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Krṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead
are these other footprints? They are beside the footprints of the son of Mahārāja Nanda. It is certainly Krṣṇa passing through, resting His hand on some other  gopī , exactly as an elephant goes side by side with his beloved mate. We must, therefore, understand that this particular  gopī  served Krṣṇa with greater affectionate love than ourselves. Because of this, although He has left us, He could not leave Her company. He has taken Her along with Him. Dear friends, just imagine how the dust of this place is transcendentally glorious. The dust of the lotus feet of Krṣṇa is worshiped even by Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva, and the goddess of fortune, Lakṣmī. But at the same time, we are very sorry that this particular  gopī  has gone along with Krṣṇa, for She is sharing the nectar of Krṣṇa's kisses and leaving us aside to lament. O friends, just see! At this particular spot we do not see the footprints of that  gopī . It appears that because there were some pin-pricks from the dried grass, Krṣṇa took Rādhārāṇī on His shoulder. O, She is so dear to Him! Krṣṇa must have picked some flowers in this spot to satisfy Rādhārāṇī, because here, where He stood erect to get the flowers from the high branches of the tree, we find only half the impression of His feet. Dear friends, just see how Krṣṇa must have sat down here with Rādhārāṇī and tried to set flowers in Her hair. You can be certain that both of Them sat together here. Krṣṇa is self-sufficient; He has nothing to enjoy from any other source, yet just to satisfy His devotee He has treated Rādhārāṇī exactly as a lusty boy treats his girl friend. Krṣṇa is so kind that He always tolerates the disturbances created by His girl friends."
In this way, all the  gopīs  began to point out the faults of the particular  gopī  who had been taken alone by Krṣṇa. They began to say that the chief  gopī , Rādhārāṇī, who was taken alone by Krṣṇa, must be very proud of Her position, thinking Herself the greatest of the  gopīs . "Yet how could Krṣṇa take Her away alone, leaving all of us aside, unless She be extraordinarily qualified and beautiful? She must have taken Krṣṇa in the deep forest and told Him, 'My dear Krṣṇa, I am now very tired. I cannot go any further. Please carry Me wherever You like.' When Krṣṇa was spoken to in this way, He might have told Rādhārāṇī, 'All right, better get on My shoulder.' But immediately Krṣṇa must have disappeared, and now Rādhārāṇī must be lamenting for Him, 'My dear lover, My dearest, You are so fine and so powerful. Where have You gone? I am nothing but Your most obedient maidservant. I am very much aggrieved. Please come and be with Me again.' Krṣṇa, however, is not coming to Her. He must be watching Her from a distant place and enjoying Her sorrow."
All the  gopīs  then went further and further into the forest, searching