126 The Nectar of Devotion

association with women, but still He taught that there is no better
method of worshiping Krsna than that conceived by the gopis. Thus
the gopis’ method of worshiping the Lord, as if impelled by lusty
desire, was praised very highly even by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
This very fact means that although the attraction of the gopis for
Krsna appears to be lusty, it is not in the least bit material. Unless
one is fully situated in the transcendental position, it is very difficult
to understand the relationship of the gopis with Krsna. But because
it appears to be just like ordinary dealings of young boys and girls, it
is sometimes misinterpreted to be like the ordinary sex of this ma-
terial world. Unfortunately, persons who cannot understand the tran-
scendental nature of the love affairs of the gopis and Krsna take it
for granted that Krsna’s love affairs with the gopis are mundane
transactions, and therefore they sometimes indulge in painting licen-
tious pictures in some modernistic style.

On the other hand, the lusty desire of Kubja is described by
learned scholars as being ‘“‘almost lusty desire.” Kubja was a hunch-
back woman who also wanted Krsna with a great ecstatic love. But
her desire for Krsna was almost mundane, and so her love cannot be
compared with the love of the gopis. Her loving affection for Krsna
is called kama-praya, or almost like the gopis’ love for Krsna.
