Hare Kṛṣṇa,
This chapter and lesson contain multiple layers of profound philosophical insights woven together.
There is an important lesson on how pride is not a desirable quality in bhakti. Srimati Radharani, like the other gopis, was also intoxicated with pride over Her good fortune on associating with Kṛṣṇa alone. This is when Kṛṣṇa disappeared to enhance the separation.
Another philosophical point that stands out it that “even though Kṛṣṇa is self-satisfied, He enjoyed with Radha because His own pleasure increases in Her company. In other words, Kṛṣṇa does not experience the same happiness in His own self-satisfaction as He does in association with Radhika… Kṛṣṇa takes great effort to eagerly enjoy with Radha because He does not obtain the same happiness from His inner self-satisfaction (atmarama)” (SB 10.30.34, Sārārtha-darśini). Similarly, we living entities can assist Kṛṣṇa in giving Him pleasure and enhancing His enjoyment. In the Vedas it is stated that the one becomes many (eko bahu syām). The Supreme Personality of Godhead expands Himself in various forms — viṣṇu-tattva, jīva-tattva and śakti-tattva.
There is also a deeply rasik point where “Kṛṣṇa acted as He did to show rasikas (those who can understand and taste transcendental mellows) that the man becomes subservient in pleading for satisfaction and the woman responds by showing reluctance. This is all done for the nourishment of rasa.” (SB 10.30.34, Sārārtha-darśini).
“If both lovers show the same nature of being cooperative or uncooperative, there can be no tasting of rasa. Rasa becomes tasteful when it properly follows the emotions of the woman.” (SB 10.30.38, Sārārtha-darśini).
I think this is an important philosophical point to understand in order to appreciate the pastime of the rasa dance.
Then there is another key takeaway where Kṛṣṇa behaved the way He behaved in order to glorify the greatness of Radharani’s love for Him. Her love for Krsna does not diminish even when She feels separation from Him.
“These gopis have perceived the greatness of Radha’s good fortune when She is embracing Me. Now let the other gopis see the exceptional condition Radha attains in separation from Me.” (SB 10.30.38, Sārārtha-darśini)
I believe this is the same greatness of Radharani’s love that Kṛṣṇa wanted to taste in His incarnation as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
“Desiring to understand the glory of Rādhārāṇī’s love, the wonderful qualities in Him that She alone relishes through Her love, and the happiness She feels when She realizes the sweetness of His love, the Supreme Lord Hari, richly endowed with Her emotions, appeared from the womb of Śrīmatī Śacī-devī, as the moon appeared from the ocean.”(CC Adi 1.6)
Then there is Kṛṣṇa’s masterstroke where He changed the gopis attitude and brought them all to the same level of mood to inaugurate the rasa dance.
“Let the subterranean fire of Radha’s separation from Me later ignite the flame of separation in all of them. Then, when Radha has experienced the fullness of both direct union and separation, this sweet mellow of conjugal love will have become complete. When by My expertise I have made Radha feel separation, then after My dispelling all Her pain of separation, all the gopis will share the same mood, and I will be able to properly inaugurate the rasa dance tonight. Otherwise, if I were to appear in front of the other gopis after having enjoyed privately with only Radha, their minds would not be settled.” (SB 10.30.38, Sārārtha-darśini)
“The nature of the conjugal rasa is that enmity and hatred among competitors turns into affection when they all experience the disturbance of separation from Kṛṣṇa. The scripture says in this regard: “separation reveals externally a spontaneous affection in their hearts.” (SB 10.30.40, Sārārtha-darśini)
Finally, there is beautiful evidence of the greatness of Srimati Radharani’s love where She pleads to Her Lord to save Her life, not for Her sake but rather for Kṛṣṇa’s.
Radha: “But You are My dearmost (preṣṭha). I will feel Your unhappiness millions of times more than You. Even if I’ve already died, I still will not be able to tolerate the pain that even one spot on the nails of Your lotus feet may experience. Indeed, to prevent such pain I am ready to throw My life away millions and millions of times. Kindly show Yourself and drive away that unhappiness.” (SB 10.30.39, Sārārtha-darśini)
There is also a demonstration of Radha’s utter humility where She blames Herself for separating Kṛṣṇa from the other gopis.
“Neglecting all of You, who have thousands of times more love for Him than Me, and causing you to burn in the fire of separation from Him, Kṛṣṇa enjoyed with Me alone…That was My hard-heartedness, for by saying this I have obtained such dishonor. In this way My mind fell into the greatest sorrow for two reasons (His wickedness and Mine). Radha thus exhibited enmity toward Her lover, humility before the gopis, and wretchedness toward Herself.” (SB 10.30.41, Sārārtha-darśini)
Finally, there is the philosophical point where the Vraja-gopis establish the philosophical conclusion that Kṛṣṇa reveals Himself according to His free will. He is fully independent and will reveal Himself only to the person whom He chooses. “In other words, only by Kṛṣṇa’s mercy can we see Him. By chanting His name, we will surely attain Kṛṣṇa’s mercy.” (SB 10.30.44, Sārārtha-darśini)
Therefore, the best we can do, whether in union or separation, is to chant the Holy Name of Sri Sri Radha Krsna (the Hare-Krsna mahamantra) while meditating on this beautiful and extremely deep pastime.
There are so many deep and spiritually nourishing conclusions in this chapter—each inviting us to ponder, reflect, and deepen our meditation on the Lord’s pastimes.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Krsna Katha 