Prabhupāda: So Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, ramyā kācid upāsanā vrajavadhū-vargeṇa yā kalpitā (Caitanya-manjusa): there is no better method of worship than the system invented by the gopīs. So gopīs invention of worshiping Kṛṣṇa was to remain always Kṛṣṇa conscious, without any material profit. That is the superexcellence of gopīs. They never expected any return from Kṛṣṇa. That was not their business. "Kṛṣṇa, we have done so much for You, You cannot give me this benediction?" No, they never asked like that. That is the first-class worship. "Kṛṣṇa, You take whatever You like from us, but we do not ask anything, neither we have any need." This is gopīs worship. "We have got everything to give You, and we have no need to ask You." This is gopīs worship.
Generally, they worship God, needy, ārtaḥ arthārthī. Ārtaḥ means diseased, arthārthī means in need of money. People generally go to church, temple, when they are suffering from some ailments or need of money, these two classes. Another two classes: jijñāsuḥ, jñānī. Jñānī means who is after pure knowledge, and jijñāsuḥ means inquisitive—what is the nature of God. These are . . . they are higher section. But they are not bhaktas. Just like there are many philosophers, they also talk of God, but they are not bhaktas. But because they are talking of God, they are getting some benefit. Just like if you handle with fire, you perceive some warmth automatically.
So these four classes of men, they are not bhaktas, devotees—ārtaḥ, arthārthī, jñānī and jijñāsuḥ. But because they come to Kṛṣṇa for some benefit, some way or other they offer their service, because praying is also another service. There are nine kinds of services: śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam, arcanaṁ vandanam (SB 7.5.23). Vandanam, this is also service. But because this service is rendered for some motive to mitigate the sufferings, ārtaḥ arthārthi, or to satisfy some inquires, they are not pure devotion.
So the gopīs' activities, they are the supreme platform of pure devotion. There is no other business. There is no other business, gopīs they are not interested to know philosophically whether Kṛṣṇa is God, although they are seeing every step Kṛṣṇa is God. Mother Yaśodā is seeing that Kṛṣṇa is God. Gopīs also, gopī-jana-vallabha giri-vara-dhārī (Jaya Rādhā-Mādhava). Kṛṣṇa is lifting the Govardhana Hill. Who can do it except God? They are seeing it, still they do not know that Kṛṣṇa is God. "Kṛṣṇa is wonderful," that's all. They do not like to know whether Kṛṣṇa is God or not. They want to love Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa may be God or not God, it doesn't matter.
Just like if you love somebody, what he is—he is rich man, poor man, educated or non-educated—there is no consideration. Love has no such thing, consideration. Similarly, gopīs' love for Kṛṣṇa was pure. There was no consideration that Kṛṣṇa was God, therefore they wanted to dance with Him. No. Kṛṣṇa wanted to dance with them, therefore they came to Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is now calling by the vibration of His flute at this dead of night. So, all these young girls, they are all married—some of them are mothers—so immediately left their home. That is described in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Some of them were cooking, some of them were feeding, breast-feeding the children, some of them were feeding the husband or the father.
In this way, everyone was engaged. But as soon as Kṛṣṇa's flute was heard at dead of night, they left home immediately. All the guardians . . . generally in India for young girls, the guardians are the father, the husband, the brother—all male members—they forbid, "Where you are going? Where you are . . .?" Nobody cares. No love for so-called children, no love for home, no love for brother, father, or no respect. Kṛṣṇa. That is gopīs' superexcellence.