yat tv ahaḿ bhavatīnāḿ vai
dūre varte priyo dṛśām
manasaḥ sannikarṣārthaḿ
mad-anudhyāna-kāmyayā
yat -- the fact that; tu -- however; aham -- I; bhavatinam -- from your; vai -- indeed; dure -- far away; varte -- am situated; priyah -- who am dear; drisam -- to the eyes; manasah -- of the mind; sannikarsha -- of the attraction; artham -- for the sake; mat -- upon Me; anudhyana -- for your meditation; kamyaya -- out of My desire.
But the actual reason why I, the beloved object of your sight, have stayed far away from you is that I wanted to intensify your meditation upon Me and thus draw your minds closer to Me.
Sometimes that which is close to our eyes is far from our heart and mind, and conversely absence makes the heart grow fonder. Although apparently going far away from the gopis, Lord Krishna was bringing them closer to Him on the spiritual platform.
