_Bhágabat_, X. xvi. 32: _"Lord! Out of a longing to be worthy to touch the dust of Thy feet, Lakshmi, though a [weak] woman, abstained from enjoyment and went through long penances, etc."_ The Bhatta answered, "Krishna and Náráyan are essentially one; only Krishna showed more of sportiveness and charm. Hence Lakshmi's chastity was not marred when she, for the sake of delight, sought Krishna's company [Quotation from the _Bhakti-rasdmrita-sindhu_]. Playful Lakshmi desired Krishna for the sake of the greater gain and _rása_ delight afforded by His society. What harm is there in it? Why are you joking?" The Master rejoined, "I know there is nothing to blame in it. The _Shastra_ asserts that Lakshmi never enjoyed the _rása_ dance with Krishna [_Vide Bhágabat_, X. xlvii. 53]. But the Shrutis attained to Krishna's society by their austerities. [_Ibid_, X. lxxxvii. 19]. What was the reason of this difference?" "My mind fails to explain the reason, as I am a petty creature with a weak understanding, while God's acts are infinite like the deep ocean. You are Krishna's self and know your own; exploits. Their inner meaning is known only to those on whom you have bestowed such knowledge." The Master said, "Such is the natural characteristic of Krishna that by His sweetness He wins all hearts. The men of Brindában knew Him not as God, because He came to them as one of themselves. One tied Him to the wooden pestle [_udukhal_], fancying Him to be her son. Some mounted on His back, taking Him to be a play-fellow. The people of Brindában knew Him as the son of Braja's chief, and not as the Godhead. He who adores Krishna in the manner of the people of Brindában, can alone attain to Him there. _Vide Bhágabat_, X. ix. 16. The Shrutis imitated the milk-maids [_Gopis_] and by taking the form of the Gopis they obtained the Son of the Queen of Mathura. They were incarnated in the bodies of the Gopis of Braja, and so disported with Krishna in the _rása_ play. Krishna was of the milkman caste; the Gopis were his dear ones; so Krishna refused goddesses and other women. Lakshmi wanted to unite with Krishna in His form of a milkman, and yet she did not seek Him by assuming the shape of a Gopi. But in no other form than that of a Gopi can the _rása_ pleasure be consummated, as Vyas has said in his verses, _viz._, _Bhágabat_, X. xlvii. 53."