Delivering the Message of Krṣṇa to the Gopīs
311
pastimes. The inhabitants enjoyed Uddhava's association in the same way as they enjoyed the association of Krṣṇa.
Uddhava was attracted by the attitude of the  gopīs  because they were completely attached to Krṣṇa, and Uddhava was inspired by the  gopīs ' anxiety for Krṣṇa. He began to offer them his respectful obeisances and composed songs in praise of their transcendental qualities as follows: "Among all the living entities who have accepted the human form of life, the  gopīs  are superexcellently successful in their mission. Their thought is thoroughly absorbed in the lotus feet of Krṣṇa. Great sages and saintly persons are also trying to be absorbed in meditation upon the lotus feet of Krṣṇa, who is Mukunda Himself, the giver of liberation, but the  gopīs , having lovingly accepted the Lord, are automatically accustomed to this habit. They do not depend on any yogic practice. The conclusion is that one who has attained the  gopīs ' condition of life does not have to take birth as Lord Brahmā or be born in a  brāhmaṇa  family or be initiated as a  brāhmaṇa ."
Śrī Uddhava confirmed the statement of  Bhagavad-gītā  spoken by Lord Krṣṇa; one who takes shelter of Him for the right purpose, be he a  śūdra  or lower, will attain the highest goal of life. The  gopīs  have set the standard of devotion for the whole world. By following in the footsteps of the  gopīs  by constantly thinking of Krṣṇa, one can attain the highest perfectional stage of spiritual life. The  gopīs  were not born of any highly cultured family; they were born of cowherd men, and yet they developed the highest love of Krṣṇa. For self-realization or God realization there is no need to take birth in a high family. The only thing needed is ecstatic development of love of God. In achieving perfection in Krṣṇa consciousness, no other qualification is required than to be constantly engaged in the loving service of Krṣṇa. Krṣṇa is the supreme nectar, the reservoir of all pleasure. The effect of taking up Krṣṇa consciousness is just like that of drinking nectar; with or without one's knowledge, it will act. The active principle of Krṣṇa consciousness will manifest itself everywhere; it does not matter how and where one has taken his birth. Krṣṇa will bestow His benediction upon anyone who takes to Krṣṇa consciousness, without any doubt. The supreme benediction attained by the  gopīs  in spite of their being born in the family of cowherd men was never attained even by the goddess of fortune herself, and certainly not by the denizens of heaven, though their bodily forms are like lotuses. The  gopīs  are so fortunate that during  rāsa-tīlā  Krṣṇa personally embraced them with His arms. Krṣṇa kissed them face to face. Certainly it is not possible for any women in the three worlds to achieve this except the  gopīs .