Lord Krsna and Balarama Meet the Inhabitants of Vrndavana 199

temple paraphernalia and the food offered to the Deity are also not
separate from Krsna. One has to follow the rules and regulations prescribed
by the dcaryas, and thus, under superior guidance, Krsna-realization is
fully possible, even in this material existence.

The gopis, having been instructed by Krsna in this philosophy of simul-
taneous oneness and difference, remained always in Krsna consciousness
and thus became liberated from all material contamination. The conscious-
ness of the living entity who falsely presents himself as the enjoyer of the
material world is called jiva-kosa, which means imprisonment by the false
ego. Not only the gopis but anyone who follows these instructions of Krsna
becomes immediately freed from the jiva-kosa imprisonment. A person in
full Krsna consciousness is always liberated from false egoism; he utilizes
everything for Krsna’s service and is not at any time separated from Krsna.

The gopis therefore prayed to Krsna, “Dear Krsna, from Your navel
emanated the original lotus flower which is the birthsite of Brahma, the
creator. No one can estimate Your glories or Your opulence, which there-
fore remain always a mystery even to the highest thoughtful men, the
masters of all yogic power. The conditioned soul fallen in the dark well of
this material existence can very easily, however, take shelter of the lotus
feet of Lord Krsna. Thus his deliverance is guaranteed.” The gopis
continued: “Dear Krsna, we are always busy in our family affairs. We
therefore request that You remain within our hearts as the rising sun, and
that will be Your greatest benediction.”

The gopis are always liberated souls, because they are fully in Krsna
consciousness. They only pretended to be entangled in household affairs in
Vrndavana. In spite of their long separation, the inhabitants of Vrndavana,
the gopis, were not interested in the idea of going with Krsna to His capital
city, Dvaraka. They wanted to remain busy in Vrndavana and thus feel the
presence of Krsna in every step of their lives. They immediately invited
Krsna to come back to Vrndavana. This transcendental emotional existence
of the gopis is the basic principle of Lord Caitanya’s teaching. The Ratha-
yatra Festival observed by Lord Caitanya is the emotional process of taking
Krsna back to Vrndavana. Srimati Radharani refused to go with Krsna to
Dvaraka to enjoy His company in the atmosphere of royal opulence, but
wanted to enjoy His company in the original Vrndavana atmosphere. Lord
Krsna, being profoundly attached to the gopis, never goes away from
Vrndavana, and the gopis and other residents of Vrndavana remain fully
satisfied in Krsna consciousness.

Thus ends the Bhaktivedanta purport of the Second Volume, twenty-
seventh Chapter, of Krsna, “Lord Krsna and Balarama Meet the Inhabitants
of Vrndavana.”’
