path in all respects, O son of Prtha.”

PURPORT

Krsna was never ungrateful to the gopis, for as He declares to Arjuna in this verse from the Bhagavad-gita (4.11), He reciprocates with His devotees in proportion to the transcendental loving service they render unto Him. Everyone follows the path that leads toward Him, but there are different degrees of progress on that path, and the Lord is realized in proportion to one’s advancement. The path is one, but the progress in approaching the ultimate goal is different, and therefore the proportion of realization of this goal-namely the absolute Personality of Godhead-is also different. The gopis attained the highest goal, and Lord Caitanya affirmed that there is no higher method of worshiping God than that followed by the gopis.

Adi4.179

TEXT 179

se pratijna bhanga haila gopira bhajane

tahate pramana krsna-sri-mukha-vacane

SYNONYMS

se—that; pratijna—promise; bhanga haila—was broken; gopira—of the gopis; bhajane—by the worship; tahate—in that; pramana—the proof; krsna—of Lord Krsna; sri-mukha-vacane—by the words from the mouth.

TRANSLATION

That promise has been broken by the worship of the gopis, as Lord Krsna Himself admits.

Adi4.180

TEXT 180

na paraye ’ham niravadya-samyujam

sva-sadhu-krtyam vibudhayusapi vah

ya mabhajan durjaya-geha-srnkhalah

samvrscya tad vah pratiyatu sadhuna

SYNONYMS

na—not; paraye—am able to make; aham—I; niravadya-samyujam—to those who are completely free from deceit; sva-sadhu-krtyam—proper compensation; vibudha-ayusa—with a lifetime as long as that of the demigods; api—although; vah—to you; yah—who; ma—Me; abhajan—have worshiped; durjaya-geha-srnkhalah—the chains of household life, which are difficult to overcome; samvrscya—cutting; tat—that; vah—of you; pratiyatu—let it be returned; sadhuna—by the good activity itself.

TRANSLATION

“O gopis, I am not able to repay My debt for your spotless service, even within a lifetime of Brahma. Your connection with Me is beyond reproach. You have worshiped Me, cutting off all domestic ties, which are difficult to break. Therefore please let your own glorious deeds be your compensation.”

PURPORT

This verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.32.22) was spoken by Sri Krsna Himself when He returned to the gopis upon hearing their songs of separation.

Adi4.181

TEXT 181

tabe ye dekhiye gopira nija-dehe prita

seho ta’ krsnera lagi, janiha niscita

SYNONYMS

tabe—now; ye—whatever; dekhiye—we see; gopira—of the gopis; nija-dehe—in their own bodies; prita—affection; seho—that; ta’-certainly; krsnera lagi—for Lord Krsna; janiha—know; niscita—for certain.

TRANSLATION

Now, whatever affection we see the gopis show in their own bodies, know it for certain to be only for the sake of Lord Krsna.

PURPORT

The selfless love of Godhead exhibited by the gopis cannot have any parallel. We should not, therefore, misunderstand the carefulness of the gopis in their personal decoration. The gopis dressed themselves as beautifully as possible, just to make Krsna happy by seeing them. They had no ulterior desires. They dedicated their bodies, and everything they possessed, to the service of Sri Krsna, taking for granted that their bodies were meant for His enjoyment. They dressed themselves on the understanding that Krsna would be happy by seeing and touching them.

Adi4.182

TEXT 182

’ei deha kailun ami krsne samarpana

tanra dhana tanra iha sambhoga-sadhana

SYNONYMS

ei—this; deha—body; kailun—have done; ami—I; krsne—to Lord Krsna; samarpana—offering; tanra—of Him; dhana—the wealth; tanra—of Him; iha—this; sambhoga-sadhana—brings about the enjoyment.

TRANSLATION

[The gopis think:] "I have offered this body to Lord Krsna. He is its owner, and it brings Him enjoyment.

Adi4.183

TEXT 183

e-deha-darsana-sparse krsna-santosana’

ei lagi’ kare dehera marjana-bhusana

SYNONYMS

e-deha—of this body; darsana—by sight; sparse—and touch; krsna—of Lord Krsna; santosana—the satisfaction; ei lagi’-for this; kare—they do; dehera—of the body; marjana—cleaning; bhusana—decorating.

