Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.12.10
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Gopīs’ Love in Separation
“The residents of Vṛndāvana, headed by the gopīs, were always completely attached to Me with deepest love. Therefore, when My uncle Akrūra brought My brother Balarāma and Me to the city of Mathurā, the residents of Vṛndāvana suffered extreme mental distress because of separation from Me and could not find any other source of happiness.”
What the purport teaches
- When Akrūra took Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma to Mathurā, the residents of Vṛndāvana suffered deeply in separation. Their love was so complete that they found no other source of happiness.
- In Kṛṣṇa’s absence, the gopīs’ consciousness remained completely absorbed in spiritual love. Their expectation of His return revealed their incomparable devotion.
- The gopīs’ Kṛṣṇa consciousness is considered the highest perfectional stage of life. True happiness comes through devotional service in their spirit of giving up everything for the Supreme Lord’s pleasure.
Try this today
Set aside one small personal preference today to make time for devotional service to Kṛṣṇa.
Ask yourself
How can I make the Lord’s pleasure, rather than my own comfort, the purpose of one action today?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.