Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Madhya 9.121
The Unique Favor Given to the Gopīs
“ ‘When Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa was dancing with the gopīs in the rāsa-līlā, the gopīs were embraced around the neck by the Lord’s arms. This transcendental favor was never bestowed upon the goddess of fortune or the other consorts in the spiritual world. Nor was such a thing ever imagined by the most beautiful girls in the heavenly planets, girls whose bodily luster and aroma exactly resemble the beauty and fragrance of lotus flowers. And what to speak of worldly women, who may be very, very beautiful according to material estimation?’
What the purport teaches
- During the rāsa-līlā, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa embraced the gopīs around their necks with His arms.
- This transcendental favor was never bestowed upon the goddess of fortune or the other consorts in the spiritual world.
- Even the most beautiful girls in the heavenly planets never imagined such a favor. What, then, to speak of worldly women considered very beautiful by material estimation?
Try this today
Reread the description of Kṛṣṇa’s embrace and note the contrast between this transcendental favor and material beauty.
Ask yourself
How does this verse distinguish the favor given to the gopīs from beauty measured by material standards?
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.