In plain words
So we must begin life with tyāga. Only when we establish such sacred sayings in our heart will our life take shape as an ideal life. We must make the lamp of our Ātma travel always to a higher level, to a sacred upward course. Only when we set it on such a path will the lamp of our Ātma become the true supreme light. We must light the lamp of the Ātma that is our heart. That is why, once upon a time, Uddhava came to the Gopīs, who were burning with the grief of separation from Kṛṣṇa. At such a time, what news could Uddhava give these Gopīs? Uddhava! The news you have brought gives us no satisfaction at all. First bring Kṛṣṇa. Or at least give Kṛṣṇa our message.
My life's garland of flowers lies scattered: tell him to string it gracefully and wear it; on the clouded street of my mind, tell him to set the radiance of the sun that is Kṛṣṇa; to the withered tree of my life, tell him to make it put forth shoots, and quickly.
Darkness has gathered in the street of my heart. The darkness of ignorance has entered. If this ignorance is to be removed, tell him to light the lamp of his Name. The tree of my life has withered and dried to a stump. There is no cool shade. So tell him to make it put forth shoots soon. The garland of our life is in turmoil in many ways, and the flowers of our feelings have been scattered. Tell him to come himself and string these flowers into whatever adornment they should be strung. So sacred was the feeling of the Gopīs. The Gopīs did not desire anything for themselves at all. Whatever they did, all of it was an offering to Kṛṣṇa. They dedicated their life to the thought of Kṛṣṇa alone. The Gopīs and Kṛṣṇa are inseparable in form. It was because they had attained such oneness that, not caring even for their own lives, they ran off with God as their hearts pleased. If at some midnight they heard the music of the flute, they would leave their homes and run off, without asking whether it was night or day or who was around them. In such longing they went on praying. For the Gopīs it was: Kṛṣṇa, we are yours, but you are not ours. So in that feeling, ‘we are yours’, there is surrender. If all the Yādavas say, ‘Kṛṣṇa, you are mine, you are ours’, Ahaṅkāra grows. It is Ahaṅkāra that brings a downfall. So in this Yādava clan the club of Ahaṅkāra was born and destroyed the Yādavas. Because the principle of Prema grew so great in the Gopīs, the Gopīs and Kṛṣṇa became one. It is this dialogue of the Gopīs with Uddhava that teaches such a principle.