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32 / Description of the Rasa Dance

Thus hearing the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, speaking to
pacify them, the gopis became very much pleased. And not only by
hearing His words, but also by touching the hands and legs of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, they became completely relieved from the great
suffering of separation. After this, the Supreme Personality of Godhead
began His rdésa dance. When one dances in the midst of many girls, it is
called a rasa dance. So Krsna began to dance among the most beautiful
and fortunate girls within the three worlds. The gopis of Vrndavana, who
were so attracted to Him, danced with Krsna, hand in hand.

Krsna’s rasa dance should never be compared with any kind of material
dance, such as a ball dance or a society dance. The rasa dance is a
completely spiritual performance. In order to establish this fact, Krsna,
the supreme mystic, expanded Himself in many forms and stood beside
each gopi. Placing His hands on the shoulders of the gopis on both sides of
Him, He began to dance in their midst. The mystic expansions of Krsna
were not perceived by the gopis because Krsna appeared alone to each of
them. Each gopi thought that Krsna was dancing with her alone. Above that
wonderful dance flew many airplanes carrying the denizens of the heavenly
planets, who were very anxious to see the wonderful dance of Krsna with
the gopis. The Gandharvas and Kinnaras began to sing, and, accompanied
by their respective wives, all the Gandharvas began to shower flowers on
the dancers.

As the gopis and Krsna danced together, a very blissful musical sound
was produced from the tinkling of their bells, ornaments and bangles. It
appeared that Krsna was a greenish sapphire locket in the midst of a
golden necklace decorated with valuable stones. While Krsna and the gopis
danced they displayed extraordinary bodily features. The movements of
their legs, their placing their hands on one another, the movements of their

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