"These gopis have their minds fixed on me (mat manaska). I am their very life (mat prana). They have given up all bodily connections such as husbands, sons, mothers, fathers, sleeping, eating, drinking etc. (tyakta daihikah). They think of me, not as their husband, but as their beloved (dayitam). Not only as their beloved, but as the dearmost. Not only I am the dearmost, but they think of me as their very selves, and as the Paramatma. As I, their soul, am living here in Mathura, they believe that their souls have left their bodies and only by the power of my yogamaya energy are they still living. I protect those devotees practicing sadhana bhakti who give up all considerations of etiquette for my sake. What to speak then of these gopis?"

In regards to delivering the message to the gopīs, first he describes the gopīs’ general condition in order to then speak of the cause, by describing their particular condition in two verses. Through three descriptive phrases he says that except for him they are indifferent to the unlimited goals of dharma, to their bodies and to other people. Concerning their bodies they have given up husbands, children, eating and drinking. They have dedicated their minds to me. Thus they have no interest in external sense enjoyment. They take me as their very life. Thus they have no interest in internal objects of enjoyment. It is said: bhoktṛtve sukha-duḥkhānāṁ puruṣaṁ prakṛteḥ param They say that ātmā, superior to prakṛti, is the cause of enjoyment and suffering of the jīva. SB.26.8 Thus mad-arthe (for me) indicates that since all material enjoyment is ultimately caused by ātmā, they have become indifferent to ātmā, their selves. The cause of their sacrifice is then stated. They take me as their beloved in their minds. They do not take external objects as dear. More than that, they take me alone as most dear (preṣṭham). They do not take internal objects such as prāṇa as dearest, since in my absence they have no interest in these things. They take me alone, and not their own ātmās, as their dearest self since in my absence they consider their ātmās completely vacant. They experience no pleasure within their ātmās for any other being in my absence. By these three phrases he indicates to Uddhava that they take Kṛṣṇa alone as their husband. They do not consider those who are said to be their husbands to be their real husband. The gopīs will say api bata madhu-puryām ārya-putro ’dhunāste: it is indeed regrettable that Kṛṣṇa, our husband, resides in Mathurā. (SB 10.47.21) This line is included in many versions, but Śrīdhara Svāmī does not seem to accept it since he does not explain the difficult phrase ārya-putraḥ. I will support those persons who give up regard for dharma and people for surrender to me. This is a general statement (including not only the gopīs), to express his obligation to support anyone without regard for their qualification, if they renounce for his sake. The word ca indicates the gopīs who have given up even their lives for him. Or man-manaskā can mean “those who are in my mind at all times.” Mat-prāṇā means “those who are my life” since they have given up everything related to their bodies. The cause of giving up everything is stated. They take me as most dear, as their very selves. If I am obligated to anyone (ye) who renounces for me, what to speak of the gopīs? Though I am the object of meditation for Brahmā, I support them within (bibharmi), or meditate on them. Ādi Purāṇa says: bhaktā mamānuraktāś ca kati santi na bhūtale kintu gopījanaḥ prāṇādhika piryatamo mama There are many devotees and persons attracted to me on earth, but the gopīs are dearer to me than my life. Because their suffering enters my mind I always feel pain. Or I protect even those whom the gopīs reject such as their husbands, those nourishing their bodies by eating and those women who are chaste and shy. Thus I should protect the gopīs.