Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Madhya 8.93
The Gopīs’ Devotion Cannot Be Repaid
“ ‘When the gopīs were overwhelmed with dissatisfaction due to Lord Kṛṣṇa’s absence from the rāsa-līlā, Kṛṣṇa returned to them and told them, ‘My dear gopīs, our meeting is certainly free of all material contamination. I must admit that in many lives it would be impossible for Me to repay My debt to you because you have cut off the bondage of family life just to search for Me. Consequently I am unable to repay you. Therefore please be satisfied with your honest activities in this regard.’
What the purport teaches
- The gopīs were overwhelmed with dissatisfaction when Kṛṣṇa was absent from the rāsa-līlā. When He returned, He said their meeting was free of all material contamination.
- Kṛṣṇa acknowledged that the gopīs had cut off the bondage of family life just to search for Him.
- He said that even in many lives He could not repay His debt to them. He therefore asked them to be satisfied with their honest activities.
Try this today
Write one sentence about why Kṛṣṇa says He cannot repay the gopīs.
Ask yourself
What moves me about Kṛṣṇa's acknowledgment of the gopīs’ devotion?
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.