p307 _
-chap- _
toc-1 _
p308w _
toc-2 _
+chap+ _
p309
----- bhagap308.html
The Gopis and the stealing of their clothes.
The rains followed the summer and there was a flow of spirit-
uality all around. The autumn followed and it was calm, clear and
transparent.
When the water is pure, transparent and calm and the sun is
over it can anything prevent the reflection of the sun's image on its
bosom? The Gopis drew unto themselves the image of Sri Krishna.
There was no muddiness in them as in ordinary mortals; they had not
the calls of other desires.
It is not till the ear ceases to hear the outside world, that it is
open to the music in the heart, the flute of Sri Krishna.
The Rupa of Krishna becomes manifest when all worldly
Rupas lose their charm.
The Gopis even smelt the divine fragrance of Sri Krishna; they
felt his divine touch and they tasted the honey of Srikrishna's
lips.
The charms of the world all dead and gone, there remains
only one attraction, that of Sri Krishna, the only Purusha in
Vrindavana.
The Gopis now had a right to approach Sri Krishna as their
lover. They became full of Him (tanmayd), and they worshipped
Katyayani (Yoga Maya) to gain their object. (x-2i.) ??
It was then that Sri Krishna stripped them of their clothes
(x-22;. No false shame, no false considerations should now deter the
Gopis. They should lay themselves bare before Sri Krishna. No
hiding, no half speaking. " Virtuous girls, I know your resolve. It is
to worship me. I also approve of it and so it must succeed." This
was the long and short of the whole affair. The Gopis saw they
were found out. So it was to be a matter of open love now.
We shall pass over a few digressions before we come back to
'the Gcpis and the consummation of their love (Rasa Lila).
Vedic Brahmans and their wives.
Those that were under the influence of Vedic Yajnas could
not easily accept the self-sacrificing path of compassion.
The students of Bhagavat Gita know very well that Sri
Krishna raised his voice against Vedic karma and preached the
performance of unselfish karma in its stead. The Vedic Brahm-
anas did not follow Him for a time. But the tide overtook their un-
selfish wives who were attached to the path of unselfishness and
[[308]]
p307 _
-chap- _
toc-1 _
p308w _
toc-2 _
+chap+ _
p309
v?