The goddess Katyayani had given the gopis a boon, and on the day of Saradiya Purnima, Krsna saw the moon in a special way. In the autumn season, when the moon is full, there remains no clouds, smoke, or dust in the sky, and all becomes clear. The season itself is very beautiful. It is not too hot and it is not too cold, and by the influence of the moon all kinds of flowers are blooming. In the early evening, the sun sets, and red rays are cast by the full moon on his dear one, the personification of the eastern direction.

Our commentators have said that when Krsna saw the moon, He remembered, "Oh, yes. We are members of the Candra dynasty, and the original head of the Candra dynasty is this very Candra whom I see now. Tonight the indication has arisen in My heart that the eastern direction is really the wife of Surya. I am similarly applying colour to the faces of the gopis, meaning that I am enjoying amorous pastimes with them, and in this there is no fault, especially since I am actually the husband of the entire world."

Seeing the moon, this inspiration arose in Him. At that time He remembered that a boon had been given to the gopis' who had been performing tapasya for millions of births, and it was the last day of the month for puja, Purnima.. They were new gopis, young girls, and they gave invitations to Radhika, Visakha, Lalita, and all of the gpis of Vraja-mandal: "Today please come and join us in our puja."

So on that day when their worship was to be completed, Radhika, Visakha, and Lalita joined them, but they didn't participate in the worship. Why? Because they had already been married, so for them there was no necessity of saying, "We desire to have the son of Nanda as our husband." But all of them were present there, and on that very day Krsna took their clothes and gave them all a boon. He thought, "Today, I will fulfil the desires of their hearts."

Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja
Venu-Gita © 1995 Sri Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti