Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Antya 16.140
The Gopīs Praise the Flute’s Fortune
“ ‘My dear gopīs, what auspicious activities must the flute have performed to enjoy the nectar of Kṛṣṇa’s lips independently and leave only a taste for us gopīs, for whom that nectar is actually meant. The forefathers of the flute, the bamboo trees, shed tears of pleasure. His mother, the river on whose bank the bamboo was born, feels jubilation, and therefore her blooming lotus flowers are standing like hair on her body.’”
What the purport teaches
- As autumn began in Vṛndāvana, Kṛṣṇa was tending the cows and playing His flute. The gopīs began to praise Him and discuss the flute’s fortunate position.
- The gopīs wondered what auspicious activities allowed the flute to enjoy the nectar of Kṛṣṇa’s lips independently, leaving only a taste for them.
- They described the bamboo trees as the flute’s forefathers shedding tears of pleasure. The river, his mother, expressed jubilation through blooming lotus flowers standing like raised hairs.
Try this today
Choose one image from this verse and spend a minute reflecting on the joy it expresses.
Ask yourself
What do the gopīs’ descriptions reveal about how deeply they value contact with 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.