Honey of Krishna's Service

2013-06-18
Srimad Bhagavatam 10-21-07 - Honey of Krishna's Service (download mp3)
Jagannath Prabhu ISKCON Chowpatty
www.iskcondesiretree.net




SB 10.21.7
sri-gopya ucuh
aksanvatam phalam idam na param vidamah
 sakhyah pasun anuvivesayator vayasyaih
vaktram vrajesa-sutayor anavenu-justam
 yair va nipitam anurakta-kataksa-moksam

Translation:
The cowherd girls said: O friends, those eyes that see the beautiful faces of the sons of Maharaja Nanda are certainly fortunate. As these two sons enter the forest, surrounded by Their friends, driving the cows before Them, They hold Their flutes to Their mouths and glance lovingly upon the residents of Vrndavana. For those who have eyes, we think there is no greater object of vision.

Purport:
This translation is quoted from Srila Prabhupada’s Caitanya-caritamrta (Adi-lila 4.155).

Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura has commented as follows: “The gopis meant to say, ‘O friends, if you simply remain in the shackles of family life in this material world, what will you ever get to see? The creator has granted us these eyes, so let us see the most wonderful thing there is to see, Krsna.’”

The gopis were aware that their mothers or other elder persons might hear their romantic words and disapprove, and thus they said, aksanvatam phalam: “To see Krsna is the goal for all persons and not simply ourselves.” In other words, the gopis indicated that since Krsna is the supreme object of love for everyone, why couldn’t they also love Him in spiritual ecstasy?

According to the acaryas, a different gopi spoke this and each of the following verses (through text 19).