Verse 1.7.48

Bengali text, Devanagari and Unicode transliteration of verse 1.7.48:

জন্ম হৈতে প্রভুরে সকল গোপী-গণে নিজ-পুত্র হৈতেও স্নেহ করে মনে ॥ ৪৮ ॥

जन्म हैते प्रभुरे सकल गोपी-गणे निज-पुत्र हैतेओ स्नेह करे मने ॥ ४८ ॥

janma haite prabhure sakala gopī-gaṇe nija-putra haiteo sneha kare mane || 48 ||

janma haite prabhure sakala gopi-gane nija-putra haiteo sneha kare mane (48)

English translation:

(48) From the time of the Lord’s birth, the gopīs had more affection for Him than they had for their own sons.

Commentary: Gauḍīya-bhāṣya by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura:

Sneha, or affection, is always meant for subordinates. Although the servants of Kṛṣṇa who constantly serve Him in the mood of confidential friendship, parenthood, and conjugal love totally remain under His subordination, they proudly consider themselves superior to Kṛṣṇa in order to solidify their affection. This pure affection is present more in Kṛṣṇa’s devotees than in Kṛṣṇa Himself. The supremacy of the worshipable Lord is greater than that of His servants. When Śrī Kṛṣṇa was unable to repay His debt for the loving service rendered by Śrīmatī Rādhikā, He accepted the mood of Śrī Rādhikā and displayed Her mentality. The pseudo-sampradāyas such as gaura-nāgarīs, who engage in material enjoyment, nourish a mood of opposing Śrī Gaurasundara’s

preaching of both pure devotional service and the glories of His servant’s pure love. Pure devotees of Gaura-Kṛṣṇa do not accept this.