Posted on: 13 Mar 2023
[Ms. Bhanu Samykya asked: Padanamaskaram Swami, Lord Krishna orally told to Gopikas to go away to their houses when they approached Him in the midnight. But, Krishna internally was moved by their strength of devotion in not going back and was pleased with their opposition. We usually think that one should follow the words of God to please God. But, this incident always makes me doubt the words of God. Is God pleased more if we don’t follow His words? What is the correct measure to know whether God is pleased or not? Can't we rely on the words of God in every case? Or should a devotee analyze what God says and come to the conclusion based on instincts? - at Your Divine Lotus Feet, Bhanu Samykya.]
Swami replied: Any policy shall not be generalized to all contexts. Since Gopikas opposed Krishna’s advise to go back to homes, it shall not be generalized to all contexts and if a thirsty Krishna is requesting Gopikas for some drinking water, Gopikas shall not refuse the request made by Krishna applying the previous policy to all contexts! In the previous contexts, Krishna is testing Gopikas whether their love for God Krishna is greater than their love on God (Krishna) involved in the promise made by them during their marriages that they will follow their husbands in all aspects without any deviation (Nāticarāmi). In order to prove that God is greater than their promise made on God, Gopikas opposed Krishna in this context and their opposition was very much appreciated by the heart of Krishna. You must always do very sharp analysis about the importance of the context in practicing a concept.