Shreemad Bhagavat Mahapuran- Canto: 10, Chapters: 29-30
When Bhagwan Shree Krishna saw that the gopis of Braj had come to Him, He spoke to them in His sweet, smiling, and playful words, enchanting them even more. Among all those who know the past, present, and future, Bhagwan Shree Krishna alone is the supreme knower.
Shree Bhagavaan uvaacha
svaagatam vo mahaabhaagaah priyam kim karavaani vah
vrajasyaanaamayam kachid brootaagaman kaaranam
Bhagwan Shree Krishna said, “O most fortunate gopis, you are welcome. Tell Me, what can I do to please you? Is everything well and auspicious in Braj? Tell Me, what need has brought you here at this hour?” (Bhagavat 10.29.18)
He said, “O beautiful gopis, it is night, a time that is fearful by nature, when many dangerous creatures roam about. Therefore, all of you should return to Braj at once. Women should not remain in a dense forest at night. Not seeing you, your parents, husbands, sons, and brothers must be searching for you. Do not place them in anxiety.
You have already seen this forest filled with colourful flowers, the gentle rays of the full moon, and the cool breeze flowing over the waters of the Yamuna. Now do not delay any longer. Return quickly to Braj. You are women who uphold the dignity of your families. Serve your husbands. In your homes, small children and calves are crying. Go and nurse the children and milk the cows.
And if it is love for Me that has brought you here, there is nothing improper in that either. It is in keeping with your nature. For in this world, even animals and birds love Me and become joyful upon seeing Me.”
bhartuh shushrooshanam streenaam
paro dharmo hy amaayayaa
tad bandhoonaam cha kalyaanah
prajaanaam chaanuposhhanam
"The supreme duty of women is to serve their husbands sincerely (without deceit), to be well-wishers of their husband's relatives, and to nurture their offspring." (Bhagavat 10.29.24)
Shree Krishna further said that those women who desire a higher destiny in the next world, whether heaven or honour in the community, should not abandon their husbands, even if the husband is ill-natured, unfortunate, aged, ignorant, dull-witted, sick, or extremely poor, provided that he is not a paataki, one who commits grave sins forbidden by the shastras.
For women who uphold the dignity of their family, serving a man other than their husband is condemnable. It destroys one’s welfare in the next world, brings neither heaven nor honour, and even in this world leads to disgrace. Such action is itself petty and fleeting, and even in the present, it yields only sorrow. Liberation is far away; rather, this conduct becomes a cause of suffering.
Krishna said, “O gopis, the exclusive love that arises from hearing My leelas, from the darshan of My form, from the singing and contemplation of My names and qualities, does not arise merely from physical closeness. Therefore, all of you should now return to your respective homes.”
The Gopis Reveal the True Dharma of the Soul
Shukadevji tells Parikshit that upon hearing these seemingly harsh words of Bhagwan Shree Krishna, the gopis became deeply distressed and disheartened. Their hope was shattered, and they began to sink and rise in an unfathomable ocean of anxiety. Because of grief, their long, burning breaths dried their lips. They lowered their faces and began to scrape the earth with their toenails. Tears flowed from their eyes, mingling with the kohl and falling upon their breasts, washing away the saffron there. Their hearts were so filled with sorrow that they were unable to speak at all. Silently, they stood there, overwhelmed by pain.
With great effort, they gathered themselves, wiped away their tears, and then, with voices trembling and hearts filled with love mixed with gentle reproach, they spoke, “O beloved Shree Krishna, You dwell within the hearts of all. You know the thoughts in our minds. Even so, do not speak such harsh words to us. Abandoning everything, we have offered our love only at Your lotus feet. It is true that You are independent, and we have no claim over You. Yet just as Adipurush Bhagwan Narayan shows compassion to His devotees, in the same way, please show mercy to us and accept us. Do not leave us.”
yat patyapatya suhridaam anuvrittir anga
streenaam svadharma iti dharmavidaa tvayoktam
astv evam etad upadesha pade tvayeeshe
preshto bhavaan tanubhritaam kila bandhur aatmaa
“O Prabhu, what You have said that a woman’s prescribed duty is to serve her husband, children, and relatives, is indeed perfectly true. Spoken by You, the knower of Dharma, this teaching is fully acceptable to us. Yet You Yourself are the supreme Beloved, the true kinsman, and the very Self of all embodied beings. Therefore, serving You alone is in reality the very root, the true purpose, and the fulfilment of all dharmas.” (Bhagavat 10.29.32)
The gopis said, “What have we to do with husbands, sons, and relatives who are perishable and who can also become causes of sorrow? Therefore, O Prabhu, show us mercy and accept us. Do not break the hope we have cherished for so many years. Until now, our minds remained engaged in household duties, but without any effort on Your part, You have drawn our hearts entirely toward Yourself. Now our feet are no longer willing to leave Your lotus feet and go anywhere else. How, then, can we return to Braj? And even if we do, what shall we do there?”
