Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Antya 17.36
Drawn Near, Then Left Helpless
“ ‘The vibration of Your flute, accompanied by Your glance, which pierces us forcibly with the arrows of lust, induces us to ignore the regulative principles of religious life. Thus we become excited by lusty desires and come to You, giving up all shame and fear. But now You are angry with us. You are finding fault with our violating religious principles and leaving our homes and husbands. And as You instruct us about religious principles, we become helpless.
What the purport teaches
- The gopīs said that Kṛṣṇa’s flute and glance pierced them with arrows of lust, drawing them beyond the regulative principles of religious life.
- They came to Him with excited desires, giving up shame and fear and leaving their homes and husbands.
- Yet Kṛṣṇa now found fault with these actions. His instructions about religious principles left them helpless.
Try this today
Write one sentence describing the contrast between Kṛṣṇa drawing the gopīs near and then finding fault with their coming.
Ask yourself
Why did Kṛṣṇa’s instructions leave the gopīs feeling helpless after His flute had drawn them to Him?
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.