Groups of Gopis
In Goloka Shri Brahma asked Lord Krishna: “O Supreme Personality of Godhead, because of what pious deed or what benedictions they attain this position of gopis in Vraja that even the great yogis cannot attain?”
The Personified Vedas
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: “When in Shvetadvipa the personified Vedas offered prayers to Him with eloquent words, the Lord’s form who has thousands of feet became pleased.”
Shri Hari said: “Choose a benediction, whatever your heart desires. What is difficult to attain for they with whom I am pleased?”
The personified Vedas said: “Because You are beyond the material mind and material words, we cannot perfectly understand You. If You wish to give us a benediction, then please directly show us Your transcendental form, which the scholars of the Puranas say is full of bliss.”
Hearing this, the Lord showed them His own abode, where there is only bliss and there are neither decay nor death, where there is the forest named Vrindavana, which is opulent with beautiful forests of trees that fulfil all desires, and which brings happiness in every season, where there is the hill named Govardhan, which has beautiful caves and swiftly-moving streams, which is made of jewels and precious minerals, and which is filled with graceful birds, where there is the Yamuna, which is the best of rivers, which has pure and delicious water, which is filled with lotuses, swans, and other flowers and birds, and which has shores made of precious jewels, and where the infallible Lord, whose form is that of a youth, stood among many gopis intoxicated by tasting the nectar of many rasa dances.
Having revealed this, the Lord said: “What more shall I do for you? Tell Me. You have seen My realm. There is no benediction better than (seeing it).”
The personified Vedas said: “When we see You in this way, more handsome than millions of Kamadevas, our hearts become troubled with amorous desires and we yearn to become beautiful girls. We yearn to become beautiful gopis in Goloka who worship You as their lover.”
Shri Hari said: “Although your glorious desire is impossible and can never be attained, I will grant it. It will become true. When a new Brahma is born to create (the universe), and the time of Sarasvata-Kalpa arrives, you will become gopis in Vraja. On the earth, in Bharata-Varsha, in the circle of Mathura, in Vrindavana, in the rasa-dance circle, I will become your beloved. Passionately loving Me as your paramour, you will all become perfect.”
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: “Because of the previous Kalpa’s benediction they will become gopis. O Brahma now hear the description of the other gopis.”
The Women of Ayodhya
To protect the devotees and kill the demons the Lord appeared in Treta-Yuga as Dasharatha’s son, the hero Ramachandra.
Lotus-eyed Rama went to Sita’s svayamvara, broke the bow, and married Janaka’s daughter Sita.
O Brahma, when they saw Him, all the married women of Mithila were overcome with desire. In a secluded place, they all approached the Lord and said, “O descendant of Raghu, please become our husband.”
Rama, the king of the Raghavas, said to them, “O women, don’t be unhappy. At the end of Dvapara-Yuga and I will fulfil your desire. With great faith and devotion honestly go on pilgrimages, give charity, perform austerities, and follow the rules of cleanliness. Then you will become gopis in Vraja.”
After giving them this benediction, Shri Rama, who is an ocean of mercy and an expert bowman, with His great prowess defeated Parashurama and then went to the country of the Koshalas.
Seeing on the path very handsome Lord Rama, who is more charming than a host of Kamadevas, the women of Koshala in their hearts chose Him to be their husband.
In His heart, all-knowing Rama gave them this benediction: “You will become gopis in Vraja, and then I will fulfil your desire.”
When He came with Sita and with His army, the women of Ayodhya went to see the joy of the Raghus.
Seeing Him, they become bewildered and fainted, overcome with love. With a vow to attain Lord Rama they performed austerities on the Sarayu’s bank.
A voice from the sky (said) to them, “At the end of Dvapara-Yuga, in the forest by the Yamuna’s shore, (your) desire will be fulfilled.”
The Great Sages
Then, because of His father’s words, He went with Sita and the expert bowman Lakshmana to the Dandaka forest.
All the sages in the Dandaka forest were worshipers of Lord Gopala. To attain the rasa dance they always meditated on Me.
He came to their ashrama as a youth carrying bow and arrows. Then He appeared in their meditation as a sage with matted hair.
Surprised at heart by seeing this other form, they rose from their meditation and saw Lord Rama, who was like millions of Kamadevas.
They said, “He is Lord Gopala, who has come without His flute and stick.” Thinking in this way in their hearts, they bowed down and offered eloquent prayers.
Shri Rama said to them, “O sages, please choose a benediction.” They said, “As Sita is, so let us all become.”
Shri Rama said: “If you had asked this of My brother Lakshmana, I would arrange that today your wish would bear its fruit. This request, to become “as Sita is” is impossible and can never be granted. I have vowed to accept only one wife, and I am the best of they who follow the rules of religion. For this reason, by My benediction, at the end of Dvapara-Yuga, you will become (as She). Then I will fulfil your wish.”
After giving this benediction, Rama went to Panchavati. He went to a leaf-hut, and there He lived in the forest.
