Krishna had returned to Vraja. Yashoda called the women together. Paurnamasi sat beside her. Radha and the other gopis came when summoned. Their difficult circumstances still weighed upon them. Yashoda saw them and tears filled her eyes. Their reflections appeared within those tears. She looked toward Paurnamasi as though placing them in her care.
Paurnamasi asked that every household be invited. Some women went out to carry the summons. They found apparent Radha and the other gopis at home as well. They returned and quietly reported the strange sight. Paurnamasi sent others to see. The second visitors brought the same report. Wonder spread as far as Nanda's assembly. The men and women of Vraja were gathered together.
Paurnamasi entered meditation. The goddess Vishnu-maya came into view. Her form was dark. Eight arms extended about her. She carried a discus and other weapons. The gods praised her power. Everyone raised their faces to behold her. She addressed Nanda, Yashoda, and the assembled families.
The goddess urged them to put aside their doubts. She had made likenesses of the gopis. Those likenesses had appeared beside the supposed husbands. The original gopis had not entered those marriages or shared those beds. She had protected the women intended for her brother Krishna. She praised the gopis for recognizing Him as their beloved. Their conviction had followed the strength of their love. She recalled Krishna's own words honoring their blameless devotion.
Then she brought the likenesses out of the households. They stood before the gathering like reflections beside their originals. Yashoda and the other women examined both groups. They compared their difficulty to distinguishing gems from shining glass. The examination seemed to test the observers themselves. The goddess asked them to place each pair together. The originals shone like the sun. Beside them, the likenesses resembled the moon close to its light.
Nanda asked what should happen next. The goddess directed the originals to their fathers' homes. The likenesses were to return to the homes they had occupied. The people answered with cries of joy. The goddess took her leave. Krishna and the gopis shone with relief and happiness. Before the families departed, another question arose. The gopis still wished their faithfulness to be publicly clear.
They and their mothers delayed the return home. The gopis asked for a trial by fire. They presented the written declaration they had made. It affirmed their devotion in thought, speech, and action. It included both waking life and dreams. Their allegiance belonged to Nanda's son alone. Their mothers grew anxious and showed the declaration to the fathers. The matter troubled the gathered people of Vraja.
Paurnamasi thought of Durvasa, and the sage arrived. The people honored him with bows. He spoke of his own devotion to Krishna. He addressed the gopis respectfully as mothers. He said their faithfulness would leave ordinary fire powerless. Instead, he offered the fire of his own ascetic strength. He invited them to affirm their declaration there. He gathered everyone to witness it, including Krishna.
The sage led them to an open place. There he assumed a form of blazing fire. His radiance spread through the surrounding space. The gopis entered that brilliance with joy. They remained cool, like the waters of the Alakananda. Their coolness also brought comfort to those watching. Krishna watched with an anxious heart. He tried to conceal the tears flowing from His eyes.
The gopis came out unharmed. Neither an eyelash nor the edge of a garment was damaged. Their youthful beauty appeared renewed. Durvasa took leave of Krishna and Balarama and disappeared. Even those formerly regarded as their in-laws honored them. The gopis answered with humility and respect. Amid flowers, music, and joyful voices, their parents led them home. There mothers, fathers, and relatives cherished them with affection.