When Krishna and the gopīs attained pre-adolescence, the parents of the gopīs were forced by society to marry off the gopīs to other cowherd men. After the marriage was performed, the gopīs did not go immediately to the homes of their in-laws. They stayed at the homes of their parents but were severely restricted in going out anywhere.
These conditions were already intolerable, and on top of that the scorching summer season arrived. The days would be scorching, but the nights would be even worse, for these nights burnt the gopīs even more in the fire of viraha (separation). On one particular night, Sri Radha in her mood of separation experienced a burning sensation throughout her body and looking at the moon, she started talking to herself in a fit of madness as follows:
sāyaṁ nāyam udeti vāsara-maṇis candro nu caṇḍa-dyutir
dāvāgni katham ambare kim aśaniḥ svacchāntarīkṣe kutaḥ?
hantedaṁ niraṇāyi pāntha-ramaṇī-prāṇānilāśāśayā
dhāvad ghora-vibhāvarī viṣadharī bhogasya bhīmo maṇiḥ
"[Why is this bright moon-like orb burning me? Sri Radha argues with herself as follows:] Is this the sun? No it can't be, because the sun doesn't rise in the night. Is it the moon? It can't be, because the moon would never burn my body. Is it a forest fire? Can't be, because there can't be a forest fire in the sky. Is it some flash of lightning? Can't be, because the sky is completely clear. How can there be a lightning in a clear sky?
Oh yes! Now I understood! This must be a big sparkling jewel on the hood of a large snake eagerly running in my direction to snatch away my life!"
— (Subhāṣita-ratna-bhāṇḍāgāra, Page 302, Verse 117).
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