Distinguished Cowherd Girl
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Ramananda Raya then explained a sloka from the Padma Purana:
- yatha radha priya visnos
- tasyah kundam priyam tatha
- sarva-gopisu saivaika
- visnor atyanta-vallabha
"Srimati Radharani is the most beloved cowherd girl of Sri Krsna. Not only Srimati Radharani, but the lake known as Sri Radha-kunda is as dear to Sri Krsna as Srimati Radharani Herself."
Ramananda Raya then quoted another sloka from Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.30.28):
- anayaradhito nunam
- bhagavan harir isvarah
- yan no vihaya govindah
- prito yam anayad rahah
"My dear friends, the cowherd girl who has just been taken in privacy by Sri Krsna. leaving us all aside, must have rendered more valuable service to Him than ourselves."
Sri Radha is the specific name of the distinguished cowherd girl who has rendered the most obliging services to Sri Krsna. On hearing these two statements by Ramananda, Lord Caitanya felt an ecstasy of His own and said to Ramananda:
- prabhu kahe-age kaha, sunite pai sukhe
- apurvamrta-nadi vahe tomara mukhe
"Please continue. I am feeling too much happiness by your mode of explanation. It is something like a transcendental river of bliss flowing from your tongue." Lord Caitanya added:
- curi kari' radhake nila gopi-ganera dare
- anyapeksa haile premera gadhata na sphure
"Sri Krsna stole away Srimati Radharani because the nature of love that He had for Her was disturbed in the presence of the other gopis. If Krsna can give up the company of all other gopis for the sake of Srimati Radharani, I know that He is expecially attached to Her love."
When the transcendental pastime of rasa-lila continued, Sri Krsna thought that in the presence of all the gopis, confidential and secluded love affairs with Srimati Radharani would not be possible. He thought that in the presence of others the intensity of private love affairs could not be relished. For this reason, Sri Krsna abducted Srimati Radharani from within the assembly of all the other gopis and became separated from them all.