TRANSLATION

“Krsna finds joy in seeing and touching this body.” It is for this reason that they cleanse and decorate their bodies.

Adi4.184

TEXT 184

nijangam api ya gopyo

mameti samupasate

tabhyah param na me partha

nigudha-prema-bhajanam

SYNONYMS

nija-angam—own body; api—although; yah—who; gopyah—the gopis; mama—Mine; iti—thus thinking; samupasate—engage in decorating; tabhyah—than them; param—greater; na—not; me—for Me; partha—O Arjuna; nigudha-prema—of deep love; bhajanam—receptacles.

TRANSLATION

“O Arjuna, there are no greater receptacles of deep love for Me than the gopis, who cleanse and decorate their bodies because they consider them Mine.”

PURPORT

This verse is spoken by Lord Krsna in the Adi Purana.

Adi4.185

TEXT 185

ara eka adbhuta gopi-bhavera svabhava

buddhira gocara nahe yahara prabhava

SYNONYMS

ara—another; eka—one; adbhuta—wonderful; gopi-bhavera—of the emotion of the gopis; svabhava—nature; buddhira—of the intelligence; gocara—an object of perception; nahe—is not; yahara—of which; prabhava—the power.

TRANSLATION

There is another wonderful feature of the emotion of the gopis. Its power is beyond the comprehension of the intelligence.

Adi4.186

TEXT 186

gopi-gana kare yabe krsna-darasana

sukha-vancha nahi, sukha haya koti-guna

SYNONYMS

gopi-gana—the gopis; kare—do; yabe—when; krsna-darasana—seeing Lord Krsna; sukha-vancha—desire for happiness; nahi—there is not; sukha—the happiness; haya—there is; koti-guna—ten million times.

TRANSLATION

When the gopis see Lord Krsna, they derive unbounded bliss, although they have no desire for such pleasure.

Adi4.187

TEXT 187

gopika-darsane krsnera ye ananda haya

taha haite koti-guna gopi asvadaya

SYNONYMS

gopika-darsane—in seeing the gopis; krsnera—of Lord Krsna; ye—whatever; ananda—joy; haya—there is; taha haite—than that; koti-guna—ten million times more; gopi—the gopis; asvadaya—taste.

TRANSLATION

The gopis taste a pleasure ten million times greater than the pleasure Lord Krsna derives from seeing them.

PURPORT

The wonderful characteristics of the gopis are beyond imagination. They have no desire for personal satisfaction, yet when Krsna is happy by seeing them, that happiness of Krsna makes the gopis a million times more happy than Krsna Himself.

Adi4.188

TEXT 188

tan sabara nahi nija-sukha-anurodha

tathapi badhaye sukha, padila virodha

SYNONYMS

tan sabara—of all of them; nahi—not; nija-sukha—for their own happiness; anurodha—entreaty; tathapi—still; badhaye—increases; sukha—happiness; padila—happened; virodha—contradiction.

TRANSLATION

The gopis have no inclination for their own enjoyment, and yet their joy increases. That is indeed a contradiction.

Adi4.189

TEXT 189

e virodhera eka matra dekhi samadhana

gopikara sukha krsna-sukhe paryavasana

SYNONYMS

e—this; virodhera—of the contradiction; eka—one; matra—only; dekhi—I see; samadhana—solution; gopikara—of the gopis; sukha—the happiness; krsna-sukhe—in the happiness of Lord Krsna; paryavasana—the conclusion.

TRANSLATION

For this contradiction I see only one solution: the joy of the gopis lies in the joy of their beloved Krsna.

PURPORT

The situation of the gopis is perplexing, for although they did not want personal happiness, it was imposed upon them. The solution to this perplexity is that Sri Krsna’s sense of happiness is limited by the happiness of the gopis. Devotees at Vrndavana therefore try to serve the gopis, namely Radharani and Her associates. If one gains the favor of the gopis, he easily gains the favor of Krsna because on the recommendation of the gopis Krsna at once accepts the service of a devotee. Lord Caitanya, therefore, wanted to please the gopis instead of Krsna. But His contemporaries misunderstood Him, and for this reason Lord Caitanya renounced the order of householder life and became a sannyasi.

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