Hare Krsna,
The Vraja gopis’ separation from Krsna in this lesson is a great lesson on humility. Gopi-bhava refers to the extraordinary loving sentiments manifest in the hearts and demeanor of the gopis of Vrajadham, Sri Vrindavan. Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, ramyā kācid upāsanā vraja-vadhu-vargeṇa yā kalpitā (Caitanya-manjusa): there is no more better worship than what was conceived by the gopīs. So gopīs are the topmost devotees. There is no comparison with the devotion of the gopīs.
But here we see the gopis’ extreme humility and lamentation in separation from Krsna. They are all situated in madhurya-rasa (the highest rasa) – the most coveted rasa among the Gaudiya Vaisanavas – and still they think they are the most unfortunate. Rather they praise the devotees situated in other rasas about their good fortune to see and serve Krsna. There is not a tinge of pride in the gopis. They are the living manifestation of ‘trnad api sunicena’ principle.
The gopis praise the bucks and the does (husband and wife deers) because not only are they attracted by the dress of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, but as soon as they hear the playing of the flute, they deer offer respectful obeisances unto the Lord by looking at Him with great affection. The gopīs thought themselves not so fortunate because whenever they wanted to go to Kṛṣṇa, their husbands were not very happy. The deer may be considered situated in santa-rasa. (SB 10.21.11)
The gopis never think, “Oh! Krsna belongs to us. He will come to us eventually. Do not worry. Let’s get on with our chores.” No, they don’t think like that. They are in extreme separation from Krsna as if their life depends on Him.
Next the gopis praise the demi-goddesses and demigods. They may be considered situated in dasya-rasa. The gopis are amazed that even the demi-goddesses become mad after Kṛṣṇa seeing His exquisite form and sterling qualities. (SB 10.21.12)
Next the gopis praise the cows and calves because even they know how to cry for Kṛṣṇa and embrace Him heart to heart. They know the transcendental art of hearing the sweet sound of Kṛṣṇa’s flute. (SB 10.21.13)
Srila Prabhupada says in Nectar of Devotion 9 that “One should learn how to cry for the Lord. One should learn this small technique, and he should be very eager and actually cry to become engaged in some particular type of service. This is called laulyam, and such tears are the price for the highest perfection. If one develops this laulyam, or excessive eagerness for meeting and serving the Lord in a particular way, that is the price to enter into the kingdom of God.”
The gopis are marveling that the cows and calves have unalloyed pure love for Kṛṣṇa because they can meet Kṛṣṇa. The cows can be considered situated in vatyalsa-rasa.
It is said that an uttama adhikari devotee thinks that, except for himself/herself, everyone else is a pure devotee of Krsna. This is the same mood manifested by the gopis. They think that all other living entities have unalloyed love for Krsna. They compare the birds to munis (sages) because they live in the forest, keep their eyes closed, observe silence and remain motionless. They say thateven the branches of the trees are transformed in ecstasy when struck by the vibration of Kṛṣṇa’s flute-song, and begin to sprout new leaves out of ecstasy.
Next the gopis praise the river Yamuna because she, “being desirous to embrace the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa after hearing the transcendental vibration of His flute, broke her fierce waves to flow very nicely with lotus flowers in her hands, just to present flowers to Mukunda with deep feeling.” (SB 10.21.15)
Next the gopis praise the clouds because it constructed out of his own body, with its multitude of flower-like droplets of water, an umbrella to shield Krsna and Balarama from the intense heat of the sun. In this way the cloud gives pleasure to Kṛṣṇa, but they (the gopis) do not get an opportunity to please Him. The clouds can be considered situated in sakhya-bhava. (SB 10.21.16)
“Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had assumed the mood of the gopīs, so much so that everywhere He looked He saw Kṛṣṇa standing with His flute to His lips. Absorbed in the ecstatic mood of the gopīs, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu wandered here and there. He began to inquire after Kṛṣṇa by quoting verses to all the trees and creepers.” (CC Antya 14.32 and CC Antya 15.31)
In this connection, one prayer by Rūpa Gosvāmī is sufficient to exemplify this hopefulness. He says, “I have no love for Kṛṣṇa nor for the causes of developing love of Kṛṣṇa—namely, hearing and chanting. And the process of bhakti-yoga, by which one is always thinking of Kṛṣṇa and fixing His lotus feet in the heart, is also lacking in me. As far as philosophical knowledge or pious words are concerned, I don’t see any opportunity for me to execute such activities. But above all, I am not even born of a nice family. Therefore I must simply pray to You, Gopī-jana-vallabha (Kṛṣṇa, maintainer and beloved of the gopīs). I simply wish and hope that some way or other I may be able to approach Your lotus feet, and this hope is giving me pain, because I think myself quite incompetant to approach that transcendental goal of life.” The purport is that under this heading of āśā-bandha, one should continue to hope against hope that some way or other he will be able to approach the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord. (Nectar of Devotion, 18)
In this way, the gopis are teaching us that we should never consider ourselves advanced devotees but rather should think that we are not devotees at all. Everyone has love for Krsna except us. In line with Mahaprabhu’s teachings, we should remain humble always and remember Krsna in separation.
The gopis’ mood is very relevant to me personally because they lament that they are not able to see and meet Krsna because of being held back in their homes due to responsibilities towards their husband, children and family. But still, they are able to remember Krsna every moment. I am also unable to serve Krsna consistently due to job and other responsibilities. Thus, the gopis example is a great example of serving Krsna in remembrance.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Krsna Katha 