Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Ādi 4.189
Their Joy Lies in Kṛṣṇa’s Joy
“For this contradiction I see only one solution: the joy of the gopīs lies in the joy of their beloved Kṛṣṇa.”
What the purport teaches
- The gopīs do not want personal happiness, yet happiness comes upon them. Their joy lies in the joy of their beloved Kṛṣṇa.
- Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s happiness is limited by the happiness of the gopīs. Devotees at Vṛndāvana therefore try to serve Rādhārāṇī and Her associates.
- By the gopīs’ recommendation, Kṛṣṇa at once accepts a devotee’s service. Lord Caitanya wanted to please the gopīs, but His contemporaries misunderstood Him, and He became a sannyāsī.
Try this today
Write one sentence explaining why devotees seek to serve Rādhārāṇī and Her associates.
Ask yourself
What does the gopīs’ recommendation teach me about the value of their favor?
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.