The Gopis were Associates of Lord Rama

During Lord Rama’s last days, just before His pastimes in this world were completed and He was about to go to Ayodhya, His spiritual abode, many associates came and told Him, “We all want to go with You and always be with You.”

Rama replied, “In this incarnation I can only accept one Sita. Only one Sita will remain with Me. You are now so many. Go to Vrndavana and take birth from the wombs of gopis. I will manage everything there. I will fulfil all your desires.” So Krsna also came for this reason as well.

The associates of Rama were born as the gopis in Vrindavana.
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