“O Beloved, Your gentle smile, Your loving glance, and the sound of Your flute have ignited the fire of love for You within our hearts. If You do not soothe it, we shall give up these bodies in the pain of separation and, through meditation alone, attain Your lotus feet.”
The gopis said that they had come seeking refuge at those very feet whose dust even the greatest devas obtain through severe austerities. Whoever has taken shelter of You till now, You have removed their suffering. Now show the same compassion to us. Grant us the opportunity to serve You. Leaving our homes, villages, and families behind, we have come to Your lotus feet with the sole desire to serve You.
Seeing Your beautiful face, Your eyes, Your smile, and Your form, we have all become Yours. In the three worlds, what woman would not be enchanted upon beholding Your form and hearing the sweet sound of Your flute?
We know that just as Bhagwan Narayan protects the devas, in the same way, You have appeared to remove the sorrows of Braj. You are especially compassionate toward the helpless, and we, too, are afflicted. Our hearts burn with longing for union. O Beloved, place Your tender palms upon our heads and our hearts, accept us as Your own, and grant us life itself.
Shukadevji tells Parikshit that Bhagwan Shree Krishna is the Lord even of the great yogis such as Sanak and of supreme yogeshvars like Shiva. When He heard the gopis’ words, filled with sorrow and intense longing, His heart overflowed with compassion.
The Gopis’ Pride and Shree Krishna’s Disappearance
Shukadevji tells Parikshit that although Bhagwan Shree Krishna is Atmaram, fully satisfied within Himself and in need of nothing external, still, out of compassion for the gopis, He smiled and began to do blissful leela lovingly with them.
By His affectionate glances and His darshan, the faces of the gopis blossomed with joy. They gathered around Him from all sides. At that moment, Shree Krishna appeared like the moon surrounded by countless stars. Moving amidst the many groups of gopis, Bhagwan Shree Krishna, adorned with the Vaijayanti garland, wandered through Vrindavan. Then He reached the sacred banks of the Yamuna with the gopis, and there He engaged in loving play with them.
He would extend His hands with affection, embrace them, exchange gentle laughter, and look upon them with tender glances. Through all this, the love of the gopis deepened even more, and they became filled with supreme joy. When Bhagwan thus elevated their love, a subtle feeling of pride arose in their hearts that they were the most special of all. A slight sense of pride entered them. Seeing this, Shree Krishna, wishing to remove their pride and deepen their bliss, suddenly disappeared from among them.
When the gopis could no longer see Shree Krishna, their condition became like that of a herd of she-elephants separated from their leader. Their hearts began to burn in the pain of separation. Shree Krishna’s graceful walk, His sweet smile, His loving glances, His tender words, and His divine leelas had completely captivated their hearts. Immersed in love, the gopis became wholly absorbed in Shree Krishna alone.
They began to imitate His manner of walking, His laughter, His way of speaking, and His gestures. Gradually, they forgot themselves and became coloured entirely in His hue. Their movements, their emotions, and their behaviour all began to resemble His. In that state, as they enacted His leelas, they would say, “I am Shree Krishna.”
The gopis sang His glories aloud and wandered from forest to forest, from creepers to trees, searching for Him. Though Shree Krishna is never far, being present within and without all beings, yet in the intensity of love, unable to behold Him, the gopis asked the trees, creepers, the earth, and even the animals about Him.
Tormented by separation and overwhelmed by intense love, they began to enact Shree Krishna’s leelas themselves, at times the slaying of Putana, Shakatasur, Trinavarta, Bakasur, and Vatsasur; at times the lifting of Govardhan, the subduing of Kaliya, the playing of the flute, and the tender leelas with Yashoda maiya.
In this way, their love, purified through separation, rose to ever-greater depths, and their hearts became nothing but Shree Krishna Himself.
