The Rāsa Dance: Introduction
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appears in His spiritual potency. He does not appear under the control of this material potency. The material potency is under His control. In the  Bhagavad-gītā  it is stated that the material potency is working under His superintendence. It is also confirmed in the  Brahma-saṁhitā  that the material potency known as Durgā is acting just as a shadow which moves with the movement of the substance. The conclusion is that if one somehow or other becomes attached to Kṛṣṇa or attracted to Him, either because of His beauty, quality, opulence, fame, strength, renunciation or knowledge, or even through lust, anger or fear, or affection or friendship, then one's salvation and freedom from material contamination is assured.
In the  Bhagavad-gītā , Eighteenth Chapter, the Lord also states that one who is engaged in preaching Kṛṣṇa consciousness is very dear to Him. A preacher has to face many difficulties in his struggle to preach pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Sometimes he has to suffer bodily injuries, and sometimes he has to meet death also. All this is taken as a great austerity on behalf of Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa therefore has said that such a preacher is very, very dear to Him. If Kṛṣṇa's enemies can expect salvation simply by concentrating their minds on Him, then what to speak of persons who are so dear to Kṛṣṇa? The conclusion should be that the salvation of those who are engaged in preaching Kṛṣṇa consciousness in the world is guaranteed in all circumstances. But such preachers never care for salvation, because factually one who is engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, devotional service, has already achieved salvation. Śukadeva Gosvāmī therefore assured King Parīkṣit that he should always rest assured that one attracted by Kṛṣṇa attains liberation from material bondage because Kṛṣṇa is the transcendental master of all mystic power.
When all the  gopīs  assembled, as described, before Kṛṣṇa, He began to speak to them, welcoming them as well as discouraging them by word jugglery. Kṛṣṇa is the supreme speaker; He is the speaker of the  Bhagavad-gītā . He can speak on the highest elevated subjects of philosophy, politics, economics—everything. And He also spoke before the  gopīs  who were so dear to Him. He wanted to enchant them by word jugglery, and thus He began to speak as follows.
“O ladies of Vṛndāvana,” Kṛṣṇa said. “You are very fortunate, and you are very dear to Me. I am very pleased that you have come here, and I hope everything is well in Vṛndāvana. Now please order Me. What can I do for you? What is the purpose of coming here in this dead of night. Kindly take your seats and let Me know what I can do for you.”
The  gopīs  had come to Kṛṣṇa to enjoy His company, to dance with Him,