When they saw Him, some aborigine girls became tortured with lust. Overcome with love, they grasped the dust of His feet, intent on then giving up their lives.
Assuming the form of a brahmacari, Rama went to them and said, “O women, do not give up your lives without good reason. In Vrindavana, at the end of Dvapara-Yuga, your desire will be fulfilled.” Saying this, the brahmacari disappeared.
The Yajna-Sitas
Then, aided by the monkey-kings, Rama defeated the nocturnal demons headed by Ravana, entered Lanka and, on a flower-chariot carrying Sita, returned to His own city.
Then, because of the criticism of the ordinary people, Rama, the king of kings, abandoned Sita in the forest. Ah, this brought great pain to the saintly devotees in the world.
Whenever he performed a yajna, lotus-eyed Rama, following the rules of religion, had made a golden Deity of Sita.
In Rama’s palace, there were many of these yajna Deities of Sita. (One day) they came to life and approached Rama to enjoy (with Him).
To them, Rama, the king of the Raghu dynasty, said, O beloved wives, I cannot accept you”. Then, filled with love, they said to Rama, the son of Dasharatha, “Why do You not accept us? We are all Sita, the chaste daughter of the king of Mithila. We are half of Your body. At the time of the yajnas, we were Your assistants. You are a pious person. You know the teaching of the Vedas. Why do You speak as one who is impious? First You take our hand and then You reject us. From this, You will incur sin.”
Shri Rama said: “Your words are right. What you say to Me is true. (Still,) I am a religious king, and I have vowed to accept only Sita as My wife. Therefore, at the end of Dvapara-Yuga, you will take birth in the spiritual land of Vrindavana, and there I will fulfil your desire.”
These yajna Deities of Sita will also become gopis in Vraja. Now hear, O Brahma, of the other gopis.
The women of Rama-Vaikunoha, Shvetadvipa, Urdhva-Vaikunoha, Lokacala and the daughters of Varuna
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: The women of Rama-Vaikunöha, the women of Shvetadvipa, the women of Urdhva-Vaikunöha, the women who have taken shelter of Lord Ajita’s feet, the women of Lokacala, and the daughters of Varuna will become gopis in Vraja because of a benediction offered by Lord Narayana, the husband of Lakshmi.
Some women from the heavenly planets, some women not from the heavenly planets, and some women acting in the three modes will, because of various kinds of pious activities, become gopis on the earth.
When they saw handsome Yajna-avatara, who is the son of Ruci and the master of the heavenly planets, the demigoddesses were overcome with love for Him. On Devala Muni’s advice with great devotion to Me, they performed austerities in the Himalayas. O Brahma, they will become gopis in Vraja.
When Lord Dhanvantari disappeared from the earth, all the medicines in Bharata-Varsha became unhappy. They all became useless and ineffective. To regain their powers, they transformed themselves into beautiful women and performed austerities. When four yugas had passed Lord Hari became pleased with them.
Seeing the Lord in a great forest, they became completely enchanted by Him. Hearing Him say, “Please choose a benediction,” they said, “Please become our husband here”.
Shri Hari said: “In Vrindavana, at the end of Dvapara-Yuga, you will become flowering vines and then you will change into women in the arena of the rasa dance. I promise this to you.”
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: “In Vrindavana, they will become beautiful and very fortunate flowering-vine gopis filled with love (for Me).”
When the women of the Jalandhara country saw Lord Hari, the husband of Vrinda, they said (to themselves), “May Lord Hari be our chosen husband”.
Then a voice from the sky said to them, “Worship Lord Narayana, the husband of Rama, and in Vrindavana, you will become like Vrinda.”
When Varuna’s daughters saw Lord Hari as Shri Matsya, they became bewildered with love for Him. By Lord Matsya’s benediction, they will become gopis in Vraja.
The Women of Barhishmati City
There was a powerful king named Prithu who was a partial incarnation of Me. After defeating His enemies, He, the best of kings, milked many desirable things from the earth.
When the women of Barhishmati City saw Lord Prithu they became overwhelmed with love for Him. Approaching Atri Muni, they said: “O great sage, please tell us how powerful Prithu, the king of the kings of kings, may become our husband.”
Shri Atri Muni said: “In meditation make an offering of milk to her and the earth will give you a great and impassable ocean of fulfilled desires.”
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Using their thoughts as a milk-pail, they milked their desire from the cow-earth. In this way, they will become gopis in Vrindavana, O Brahma.
Divine Apsara Girls
To bewilder Kamadeva’s army, on Mount Gandhamadana Narayana Rishi manifested a host of the most beautiful divine Apsara girls.
When they wished Him as their husband, perfect Narayana Rishi said to them, “You will become gopis in Vraja. Then your desire will be fulfilled.”
When the women of Sutalaloka saw Lord Vamana, they fell in love with Him and (to attain Him) they performed austerities. They will become gopi in Vraja, O Brahma.
Snake princesses that, desiring Him as their husband, worshiped Lord Shesha, will take birth in Vraja (to attain) Lord Balarama’s rasa dance.