# The Gopis *Vrindavan Associates* **See also:** [[artwork/personalities/krsna|Krishna]] | [[artwork/personalities/radha|Radharani]] **85 images** --- <h3>Balarama Fights Dvivida</h3> ![[0223_KB2-65.jpg]] *With enormous force, Balarāma struck Dvivida's collarbone with His fists, a blow that proved fatal to the troublesome gorilla.* <h3>Radha and Krsna and the Gopis</h3> ![[0022_TLC-10.jpg]] <h3>Radha and Krsna and Their Gopis</h3> ![[0026_SB-9_1_6.jpg]] *In Vṛndāvana, although Lord Kṛṣṇa is full in Himself, He wants the cooperation of His devotees, such as the gopīs, to increase His transcendental bliss. These devotees are most dear to Him.* <h3>The Gopis in the Madness of Separation</h3> ![[0027_TLC-24.jpg]] *“Lord Caitanya mistook a garden for Vṛndāvana and very quickly entered it. Absorbed in ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa, He wandered through the garden in the mood of the gopīs. After Kṛṣṇa disappeared with Rādhārāṇī during the rāsa dance, the gopīs wandered in the forest looking for Him. The gopīs said, ‘O cūta tree, priyāla tree, panasa, āsana and kovidāra! O jambū tree, O arka tree, O bel, bakula and mango! O kadamba tree, O nīpa tree and all other trees living on the bank of the Yamunā for the welfare of others, please let us know where Kṛṣṇa has gone. We have lost our minds and are almost dead. O tulasī! O mālatī! O yūthī, mādhavī and mallikā! Kṛṣṇa is very dear to you. Therefore He must have come near you. You are all just like dear friends to us. Kindly tell us which way Kṛṣṇa has gone and save our lives!’”* <h3>Radha-Govinda in Vrndavana</h3> ![[0028_TLC-3.jpg]] *Among the many transcendental lovers of Kṛṣṇa, the gopīs [cowherd girls of Vṛndāvana are the best, and among the gopīs Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is the best.* <h3>Krsna Lifts Govardhana Hill</h3> ![[0035_SB-3-2-2.jpg]] *Lord Kṛṣṇa exhibits His supernatural power by lifting the Govardhana Hill.* <h3>Radha-Krsna and Four Gopis</h3> ![[0039_Misc-Kim-M-2.jpg]] <h3>The Gopis Imitate Krsna's Pastimes</h3> ![[0044_SB-1-2-9.jpg]] *The gopīs imitated the characteristic movements of the Lord.* <h3>Radha, Krsna, and the Gopis on a Boat</h3> ![[0045_SB-1-1-15.jpg]] *The Lord's pastimes with the gopīs are displays of His transcendental existence, bliss, and knowledge.* <h3>Krsna Plays His Flute for the Gopis</h3> ![[0045_SB-1-2-8.jpg]] *Kṛṣṇa's deep loving attitude attracted the damsels of Vrajadhāma.* <h3>Radha-Krsna and the Principal Gopis</h3> ![[0048_SB-10-6-2.jpg]] *In the Sanskrit classic Brahma-saṁhitā, Lord Brahmā, the first created being in the universe, states, “I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who resides in His own realm, Goloka, with Rādhā, who resembles His own spiritual figure and who embodies the ecstatic potency hlādinī. Their companions are Her confidantes, who embody extensions of Her bodily form and who are imbued and permeated with ever-blissful spiritual rasa.” The gopīs assist Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa in Their transcendental pastimes, expertly using their talents to increase the Divine Couple’s spiritual pleasure.* <h3>The Gopis Comfort Radha</h3> ![[0049_SB-UP!!.jpg]] <h3>Krsna and Balarama Steal Butter From the Gopis</h3> ![[0050_SB-10-2-8.jpg]] *EN KB 2018 one-vol: The cowherd women of Vṛndāvana complained to Mother Yaśodā that Kṛṣṇa and His brother Balarāma would secretly enter their homes to steal the yogurt and butter they stored in pots hanging from the ceiling.* <h3>The Reunion</h3> ![[0051_IS-4.jpg]] *When the gopīs saw that their dearmost Kṛṣṇa had returned to them, they became ecstatic, and out of their affection for Him their eyes bloomed wide. It was as if the air of life had reentered their bodies.* <h3>Radha-Krsna and the Gopis</h3> ![[0051_SB-6-3-3.jpg]] <h3>The Rasa Dance</h3> ![[0053_SB-10-6-11.jpg]] *EN KB 2018 one-vol: Kṛṣṇa expanded Himself into many identical forms to enjoy His rāsa dance with the gopīs. In the company of those supremely beautiful cowherd girls, who worshiped Him with pure devotion, Lord Kṛṣṇa appeared like a greenish sapphire locket in the midst of a golden necklace decorated with valuable stones.