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Krṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead
The  gopīs  prayed to the demigods to create some natural disturbance, such as a hurricane, storm or heavy rainfall, so that Krṣṇa could not go to Mathurā. They then began to consider: “Despite our elderly parents and guardians, we shall personally stop Krṣṇa from going to Mathurā. We have no other alternative than to take this direct action. Everyone has gone against us to take away Krṣṇa from our sight. Without Him we cannot live for a moment.” The  gopīs  thus decided to obstruct the passage through which the chariot of Krṣṇa was supposed to pass. They began to talk among themselves: “We have passed a very long night—which seemed only a moment—engaged in the  rāsa  dance with Krṣṇa. We were looking at His sweet smile and were embracing and talking. Now, how shall we live even for a moment if He goes away from us? At the end of the day, in the evening, along with His elder brother Balarāma, Krṣṇa would return home with His friends. His face would be smeared with the dust raised by the hooves of the cows, and He would smile and play on His flute and look upon us so kindly. How shall we be able to forget Him? How shall we be able to forget Krṣṇa, who is our life and soul? He has already taken away our hearts in so many ways throughout our days and nights, and if He goes away, there is no possibility of our continuing to live.” Thinking like this, the  gopīs  became more and more griefstricken at Krṣṇa’s leaving Vṛndāvana. They could not check their minds, and they began to cry loudly, calling the different names of Krṣṇa, “● dear Dāmodara! Dear Mādhava!”
The  gopīs  cried all night before the departure of Krṣṇa. As soon as the sun rose, Akrūra finished his morning bath, got on the chariot and began to start for Mathurā with Krṣṇa and Balarāma. Nanda Mahārāja and the cowherd men got up on bullock carts, after loading them with milk preparations, such as yogurt, milk, and ghee, filled in big earthen pots, and began to follow the chariot of Krṣṇa and Balarāma. In spite of Krṣṇa’s asking them not to obstruct their way, all the  gopīs  surrounded the chariot and stood up to see Krṣṇa with pitiable eyes. Krṣṇa was very much affected upon seeing the plight of the  gopīs , but His duty was to start for Mathurā, for this was foretold by Nārada. Krṣṇa, therefore, consoled the  gopīs . He told them that they should not be aggrieved; He was coming back very soon after finishing His business. But they could not be persuaded to disperse. The chariot, however, began to head west, and as it proceeded, the minds of the  gopīs  followed it as far as possible. They watched the flag on the chariot as long as it was visible; finally they could only see the dust of the chariot in the distance. The  gopīs  did not move from their places but stood until the chariot could not be seen at all. They remained standing