Text 216] Talks Between the Lord and Ramananda Raya 223

PURPORT

Srimati Radharani and the gopis are not interested in their personal happiness
derived from association with Krsna. Rather, they become happy by seeing one
another associate with Krsna. In this way their dealings are further nourished by
love of Godhead, and seeing this, Krsna is very pleased.

TEXT 215

mew cat Aa coia,—ATS NSS Atay |
SAP IGA Sta she ‘atay-ary y ase

sahaja gopira prema, —nahe prakrta kama
kama-krida-samye tara kahi ‘kama’-nama

SYNONYMS

sahaja—natural; gopira—of the gopis; prema—love of Godhead; nahe—is not;
prakrta—material; kama—lust; kaéma-krida—lusty affairs; samye—in appearing
equal to; tara—of such activities; kahi—| speak; kama-ndma—the name “lust.”

TRANSLATION

“It is to be noted that the natural characteristic of the gopis is to love the
Supreme Lord. Their lusty desire is not to be compared to material lust. None-
theless, because their desire sometimes appears to resemble material lust,
their transcendental love for Krsna is sometimes described as lust.

PURPORT

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura says that material lust should never be at-
tributed to Krsna, who is full of transcendental knowledge. Material lust cannot be
engaged in the service of the Lord, for it is applicable to materialists, not to Krsna.
Only prema, or love of Godhead, is applicable for the satisfaction of Krsna. Prema
is full service rendered unto the Lord. The lusty affairs of the gopis actually con-
stitute the topmost love of Godhead because the gopis never act for their own
personal satisfaction. They are simply pleased by engaging other gopis in the ser-
vice of the Lord. The gopis derive more transcendental pleasure from indirectly
engaging other gopis in the service of Krsna than from engaging in His service
themselves. That is the difference between material lust and love of Godhead.
Lust applies to the material world, and love of Godhead applies only to Krsna.

TEXT 216

CARAT CHPAATATATS FTA SSAA aeaty |
SHraatecarewsse sels Sracferat: mrs i
