We sometimes mistake the activities of gopis, it appears just like lusty affairs. But actually that is not. Gopis used to dress themselves very nicely, attractively, so that Krsna may be very pleased. That was gopis’ desire. Just like in the material world the woman dresses very nicely so that a man may be attracted upon her, and then both of them will fulfill their sex desire or sense gratification. That is material world. But in the spiritual world there it appears that gopis are dressed very nicely not for the purpose of her own satisfaction. They want to satisfy Krsna, that “If I dress nicely, Krsna will be pleased.” So that is prema. And as soon as… In the material world, nobody wants to please anyone. He wants to please himself, his senses. That is kama. We should understand what is kama and what is prema.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.6.5 — November 27, 1976, Vrndavana