Shrimad Bhagwat Mahapurana

The Truth - The God

- Smt. Sarita Modi

We have seen the 'Cheer Haran' (picking up the clothes) of the Gopis, the play of the all-pervading, all-knowing Lord, who also gave the 'Cheer' (clothes) to Draupadi in the epic Mahabharata. His plays are mysterious and for the good of living beings, his own creation, his children.

Hanuman Prasad Poddarji, one of the trustees of Gita Press, Gorakhpur, U.P. India, has thrown some light on this misunderstood or not understood play of Lord in His Shri Krishna incarnation. The Lord came with all His arts, and gave pleasure to His true devotees who were performing austerities, for thousands of years for this pure company of the Almighty himself.

Poddarji says, "He made the Gopis surrender totally, no 'if and but' remained. Sadhakas with their Sadhana can prepare oneself for total surrender, but only Bhagwan can complete it. Bhagwan also taught them not to bathe naked. Shree Krishna is the doer, the enjoyer and the witness of all. For Him nothing is there which is not without veil. He is everywhere and the knower of all. He is the soul of the whole world, so wasn't He in the water or in the heart of the Gopis! The Gopis had seen his plays since their childhood and knowing Him as the Lord wanted Him as their husband. This divine play of the Gopis and the Lord is an ideal life for the higher level of Sadhakas. Ordinarily, the mind is limited to the body and cannot understand true love. When the fruits of good Karmas ripen, then by the grace of Shree Bhagwan borders of bondages are destroyed and what remains is pure bliss, pure knowledge.