Swami Prakashanand Saraswati explains how Krishn’s divine presence on earth was accompanied by saints who shared His divine consciousness. Their love and unity with Krishn were beyond material experience, revealing the depth of selfless devotion.
According to Prakashanand Saraswati..
The Narad Bhakti Sutra says, तस्मिंस्तानेभेदाभावात्।
Tasmins means Krishn, or Godhead Personality in any form. Tajjanah, the one who has received the power of God from God and has become equal to God, is called a Divine personality. So, the Divine personality and Divine Krishn are on one level. They know and experience each other because they have become one from inside, yet they are visible in two forms. So, there is a form of God which can be perceived. With Krishn’s Grace you can experience whatever Krishn is.
When Krishn appeared on this earth 5,000 years ago, He didn’t come alone. He came with millions of Saints from His abode. He transferred a part of His Divine abode onto this material plane. So for a period of about 100 years, the inhabitants of the whole district were only Saints. Krishn appeared there because He could not play with material beings. He came with millions of Saints who stayed on this earth for a period of a hundred years and then He went back to His Divine abode along with all of His associates.
When Krishn was on this earth He played, He loved, He worked, He was born and grew up, but everything He did was Divine. There were Gopis, maidens of Braj, whose experience was the highest. There were Gwalbals, the playmates of Krishn, and Mother Yashoda who also experienced the charm of Krishn. All of the people who were in Braj in those days were all one with Krishn. What were they experiencing? Only they knew.
But when we read the history of how the Gopis expressed their feelings of selfless love in separation from Krishn, we can imagine a little about that.
यहबीचसमुझेपरतनहिंनेकहूंकाहकेप्राणकीदोए।
A Gopi says, “When I try to understand who dwells in my heart, I can’t decide. Sometimes I am seeing only Krishn in my heart, and I forget myself. So, I can’t decide if we both, or just myself, or only Krishn lives in my heart. And this situation always remains – while sleeping, while walking, while talking, while working in the house, while going out; all the time it is like this.” This is just an expression of unity with Krishn and Krishn’s love.
Take another expression. Krishn stayed for twelve years with the Gopis. After that, He went to Mathura and did not go back. He sent Uddhao to the Gopis. Uddhao and the Gopis were talking to each other. A Gopi said,
उधोजनिकहियोकछुश्याम।
“Uddhao, I am longing for Krishn every moment, but don’t tell this to Krishn. If He asks, ‘How are the Gopis?” say, ‘They are all right,’ because if you tell Him that we are in distress, He will feel sad. I don’t want to see Him sad or sorry. I want to see Him happy, cheerful, and smiling. My life is only for His happiness. So when you go back to Krishn, if you have to say something, just say such things with which Krishn will feel happy. Don’t say anything which could make Him feel sorry.” This leela reveals the state of Gopis selfless love.
Conclusion:
The Gopis’ love for Krishn exemplifies the highest form of selfless devotion, where their only desire was His happiness. Swami Prakashanand Saraswati emphasizes that true, selfless divine love unites the devotee and God in an eternal bond.