yūyaḿ vivastrā yad apo dhṛta-vratā
vyagāhataitat tad u deva-helanam
baddhvāñjaliḿ mūrdhny apanuttaye 'ḿhasaḥ
kṛtvā namo 'dho-vasanaḿ pragṛhyatām
yuyam -- you; vivastrah -- naked; yat -- because; apah -- in the water; dhrita-vratah -- while executing a Vedic ritualistic vow; vyagahata -- bathed; etat tat -- this; u -- indeed; deva-helanam -- an offense against Varuna and the other gods; baddhva anjalim -- with palms joined together; murdhni -- upon your heads; apanuttaye -- for counteracting; amhasah -- your sinful action; kritva namah -- paying obeisances; adhah-vasanam -- your lower garments; pragrihyatam -- please take back.
[Lord Krishna said:] You girls bathed naked while executing your vow, and that is certainly an offense against the demigods. To counteract your sin you should offer obeisances while placing your joined palms above your heads. Then you should take back your lower garments.
Krishna wanted to see the full surrender of the gopis, and thus He ordered them to offer obeisances with their palms joined above their heads. In other words, the gopis could no longer cover their bodies. We should not foolishly think that Lord Krishna is an ordinary lusty boy enjoying the naked beauty of the gopis. Krishna is the Supreme Absolute Truth, and He was acting to fulfill the loving desire of the young cowherd girls of Vrindavana. In this world we would certainly become lusty in a situation like this. But to compare ourselves to God is a great offense, and because of this offense we will not be able to understand Krishna's transcendental position, for we will wrongly take Him to be materially conditioned like ourselves. To lose transcendental sight of Krishna is certainly a great disaster for one trying to relish the bliss of the Absolute Truth.