* <h3>Krsna and the Gopis Bathe in the Yamuna</h3> ![[0053_SB-10-6-12.jpg]] *After the rāsa dance, Kṛṣṇa entered the water of the Yamunā River with the gopīs in order to dispel their fatigue, and soon the Lord found Himself being splashed on all sides by His laughing consorts.* <h3>Sankhacuda Slain</h3> ![[0053_SB-10-6-14.jpg]] *Lord Kṛṣṇa chased after Śaṅkhacūḍa, swiftly approached him, and with a blow of His fist removed the demon's head.* <h3>The Gopis Think of Krsna in Separation</h3> ![[0056_SB-10-6-15.jpg]] <h3>The Gopis Block the Path of Akrura's Chariot</h3> ![[0062_SB-10-7-5.jpg]] <h3>Krsna Brings the Cows Home in the Evening</h3> ![[0067_BG--27.jpg]] *8.21: Kṛṣṇa brings His thousands of <i>surabhi</i> cows home at the end of the day. “That which the Vedāntists describe as unmanifest and infallible, that which is know as the supreme destination, that place from which, having attained it, one never returns – that is My supreme abode.”* <h3>Sankhacuda Kidnaps the Gopis</h3> ![[0085_SB-2-2-11.jpg]] *A demon of the name Śaṅkhacūḍa tried to kidnap Kṛṣṇa's cowherd damsels.* <h3>Krsna Steals the Garments of the Unmarried Gopis</h3> ![[0086_SB-10-5-2.jpg]] *EN KB 2018 one-vol: One after another the gopīs came out of the water, shivering and trying to cover their nakedness with their hands. Their simple presentation was so pure that Lord Kṛṣṇa immediately became pleased with them. All the unmarried gopīs had prayed to goddess Kātyāyanī to have Kṛṣṇa as their husband, and in this way they were satisfied. Nothing can compare with the Kṛṣṇa consciousness of the gopīs.* <h3>The Gopis Watch Krsna Depart for the Forest</h3> ![[0088-BTG--14-2-3.jpg]] <h3>Krsna and the Cowherd Boys Return to Vrndavana</h3> ![[0088-SB-1-3-f.c.-NEjpg.jpg]] <h3>0092/NOD Nanda Yasoda</h3> ![[0092_NOD-Nanda-Yasoda.jpg]] *Vātsalya-rasa (Parenthood): “Mahārāja Nanda addressed his wife, 'My dear Yaśodā, how wonderful Kṛṣṇa looks, and how He is increasing my transcendental bliss more and more!;" Kṛṣṇa is the supreme enjoyer, and He takes pleasure in all the varieties of love offered to Him by His devotees. He sometimes lets His confidential devotees think of Him as their son and enjoys their parental affection.* <h3>Krsna Runs Into Yasoda's Arms</h3> ![[0093_KB1-25-pg.117.jpg]] *Returning home, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma were welcomed by Their affectionate mothers.* <h3>The First Janmastami</h3> ![[0093_KB1-4-pg.38.jpg]] *The joyous vibrations at Kṛṣṇa's birth ceremony could be heard in all the pasturing grounds and houses.* <h3>Krsna Pulled by a Calf</h3> ![[0094_KB1-14-pg.59.jpg]] *Yaśodā and Rohiṇī would call all their neighboring friends to see the fun.* <h3>Krsna Steals the Gopis Garments</h3> ![[0095_KB1-31-pg.154.jpg]] *Due to remaining in the water for a long time, the gopīs felt cold and were shivering.* <h3>Gopi Mothers Churning Butter</h3> ![[0095_KB1-15-pg.61.jpg]] *The darling of Vraja.* <h3>Krsna Kicks the Household Cart</h3> ![[0095_KB1-8-pg.52.jpg]] *No one could ascertain the cause of the cart's falling.* <h3>Rasa Dancing</h3> ![[0097_KB1-pg.214.jpg]] *It appeared that Kṛṣṇa was a greenish sapphire locket in the midst of a golden necklace.* <h3>Radha-Krsna and the Gopis on a Lotus Boat</h3> ![[0123_KB1-37--pg190.jpg]] *Kṛṣṇa, the supreme enjoyer, desired to enjoy the company of the gopīs.* <h3>Radha Talks to a Bumblebee</h3> ![[0140_KB1-52--pg299.jpg]] *"Bumblebee, you are the unreliable servant of an unreliable master."* <h3>Lord Balarama's Rasa Dance</h3> ![[0140_KB2-10--pg78.jpg]] *Balarāma passed every night with the gopīs in the forest of Vṛndāvana.* <h3>Lifting Govardhana Hill</h3> ![[0142_KB1-26.jpg]] *Az Úr Kṛṣṇa ötezer évvel ezelőtt, vṛndāvanai kedvtelései során felemelte a Govardhana-hegyet, s hét napon át tartotta a magasban, hogy megvédelmezze Vṛndāvana lakóit a rettentő esőtől, amelyet Indra, a félistenek királya küldött ellenük.* <h3>Krsna and the Gopis Enjoy Pastimes in a Boat</h3> ![[0142_KB1-28_1984_--KA128.jpg]] <h3>The Gopis Block Akrura's Chariot</h3> ![[0142_KB1-46--pg254.jpg]] *"O dear Dāmodara, dear Mādhava!"