They bowed their heads out of humility. Being naturally bashful, they covered their heads with their veils. This bashfulness suddenly appears on its own when they meet any respectable person. Thinking that Uddhava must be an intimate friend of their beloved, they smiled, and looked at him with open eyes, and greeted him with welcoming words, and worshipped him with footwash and other items (adi) suitable to the place. They then asked Uddhava questions in private, unseen by outsiders. By his coming promptly to such a place, they understood that he was bearing news about Krsna, the master of Laksmi. Sukadeva, siding with the gopis, showed some bitterness towards Krsna by addressing Krsna as the husband of Laksmi. "In order to make Krsna happy, Laksmi will be coming Mathura. So what purpose could he have in sending messages to the cowherd women?"

Then, understanding that he was a messenger from Kṛṣṇa (ramā-pateḥ), in a solitary place they offered him a seat, given as an article of worship, while bowing their heads humbly, glancing at him with shyness and smiles. They welcomed him with polite words, and asked him questions. That is the order of their actions. He sat on a seat, so that they could be near him, since he recognized their great devotion. While with Kubjā and others it will be described that he also sat on a seat. What then to say of respecting the gopīs. They bowed their heads in humility. They glanced at him with joy and shyness. They spoke words of welcome which were skilful. They then worshipped him by offering a seat, foot water etc.(ādibhiḥ). They then seated him a solitary place, since it would not be suitable to speak while persons of dissimilar mood were present. They did this because they understood that Uddhava was a messenger from Kṛṣṇa. They were certain that he had brought a message from Kṛṣṇa for them. They manifested feeling described in this verse on seeing the auspiciousness and wealth of Kṛṣṇa who was the abode of even Lakṣmī, reflected in Uddhava, as explained in the following verse: jayati te ’dhikaṁ janmanā vrajaḥ śrayata indirā śaśvad atra hi O beloved, by your birth the land of Vraja has become exceedingly glorious, and thus Lakṣmī always resides here. SB 10.31.1

After surrounding Uddhava, the gopīs remained with heads bowed in humility. Politely (susat-kṛtam) they asked him, Kṛṣṇa’s messenger, when he was seated, in private, with shy glances and slight smiles and friendy words. They understood he was a messenger because of symptoms. Their love for the Lord arose naturally on seeing similarity to the Lord’s form. The friendly words were words of welcome. They also offered foot water and other items. Or they asked Uddhava who had been nicely worshipped (susat-kṛtam). This means that, seeing their love for Kṛṣṇa, he became happy. Kṛṣṇa is called the husband of Lakṣmī, because they thought that he could also protect them. Or they understood that he was a messenger sent secretely (rahasi) and thus questioned him.