Answer
The pastimes in Goloka Vrindavana are the original transcendental pastimes of Krishna, and the pastimes displayed in this material world are a replica of those eternal activities. Through Krishna’s earthly pastimes in Gokula Vrindavana, we get some understanding of the kinds of loving exchanges and divine activities He eternally performs in Goloka Vrindavana.
When we hear about the pastimes Krishna performed in the manifest Vrindavana on this earthly planet, we should understand that there are certain differences between the spiritual and material manifestations. One unique feature of the earthly Gokula Vrindavana is the killing of demons. In Goloka Vrindavana, there are no demons; therefore, there is no pastime of demon killing there.
Similarly, in the material world, Krishna appears to take birth. First He appears as the son of Devaki and Vasudeva, and later He is brought to Gokula. But in the spiritual world there is no birth — neither for Krishna nor for the living entities. The devotees in the spiritual world are eternally present there, so the pastime of birth does not exist in Goloka Vrindavana.
In this world, Krishna appears as an infant child, gradually grows into boyhood and youth, and eventually leaves Vrindavana for Mathura. But such growth and change do not take place in Goloka Vrindavana. There, Krishna eternally remains present in His perfect transcendental forms — as the beloved child of Mother Yashoda, the dear friend of the cowherd boys, and the beloved of Srimati Radharani and the gopis.
Eternally, Krishna engages in loving pastimes with His devotees, reciprocating individually and perfectly according to each devotee’s mood and desire to serve Him. In the spiritual world, Krishna is fully and exclusively available to every devotee. That is the nature of Goloka Vrindavana, the eternal spiritual world.
