When the days of fasting came, the Gopis, as the Scriptures commanded,
began their worship by taking their baths in the sacred river Jumnā.
O happy waves, more holy made by the maids, who stood in prayers in thy
beds and threw on thy bosom the sweetest lowers that grew where
Krishna's feet had fallen!
Thus they worshipped each day for a month in the early morn ere the sun
was seen, singing on their way the songs of love and praise for Krishna,
who was the first and the last and middle of all their day.
One morning whilst sporting and singing in the clear cooling waters,
they beheld on the limbs of a tree close by the youth Krishna, enthroned
in its branches and holding their wearing apparel in His hands.
Crowned as usual with flowers was He, but a look all majestic was in His
eye.
Affrighted with shame they begged for their garments, but Krishna
replied: "Come and get your garments either in a body or singly, O
damsels, and salute to the sun shining over My head as near you
approach."
For a moment they hesitated; then that which as a shadow had crossed
their heart, and is known as shame, departed from them, and saluting
forward they came in a body led by Rādhā, the loveliest and chiefest of
the milk-maids, and dripping and lovely before Him they stood.
Completely they had surrendered their human will to the will of Him who
was Divinity.
Selfless, unyoked from all that was worldly, before Him they stood.
Uncovered and free as they came from His Heart, again on that Heart they
gazed unashamed, for their souls were not covered with vice, or with
piety, or even with virtue, but were bare as the Love upon which they
looked.
They received the garments that He for them had. He, Krishna, the source
of pure Love was, and His garments to them were spiritual purity, and
clothing themselves with the clothes of His giving, they joyfully went
to the homes of their fathers.
While Krishna, surveying His world, was enthroned in His kingdom of
Love, and as the Gopis came to the feet of Him, who was the author of
all Love, so all must come empty and free from all earthly desires to
accept that Love for Love's sake.
For naught cared the Gopis but Krishna, desiring naught else beside! So
only can Love Absolute be gained in absolute self-surrender.
He who would have that Love that is its own enjoyment, that Love that a
universe unto itself is, doth not find it easy to obtain it by merit of
piety or even the fruition of highest spirituality.
The bounds of all spirituality it must pass to become the Absolute and
Causeless Love. Where spirituality ends, there causeless Love doth
begin!
All love that hath a cause is of earth! Love that hath even a high
spiritual cause is limited in scope, and such love may vanish when its
cause is removed.
But the Love that is Causeless, All Enduring is.
It fadeth not, neither doth it pass away, but by day and by night and
throughout all time it waketh and accumulateth ever, for it is the Love
Absolute!
From the souls of the Gopis the last trace of heaven and earth had
vanished, and being resplendent with the glory of this Love Absolute, of
the Love that was unto itself substance and satisfaction, was the
causeless cause for this Gift of all gifts from the hand of Him who
alone could bestow it and alone was that Love Itself.