Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Ādi 4.152
The Gopīs Long for Uninterrupted Sight
“[The gopīs said:] “O Kṛṣṇa, when You go to the forest during the day and we do not see Your sweet face, which is surrounded by beautiful curling hair, half a second becomes as long as an entire age for us. And we consider the creator, who has put eyelids on the eyes we use for seeing You, to be simply a fool.””
What the purport teaches
- The gopīs speak these words to Kṛṣṇa in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. They describe His sweet face surrounded by beautiful curling hair.
- When Kṛṣṇa goes to the forest during the day, they cannot see Him. Half a second then feels as long as an entire age.
- Even while seeing Kṛṣṇa, they object to the interruption caused by eyelids. They therefore call the creator who made them a fool.
Try this today
Spend a minute rereading the gopīs’ words, noticing their longing both when Kṛṣṇa is away and when He is visible.
Ask yourself
What do the gopīs’ words about time and eyelids reveal about their longing to see Kṛṣṇa?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport; the practice and question are plain words for trying the verse today.