* <h3>Srimati Radharani Speaks to a Bumblebee</h3> ![[0144_SB-10_3_1--NE.jpg]] *Uddhava went to Vṛndāvana with Kṛṣṇa's message to the gopīs. Rādhārāṇī, however, was so much absorbed in thoughts of Kṛṣṇa that She began to talk with a bumblebee flying here and there, taking him to be Kṛṣṇa's messenger. “Bumblebee, you are accustomed to drinking honey from flower to flower and therefore have preferred to be a messenger of Kṛṣṇa, who is of the same nature. You have come here with a message for Me. But My dear bumblebee, I don’t want it. You are the unreliable servant of an unreliable master.”* <h3>Krsna and the Gopis Meet for the Rasa Dance</h3> ![[0151_NKL-11.jpg]] <h3>The Divine Couple Amid the Gopis</h3> ![[0153_KB1-40--pg215.jpg]] *Mohana Mādhurī.* <h3>The Butter Thieves</h3> ![[0157_QK-11.jpg]] *“In enjoying Kṛṣṇa’s attitude of stealing butter very stealthily, Mother Yaśodā experienced the ecstasy of maternal love.” All Kṛṣṇa’s devotees experience their own unique sentiments of ecstatic love for Him, and the Lord performs different pastimes to enhance their particular relationships.* <h3>Seeing Aristasura, the Gopis Embrace Tamala Trees</h3> ![[0158_NOD-p240.jpg]] *“Seeing the fearful giant bull, the gopīs, due to the madness of love, embrace the tamāla trees, which resemble Kṛṣṇa’s bodily hue.” The gopīs are the most intimate devotees of Kṛṣṇa and exhibit highest love of God. Sometimes the intensity of their love causes them to act in transcendental madness.* <h3>Jatila Chases Abhimanyu From His Own Door</h3> ![[0159_NOD--534.jpg]] *“Kṛṣṇa playfully impersonates Abhimanyu, the so-called husband of Rādhārāṇī.” As part of His confidential amorous pastimes, Kṛṣṇa sometimes acts in joking ways to increase the love of the gopīs.* <h3>Krsna in the Coils of the Kaliya Serpent</h3> ![[0159_NOD--535.jpg]] *“When Kṛṣṇa was chastising Kāliya Nāga in the Yamunā River, the big snake wrapped his coils all over Kṛṣṇa’s body.” Kṛṣṇa performed this pastime in order to increase the ecstatic spiritual emotions of His devotees, who felt unlimited transcendental anxiety for His safety. In the spiritual world, devotees experience all varieties of emotions.* <h3>Srimati Radharani, the Topmost Gopi</h3> ![[0160_UP--288.jpg]] <h3>Yasoda Finds Krsna Safe on Trnavarta's Dead Body</h3> ![[0169_UP--47.jpg]] <h3>Krsna Sports with the Gopis</h3> ![[0171_UP--63.jpg]] <h3>Radha and Krsna on a Swing</h3> ![[0172_UP--64.jpg]] <h3>Krsna Calls the Gopis to the Rasa Dance</h3> ![[0186_UP--174.jpg]] <h3>The Gopis Imitate Krsna's Pastimes</h3> ![[0187_UP--185.jpg]] *When Kṛṣṇa suddenly disappeared from the company of the gopīs, they began to search for Him everywhere. Not finding Him, they became almost mad after Him, thinking of His pastimes in great love. Being so absorbed in thought of Him, and with dampened eyes, they began to imitate His dancing, walking, and smiling, as if they themselves were Kṛṣṇa. Due to Kṛṣṇa’s absence they all became crazy; each of them told the others that she was Kṛṣṇa. Soon they assembled and chanted Kṛṣṇa’s name loudly as they moved from one part of the forest to another in searching of Him.* <h3>Krsna Meets the Gopis at Kuruksetra</h3> ![[0196_UP--279.jpg]] <h3>Krsna and the Cowherd Boys Leave for the Forest</h3> ![[0203_Adi-1-9.jpg]] *EN CC Adi 1 1974: In Gokula, Kṛṣṇa performs His pastimes with the cowherd boys and cowherd girls.* <h3>Krsna Meets the Gopis at Kuruksetra</h3> ![[Adi-1-7.jpg]] *EN CC Adi 1 1974, 1996: The gopīs saw their beloved Kṛṣṇa at Kurukṣetra after a long separation.* <h3>Navadvipa and Goloka Vrndavana</h3> ![[Adi-1-8.jpg]] *EN CC Adi 1 1974: Lord Caitanya appeared with the sentiment of Rādhā and preached the chanting of the holy name.* <h3>Radha, Krsna, and Lalita</h3> ![[Antya-1-4.jpg]] *EN CC Antya 1 1996: “O most beautiful friend,” said Lalitādevī to Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, “please accept the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is standing before You full of transcendental bliss.”* <h3>Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Dreams of the Rasa Dance</h3> ![[Antya-4-4.jpg]] *“One day while He was resting. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu dreamed He saw Kṛṣṇa performing His rāsa dance. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw Lord Kṛṣṇa standing with His beautiful body curved in three places, holding His flute to His lips. Wearing yellow garments and garlands of forest flowers. He was enchanting even to Cupid. The gopīs were dancing in a circle, and in the middle of that circle, Kṛṣṇa, the son of Mahārāja Nanda, danced with Rādhārāṇī. Seeing this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was overwhelmed with the transcendental mellow of the rāsa dance, and He thought, ‘Now I am with Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana.’”* <h3>Lord Caitanya Joins the Radha-Krsna and the Gopis on Govardhana Hill</h3> ![[Antya-4-8.jpg]] *EN CC Antya 4 1975: “When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw all the Vaiṣṇavas, He returned to partial external consciousness and spoke to Svarūpa Dāmodara. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, ‘Who has brought Me here from Govardhana Hill? I was seeing Lord Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes, but now I cannot see them. Today I went from here to Govardhana Hill to find out if Kṛṣṇa was tending His cows there. I saw Lord Kṛṣṇa climbing Govardhana Hill and playing His flute, surrounded on all sides by grazing cows. Hearing the vibration of Kṛṣṇa’s flute, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī and all Her gopī friends came there to meet Him. They were all very nicely dressed. When Kṛṣṇa and Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī entered a cave together, the other gopīs asked Me to pick some flowers. Just then, all of you made a tumultuous sound and carried Me from there to this place. Why have you brought Me here, causing Me unnecessary pain? I had a chance to see Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes, but I could not see them.’”* <h3>The Flute-song Carries Lord Caitanya to Vrndavana</h3> ![[Antya-5-3.jpg]] *“Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stood up, and then sat down again. Looking here and there, He inquired from Svarūpa Dāmodara, ‘Where have you brought Me? After hearing the vibration of a flute, I went to Vṛndāvana, and there I saw that Kṛṣṇa, the son of Mahārāja Nanda, was playing on His flute in the pasturing grounds. He brought Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī to a bower by signaling with His flute. Then He entered that bower to perform pastimes with Her. I entered the bower just behind Kṛṣṇa, My ears captivated by the sound of His ornaments. I saw Kṛṣṇa and the gopīs enjoying all kinds of pastimes while laughing and joking together. Hearing their vocal expressions enhanced the joy of My ears. Just then, all of you made a tumultuous sound and brought Me back here by force. Because you brought Me back here, I could no longer hear the nectarean voices of Kṛṣṇa and the gopīs, nor could I hear the sounds of their ornaments or the flute.’”* <h3>Caitanya Mahaprabhu Describes Krsna's Water Pastimes</h3> ![[Antya-5-5.jpg]] *In half-external consciousness, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu described to His intimate associates His vision of Lord Kṛṣṇa enjoying pastimes in the Yamunā with the gopīs.* <h3>Sri Caitanya Sees a Picnic</h3> ![[Antya-5-6.jpg]] *EN CC Antya 5 1975: “Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued to describe His pastimes with Lord Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana: ‘In Vṛndāvana, the trees and creepers are wonderful because throughout the entire year they produce all kinds of fruits and flowers. The gopīs and maidservants in the bowers of Vṛndāvana pick these fruits and flowers and bring them before Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. The gopīs peeled all the fruits and placed them together on large plates on a platform in the jeweled cottage. They arranged the fruit in orderly rows for eating, and in front of