Krsna and gopis. They were cowherds girl. Their father, mother, they were only ordinary village men, keeping cows. That’s all. What was their education? They were not Vedantists. But they learned to love Krsna. That was their qualification. And Caitanya Mahaprabhu certifies, ramyad upasana vraja-vadhu-vargena va kalpita. “Oh, there is no better worship than that which was contemplated by the gopis.” Because they did not know what is Krsna but they loved Krsna. That’s all. They loved Krsna, that because Krsna was God or Krsna was something great? No. Their natural affection was for Krsna. They could not stay even for a moment without seeing Krsna. That was their qualification. This is Krsna consciousness.

Srila Prabhupada — Los Angeles, November 25, 1968