Before Verses
Devanagari
Verse Text
Synonyms
Translation
Purport
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
Uddhava Visits Vṛndāvana
This chapter describes how Śrī Kṛṣṇa sent Uddhava to Vraja to relieve the distress of Nanda, Yaśodā and the young gopīs.
One day Lord Kṛṣṇa asked His intimate friend Uddhava to take news of Him to Vraja and thus relieve His parents and the gopīs of their misery caused by their separation from Him. Riding on a chariot, Uddhava reached Vraja at sunset. He saw the cows returning home to the cowherd village and the calves jumping here and there as their mothers followed slowly behind, weighed down by their heavy milk bags. The cowherd men and women were chanting the glories of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, and the village was attractively decorated with burning incense and rows of lamps. All this presented a scene of exceptional transcendental beauty.
Nanda Mahārāja welcomed Uddhava warmly into his home. The cowherd King then worshiped him as nondifferent from Lord Vāsudeva, fed him nicely, seated him comfortably upon a bed and then inquired from him about the welfare of Vasudeva and his sons, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma. Nanda asked, “Does Kṛṣṇa still remember His friends, the village of Gokula and Govardhana Hill? He protected us from a forest fire, wind and rain, and many other disasters. By remembering His pastimes again and again, we are relieved of all karmic entanglement, and when we see the places marked by His lotus feet, our minds become fully absorbed in thought of Him. Garga Muni told me that Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma have both descended directly from the spiritual world. Just see how They have so easily dispatched Kaṁsa, the wrestlers, the elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa and many other demons!” As Nanda remembered Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes, his throat choked up with tears and he could speak no further. Meanwhile, as mother Yaśodā heard her husband speak of Kṛṣṇa, the intense love she felt for her son caused a flood of milk to pour from her breasts and a torrent of tears from her eyes.
Seeing the superexcellent affection Nanda and Yaśodā had for Śrī Kṛṣṇa, Uddhava commented, “You two are indeed most glorious. One who has attained pure love for the Supreme Absolute Truth in His humanlike form has nothing further to accomplish. Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma are present in the hearts of all living beings, just as fire lies dormant within wood. These two Lords see all equally, having no particular friends or enemies. Free from egoism and possessiveness, They have no father, mother, wife or children, are never subject to birth, and have no material body. Only to enjoy spiritual happiness and deliver Their saintly devotees do They appear by Their own sweet will among various species of life, both high and low.
“Lord Kṛṣṇa is not merely the son of you, O Nanda and Yaśodā, but the son of all persons, as well as their mother and father. In fact, He is everyone’s dearest relation inasmuch as nothing that is seen or heard in the past, present or future, among the moving or nonmoving, is independent of Him.”
Nanda Mahārāja and Uddhava passed the night talking about Kṛṣṇa in this way. Then the cowherd women performed their morning worship and began churning butter, singing the glories of Śrī Kṛṣṇa as they busily pulled the churning ropes. The sounds of churning and singing reverberated into the sky, cleansing the world of all inauspiciousness.
When the sun rose, the gopīs saw Uddhava’s chariot at the edge of the cowherd village, and they thought that Akrūra might have returned. But just then Uddhava finished his morning duties and presented himself before them.
Devanagari
श्रीशुक उवाच
वृष्णीनां प्रवरो मन्त्री कृष्णस्य दयित: सखा ।
शिष्यो बृहस्पते:
साक्षादुद्धवो बुद्धिसत्तम: ॥ १ ॥
वृष्णीनां प्रवरो मन्त्री कृष्णस्य दयित: सखा ।
शिष्यो बृहस्पते:
साक्षादुद्धवो बुद्धिसत्तम: ॥ १ ॥
Verse text
śrī-śuka uvāca
vṛṣṇīnāṁ pravaro mantrī
kṛṣṇasya dayitaḥ sakhā
śiṣyo bṛhaspateḥ sākṣād
uddhavo buddhi-sattamaḥ
vṛṣṇīnāṁ pravaro mantrī
kṛṣṇasya dayitaḥ sakhā
śiṣyo bṛhaspateḥ sākṣād
uddhavo buddhi-sattamaḥ
Synonyms
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; vṛṣṇīnām — of the Vṛṣṇis; pravaraḥ — the best; mantrī — adviser; kṛṣṇasya — of Kṛṣṇa; dayitaḥ — beloved; sakhā — friend; śiṣyaