Sri Chaitanya-Charitâmrita answers –
“The Gopis have an extraordinary mood and it is inconceivable. When the Gopis see Sri Krishna, they do not wish for happiness, yet their joy is infinite. Their pleasure is millions of times greater than the joy that Sri Krishna feels on seeing them. Although they do not desire happiness it increases manifold. Is this not contradictory? We have only one solution of this riddle – The Gopikâs joy lies in pleasing Sri Krishna; when He sees them His exultation increases and this makes Him incomparably sweet. When the Gopikâ sees that Sri Krishna is joyous on seeing her, she feels all the more blissful, which makes her prettier. This in turn makes Sri Krishna jubilant and thus He looks more handsome than ever. In this manner both start competing with one another. However Sri Krishna is pleased with the beauty and excellent qualities of the Gopis, while the Gopis are happy simply to give Him pleasure. This is the reason why the love of the Gopis is not tainted with lust.” – (C.C.Aadi.4.185-195)
Thus we discover that the Gopis love is absolutely flawless. Even though they may wish to make love to Sri Krishna it is only with the intention to please Him. Their love is unobstructed. Their love reveals all about Sri Krishna. Therefore He has admitted to Arjun –
“O Pârtha, only the Gopikâs truly know my glory, my sevâ, my wish and my deepest moods; no one else knows like they do.”
This is why Sri Krishna is completely subjugated by the conjugal love of the Gopis.
“Sri Bhagavân states that Gopi-prem subjugates Sri Krishna completely and this love makes Sri Krishna available to the devotee in His most complete form.”
– (C.C.Madhya.8.88)
“Sri Krishna told the Gopikâs on the night of the raas-dance – My dear Gopis, the chords that bind a woman to the house is unbreakable, yet you have cut it asunder and have adored me selflessly. I will never be able to repay your debt. Your goodness is alone is the reward for your love.” – (S.B.10.32.22)
The Gopikâs have mahâbhâv and Srimati Râdhârâni is the best of them.
Srila Vishwanâth Chakravartipâd has written – “Based on the amount, we can classify love into 4 categories –
- minute
- relatively little more than minute,
- great,
- extremely great
A sâdhak has minute love and he is able to subjugate Sri Krishna to a minute degree. Sages such as Nârad and Vyâs have little more love than this and they subordinate Sri Krishna proportionally. The Vrajavâsis have great love while Srimati Râdhârâni has extremely great love. Thus Srimati Râdhârâni binds Him the most.”