Pariksit Maharaja told Srila Sukadeva Gosvami, “The gopis did not think of Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead or the Supersoul in all hearts. They saw Him as their beloved paramour. In this world, a woman’s relationship with a man who is not her husband is the most degraded thing. How could the gopis have achieved liberation? How could they have been freed from the cycle of birth and death?”
Srila Sukadeva Gosvami became somewhat angry. He said, “I already explained this to you when I discussed the pastime of Sri Prahlada Maharaja:”
Four types of persons were able to approach Krsna, and the main quality they had in common was their absorption in Him. Of the four moods, envy and fear are to be rejected. Even though Kamsa and Sisupala were absorbed in Krsna, their mood was not favorable for Krsna-bhakti. We leave aside these two moods – the mood of Kamsa and Sisupala – and we accept the two remaining moods – the mood of the gopis, and the mood of the Yadus like Arjuna and the cowherd boys like Subala, in friendship. Srila Sukadeva Gosvami replied to Maharaja Pariksit’s question, “Have no doubt. By absorption in the Supreme Lord, one will achieve Him, so why would this not be true of the gopis? The gopis are Krsna’s potency (sakti), and they appeared in the forms of heroines in Krsna’s pastimes.
Srila Sukadeva Gosvami became somewhat angry. He said, “I already explained this to you when I discussed the pastime of Sri Prahlada Maharaja:”
kamad dvesad bhayat snehad
yatha bhaktyesvare manah
avesya tad-agham hitva
bahavas tad-gatim gatah
[“Many, many persons have attained liberation simply by thinking of Krsna with great attention and giving up sinful activities. This great attention may be due to lusty desires, inimical feelings, fear, affection or devotional service. I shall now explain how one receives Krsna's mercy simply by concentrating one's mind upon Him.”Although Sri Krsna is beyond the material senses and un-manifest to the eyes of the unqualified, He appeared here in this world and, by the mercy of Yogamaya, all could see His pastimes. If one can achieve Krsna as Sisupala did, out of envy, or like Kamsa Maharaja out of fear, why can the gopis not achieve Krsna through their love and affection for Him?
(Srimad-Bhagavatam, 7.1.30)]
Four types of persons were able to approach Krsna, and the main quality they had in common was their absorption in Him. Of the four moods, envy and fear are to be rejected. Even though Kamsa and Sisupala were absorbed in Krsna, their mood was not favorable for Krsna-bhakti. We leave aside these two moods – the mood of Kamsa and Sisupala – and we accept the two remaining moods – the mood of the gopis, and the mood of the Yadus like Arjuna and the cowherd boys like Subala, in friendship. Srila Sukadeva Gosvami replied to Maharaja Pariksit’s question, “Have no doubt. By absorption in the Supreme Lord, one will achieve Him, so why would this not be true of the gopis? The gopis are Krsna’s potency (sakti), and they appeared in the forms of heroines in Krsna’s pastimes.
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