it they made a place to sit. Among the fruits were many varieties of coconut and mango, bananas, berries, jackfruits, dates, tangerines, oranges, blackberries, santarās, grapes, almonds and all kinds of dried fruit. There were cantaloupes, kṣirikās, palm fruits, keśuras, water fruits, lotus fruits, bael, pīlu, pomegranate and many others. Some of them are variously known in different places, but in Vṛndāvana they are always available in so many thousands of varieties that no one can fully describe them. At home Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī had made various types of sweetmeats from milk and sugar, such as gaṅgājala, amṛtakeli, pīyuṣagranthi, karpūrakeli, sarapūrī, amṛti, padmacini and kaṇḍa-kṣirisāravṛkṣa. She had then brought them all for Kṛṣṇa. When Kṛṣṇa saw the very nice arrangement of food, He happily sat down and had a forest picnic.’”* <h3>Lord Caitanya in the Madness of Separation from Krsna</h3> ![[Antya-5-7.jpg]] *EN CC Antya 5 1975: “As His feelings of separation in the ecstasy of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī increased at every moment. Lord Caitanya’s activities, both day and night, were now wild, insane performances. Suddenly there awoke within Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu the scene of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s departure to Mathurā, and He began exhibiting the symptom of ecstatic madness known as udghūrṇā. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu spoke like a madman, holding Rāmananda Rāya by the neck, and He questioned Svarūpa Dāmodara, thinking him to be His gopī friend. Just as Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī inquired from Her personal friend Viśākhā, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began speaking like a madman.”* <h3>Art 0001/Mad 5-9</h3> ![[Mad-5-9.jpg]] <h3>Art 0062/0062/SB 1-1 f.c. (NE)</h3> ![[0062_SB-1-1-f.c.-(NE).jpg]] <h3>Art 0094/0094/SB 9-3-7</h3> ![[0094_SB-9-3-7.jpg]] <h3>Art 0095/0095/BTG cover 15-10</h3> ![[0095_BTG-cover--15-10.jpg]] <h3>Art 0106/0106/KB1-52 pg.299</h3> ![[0106_KB1-52-pg.299.jpg]] <h3>Art 0140/0140/KB1 41 pg214</h3> ![[0140_KB1-41--pg214.jpg]] <h3>Art 0152/0152/KB1-14 pg59</h3> ![[0152_KB1-14--pg59.jpg]] <h3>Art 0152/0152/KB1-15 pg61</h3> ![[0152_KB1-15--pg61.jpg]] <h3>Art 0152/0152/NKL 10</h3> ![[0152_NKL-10.jpg]] <h3>Art 0159/0159/UP 27</h3> ![[0159_UP-27.jpg]] <h3>Art 0180/0180/UP 77</h3> ![[0180_UP--77.jpg]] <h3>Art 0202/0202/UP 126</h3> ![[0202_UP--126.jpg]] <h3>Art 0212/KGO 4</h3> ![[Art-0212-KGO-4-.jpg]] <h3>Govinda at the Yamuna</h3> ![[Art-0212_KWL-62.jpg]] <h3>Art 0219/Art 0219/KGO 27</h3> ![[Art-0219_KGO-27.jpg]] <h3>Radha-Krsna and the Gopis in the Forest</h3> ![[Art-0219_KGO-23.jpg]] <h3>Krsna Runs Along the Yamuna River</h3> ![[Art-0219_KWL-63-(flopped).jpg]] <h3>Radha-Gopinatha with the Gopis</h3> ![[Mad-1-2.jpg]] *Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja prays, “May Gopīināthajī, who attracts all the gopīs with the song of His flute, be merciful upon us.”* <h3>Radha-Krsna and the Gopis</h3> ![[Mad-3-6.jpg]] <h3>Vyasadeva Meditates on the Supreme Lord</h3> ![[SB-1_1_5.jpg]] *Vyāsadeva meditating on Lord Kṛṣṇa, the all-pervading Personality of Godhead.* <h3>A Pensive Krsna</h3> ![[UP--209.jpg]] <h3>Krsna Milks a Cow</h3> ![[0107_KB1-35-pg.208.jpg]] *The gopīs remembered their pastimes with Kṛṣṇa.* --- ## Copyright Notice All artwork on this page is © The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc. All rights reserved. These images are reproduced here with permission for educational and devotional purposes. The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc. (BBTi) holds exclusive rights to all images created for books published by BBTi and its predecessor entities. **Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of these images is strictly prohibited without prior written permission from BBTi.** For licensing inquiries, please contact: - Website: https://www.BBT.info - Email: [email protected] All textual content and commentary © A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada