"O gopis, why are you crying in the forest? Smile and return home. " As if Krsna were shouting this in their ears, the gopis woke up from their dazed state, and began to plead with Krsna. Krsna was prestham, the most dear, because previously he had many times allowed association with them. But he now seemed unaffectionate (prietaram iva) because of his use of harsh words ordering them to return to their husbands. However such words were impossible to use against them because they were completely devoid of even a trace of material lust (sarva kamah nivartita). This indicates that the gopis did not have lust or material desire for Krsna. Their desire to please Krsna was not kama. That is Sukadeva’s intention by using sarva in this phrase. They rubbed their eyes which had been blinded with tears. They were rubbing their eyes with the intention of seeing Krsna just once more before they died. Because they were thinking that due to their being unqualified for him they were rejected, they did not manifest anger. "Though he is our very life and soul, how could he bring us to this state of death?" Then, becoming slightly angry, they spoke in choked voices. But since they perceived lack of love on both their parts, then they should have withdrawn their minds from Krsna. However in spite of that condition, they were still attracted to him (anurakta), for persons blinded by love do not consider logic.

Kṛṣṇa, who was dear to them, had spoken as if he was not affectionate. Why did they not withdraw their minds from him? They had given up all other desires completely in order to attain Kṛṣṇa. Thus they could not withdraw their minds from Kṛṣṇa--the form of condensed bliss, attractive to all minds. How was it possible for these gopīs, afflicted so greatly, to speak? They spoke with anger, a transformation of their disappointment, to cover their disappointment. They wiped their eyes: a symptom of the conjunction of disappointment and anger which arises from the nature of anger in love. They wiped their eyes in order to speak while glancing at his face. Because of their great pain, their shyness decreased significantly. However, they spoke weakly because disappointment remained to some degree. Because of the disappointment and anger, they spoke with choked voices. The cause of their depression and their actions was their deep attachment to him (anuraktāḥ).

Kṛṣṇa, who was dear to them, had spoken as if he was not affectionate. Why did they not withdraw their minds from him? They had given up all other desires completely in order to attain Kṛṣṇa. Thus they could not withdraw their minds from Kṛṣṇa--the form of condensed bliss, attractive to all minds. How was it possible for these gopīs, afflicted so greatly, to speak? They gave up weeping out of great grief, wiped their eyes carefully, removing the tears. With great effort they composed themselves. Or in great suffering anurāga is a cause of the power to speak. This is a quality in prema. They wiped their eyes to induce his affection, or as a symptom of great prema or to speak while looking at his face. In great distress, they lost all shyness. They had only slight anger, since he was their beloved or because their love was soft. Or they spoke with choked voices out of great, indescribable anger because of their great attachment. Or they spoke in an abbreviated manner. Why? Because tears choked their voices, from anger born of love. Why? Because of their attachment. Previously of course they were attracted by their nature. Now greater attachment arose with great eagerness by hearing his words. Or having special attraction, they were not depressed though he acted indifferently. Or because of their anurāga, he was still attractive, even with the words he spoke. Thus they spoke to him, because he was their lover (preṣṭham). Previously he had seemingly spoken harsh words. Or taking it as the present tense, he continued to say “Give up worrying, do not cry, be comfortable and return home.” They were seeming harsh words, for actually he was joking. That was explained previously. I offer respects to the gopīs who are the masters of cleverness, who understood the meaning of his words and by whose mercy I have understood the meaning.