Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.5.11
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Gopīs’ Eternal Devotion to Kṛṣṇa
“In the ears of the gopīs were brilliantly polished jeweled earrings, and from their necks hung metal lockets. Their hands were decorated with bangles, their dresses were of varied colors, and from their hair, flowers fell onto the street like showers. Thus while going to the house of Mahārāja Nanda, the gopīs, their earrings, breasts and garlands moving, were brilliantly beautiful.”
What the purport teaches
- The beautifully adorned gopīs went to Nanda Mahārāja’s house to welcome Kṛṣṇa. Flowers fell from their hair like showers along the street.
- The gopīs were not ordinary women, but expansions of Kṛṣṇa’s pleasure potency. They are the Lord’s eternal associates.
- The gopīs always worship Kṛṣṇa wherever He goes. The news of His appearance made them especially jubilant, and they came to offer Him their gifts.
Try this today
Take one minute before your devotional practice to remember that its purpose is to please Kṛṣṇa.
Ask yourself
How can the gopīs’ eagerness help me make devotional service my goal?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.