Hare Krsna,
This is yet another beautiful pastime of how Lord Krsna inspires the wives of the brahmanas to go beyond prema. It is conclusively established in the lesson that the wives of the brahmanas were endowed with the greatest prema. (Sārārtha-darśini; SB 10.23.25). Yet Krsna wants the gopis to develop more love and attachment for Him. There are more varieties of love of Godhead beyond prema.
“The nine varieties of prema-bhakti are rati, prema, sneha, māna, praṇaya, rāga, anurāga, bhāva and mahābhāva—attraction, love, affection, adverse feelings, intimacy, attachment, subattachment, ecstatic love and sublime ecstatic love.” (CC Madhya 24.30)
Krsna wants to increase the eagerness of their feeling of separation and unalloyed love. He explains that physical proximity with Him is not the best way to increase their love for Him.
“For you to remain in My bodily association would certainly not please people in this world, nor would it be the best way for you to increase your love for Me. Rather, you should fix your minds on Me, and very soon you will achieve Me.” (SB 10.23.32)
“It is by hearing about Me, seeing My Deity form, meditating upon Me and chanting My names and glories that love for Me develops, not by physical proximity. Therefore please go back to your homes.” (SB 10.23.33)
Basically, Krsna is teaching that devotional service in separation from Him will enhance one’s bhakti and prema. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared to give us exactly that – love in separation. Our Goswamis and acaryas have written many scriptures explaining to us the science of love of Godhead in separation. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu desires that His special mercy be spread throughout the world in this Kali-yuga – prthivite ache yata nagaradi-grama sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama. These are the inner feelings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Sri Rupa Gosvami committed to writing all these feelings of the Lord.
Devotees acknowledge Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s special mercy upon Srila Rupa Gosvami in the following words: sri-caitanya-mano ’bhistam-sthapitam yena bhu-tale svayam rupah kada mahyam dadati sva-padantikam. “When will Srila Rupa Gosvami Prabhupada, who has established within this material world the mission to fulfill the desire of Lord Caitanya, give me shelter under his lotus feet?” The special function of Srila Rupa Gosvami is to establish the feelings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Srila Prabhupada, in line with Srila Rupa Goswami’s desired, provided us a perfect transcendental platform to perform what Sri Krsna says in SB 10.23.33: It is by hearing about Me, seeing My Deity form, meditating upon Me and chanting My names and glories that love for Me develops, not by physical proximity. Therefore please go back to your homes.
Srila Prabhupada has given us Krsna consciousness literatures such as Srimad Bhagavatam to hear from; he has established temples and deities to worship; he has taught us the perfect process to meditate on Krsna; he has brought to us the Holy Name to chant; and he has inspired us to preach and glorify the message of the Supreme Lord. Thus, Srila Prabhupada has perfectly executed the mission and desire of Srila Rupa Goswami (and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu). If we follow these instructions sincerely and seriously with devotion and faith, we can attain love of Godhead as Krsna promises. We do not have to renounce our family and occupation. Arjuna did not have to forsake his family. He just had to follow Krsna’s instruction to fight. Krsna did not want the wives of the brahmanas to leave their fathers, brothers, sons, other relatives or the general populace. What is called for here is not external renunciation, but renunciation from within and full surrender to Krsna. By staying in the world and performing our worldly duties but always meditating on Krsna, we can develop love for Krsna as promised.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Krsna Katha 