The True Meaning of the Word “Anayaradhito” in the Bhagavat
Thus, absorbed in the ecstasy of love, the gopis became completely filled with Shree Krishna and continued to search for Him while reliving His leelas. At that very moment, they saw Krishna's footprints at a certain place. Speaking among themselves, they said, “Surely these footprints belong to Shyamsundar, for the signs of the flag, lotus, thunderbolt, goad, and barley grain are clearly visible upon them.”
tai staih padais tat padaveem anvichchantyo agrato abalaah
vadhvaah padaih supriktaani vilokya aartaah samabruvan
Searching for Krishna’s path by following those footprints, the distressed Gopis went forward and saw the footprints of a beloved consort (special Gopi) closely mingled with Krishna's. Looking at this, they spoke to one another in grief- (Bhagavat 10.30.26)
- Vadhvaah – In Sanskrit, the root of this word is 'vah' (वह्), which means 'to carry' or 'to lead.' Vadhū literally signifies 'one who is led (to her new home)' or 'a young woman/wife.' In this context, when the Gopis use the word 'वध्वाः' (Vadhvāḥ), they are not necessarily referring to a 'bride' in the midst of a wedding ceremony. Instead, it implies that this particular Gopi is the 'Divine Consort,' the one who belongs uniquely to Krishna.
- Padaih – with the footprints.
- Supriktaani – completely joined, closely aligned, perfectly merged.
The gopis said, “Just as a female elephant walks beside her beloved king-elephant, so too, which most fortunate gopi is this, who walked with Nandanandan Shyamsundar, placing her hand upon His shoulder?”
anaya-araadhito noonam
bhagavaan harir eeshvarah
yanno vihaaya govindah
preeto yaamanayad rahah
“Surely this gopi has worshipped Bhagwan Shree Hari in the most excellent manner. That is why Bhagwan Govind, being pleased, has left us behind and gone with her alone into a secluded place.” (Bhagavat 10.30.28)
- Anaya means “this gopi”, and araadhito means "who has worshipped”.
- It is said that if Shukadevji were to utter the name Radha even once, he would enter samadhi for six months. But Parikshit had only seven days remaining. Therefore, Shukadevji spoke through indication, using the word “anaya-araadhito”, thus pointing toward Shree Radha without breaking the flow of narration.
- In this context, 'Aradhana' (worship) transcends mere ritualistic practice; it signifies the 'pinnacle of divine love.' Shree Radha is the primordial worshiper of Krishna, standing supreme among all who love Him. She is the embodiment of 'Maadanaakhya Mahabhaav, ' the highest state of divine love that exists only in Her (not even Krishna). Thus, the term 'anaya-aradhito' confirms that this Gopi has surely offered such an 'extraordinary worship' to Shree Krishna that He felt compelled to take Her away with Him.
- The word 'preeto' (being pleased) in this verse is a profound signal pointing toward Shree Radha. As the 'Hladini Shakti' (the Bliss-giving Potency) of the Absolute Shaktiman, Shree Radha is the very source of His bliss. Through this Shakti, Krishna bestows bliss upon the entire universe, and it is through this same Shakti that Krishna Himself experiences supreme bliss. Thus, 'preeto' signifies the divine moment where the source of all bliss is Himself pleased by this special Gopi who cannot be anyone else than Shree Radha.
- “Yanno vihaaya” (leaving us behind), Krishna leaves countless gopis and walks with only one. This shows that this Gopi is not an ordinary one, but the crest-jewel (shiromani) among all gopis.
- “Rahah” (into seclusion), Krishna taking her into solitude establishes that their relationship is eternal and intrinsic, not momentary or external. She is not separate from Him; she is His own svarup-shakti.
As the gopis move forward, gazing at Shree Krishna’s footprints, they say, “Look, here the footprints of that Gopi are no longer visible. Surely Shyamsundar, thinking that the grass might hurt her tender feet, lifted her upon His shoulder.”
“See here, Krishna’s footprints sink deeply into the sand. It seems He was carrying a heavy weight. Undoubtedly, He must have seated His beloved upon His shoulder.”
“Look here! Vrajvallabh has set His beloved down to pluck flowers. While reaching upward to gather them, only the marks of His toes are visible; there is no imprint of His heels.”
“And here, it appears that the supreme lover Shree Krishna must have been arranging His beloved’s hair. Surely He sat here to weave the chosen flowers into her braid.”
Thus, immersed in love, having completely lost awareness of themselves, the gopis wander from forest to forest, pointing out Shree Krishna’s footprints to one another, living entirely within His leela.
Summary: JKYog India Online Class- Shreemad Bhagavat Katha [Hindi]- 23.01.2026
