Even the Gopis Did Not Forget His Divinity
Narada answers a possible objection: the gopis' love was not ignorant infatuation, for they never forgot Krishna's divine greatness.
In Sutra 22, Narada anticipates a criticism: did the gopis not sin by loving Krishna so intimately? He answers that even in their passionate love, the gopis never forgot his true majesty: 'Tatra api na mahatmya-jnana-vismriti-apavadah.' Their love was not mere worldly attraction but devotion infused with awareness of the Beloved's divinity. The intimacy of their love did not diminish their reverence; rather, the two coexisted in perfect balance. This subtle point protects the gopi-ideal from misunderstanding, showing that the highest love combines tender closeness with profound awe. It teaches that true intimacy with the sacred never collapses into casual familiarity but holds reverence and nearness together.
Even there, the awareness of His greatness was never forgotten.
This balance of intimacy and awe corresponds to Rudolf Otto's analysis of the holy as both mysterium fascinans (alluring) and mysterium tremendum (awe-inspiring), held together in a single experience.
Narada Bhakti Sutras