The gopis, consumed with longing for Krishna, gathered in solitude to deliberate. Alone, each devoted to one joy, they spoke of Him and delighted in the telling. Those given to argument and speculation were kept at a distance. Those cunning, eloquent, narrative, and calculating ones were told, 'Do not come near us.' In fear of the people, they merged together as one and forcefully extinguished every lamp. The bliss of Krishna is not known to the mind; those who do not know it slander the Krishna-devoted ones. Krishna does not come near where there is noise and commotion. Therefore they gathered in silent harmony. Inwardly tender, outwardly pure, those maidens were absorbed in Krishna's meditation. Their eyes were fixed on Hari's form, their ears on His stories alone. They embraced one another, each clasping the other to her chitta. They could not endure separation and wept aloud, bewildered, forgetful of their own bodies. They forgot their homes, their children, and their husbands, calling out for Govinda's presence. Lost in that state, they became still and clear. Each one became the very form of Krishna. Crying 'Krishna!' they gave one another embraces, yet the fire of separation was not quenched. Who can cool this fever except Govinda Himself, when He is not seen with one's own eyes? Without seeing Him, their life-breath threatened to depart. 'He has made us wait too long,' they said. Empty philosophical talk did not please them; they craved only Krishna's embrace. 'Perhaps we have failed in some past service to Him. Perhaps God is angry.' They searched their past deeds for sins and merits, each offering the other consolation. Overcome with remorse, those maidens burned with anguish and threw their bodies down upon the earth. Knowing their devotion, Krishna, who had been near all along, was moved to compassion. He appeared and revealed His form, cooling the triple fire of their suffering. Seeing Krishna's blessed face, all grief, delusion, and sorrow vanished. Perceiving the truth of their devotion, the Lord of Vaikuntha embraced them. Through union with Hari's body, they became Hari's form. Words fell silent before that joy. Though outwardly living as householders, they had secretly embraced the Infinite through love. Blessed are those who, while concealing Hari in their chitta, dwell among the people. God does not let them lack for anything. He protects them in every place. The subtlety of this devotion is beyond even Brahma's grasp. Through devotion, God is shaped to the devotee's vision. Says Tuka, blessed is their so-called transgression. Through it, they attained the supreme bliss.

The gopis, burning with longing for Krishna, sat together in secret to deliberate. Alone, each one fixed on a single joy, they spoke of him and delighted in the telling. Those given to argument and clever talk they kept at a distance, and began their silent service. The skilled, the eloquent, the calculating ones, those too they told: do not come near us. In fear of the people they merged into one and forcefully put out every lamp. The bliss of Krishna is not known to such minds; those who do not know it slander the ones who love Krishna. He does not come near where there is noise; so they gathered in silent harmony. Tender within, pure without, those young women were absorbed in the meditation of Krishna. Their eyes fixed on Hari's form, their ears on his stories alone, they embraced one another, each clasping the other to her heart. They could not bear separation; they wept aloud, bewildered, forgetful of their own bodies. They forgot their homes, their children, their husbands, crying out for Govinda's presence. Lost in that state, they grew still and clear; one by one they became the very form of Krishna. Crying Krishna, they gave one another embraces, yet the fire of separation was not quenched. Who can cool this fever but Govinda himself, when he is not seen with the eyes? Without seeing him their life-breath was ready to leave. He has made us wait too long, they said. Empty philosophical talk did not please them; they craved only Krishna's embrace. Perhaps we failed in some past service to him; perhaps God is angry. They searched their past deeds for sins and merits, each consoling the other. Overcome with remorse, those young women burned with anguish and threw their bodies to the ground. Knowing their devotion, Krishna, who had been near all along, was moved to pity. He appeared and showed his form, cooling the triple fire of their suffering. Seeing Krishna's blessed face, all grief and delusion and sorrow went far away. Seeing the truth of their devotion, the Lord of Vaikuntha embraced them. Through union with Hari's body they became Hari's form; words fell silent before that joy. Through love they enjoyed the Infinite, though they lived outwardly as householders. Blessed are those who hide Hari in their hearts and dwell among the people. God does not let them lack anything; he guards them in every place. The subtlety of this is beyond even Brahma's grasp; through devotion God is made to take that shape. Tuka says: blessed is their so-called transgression; through it they won the supreme bliss.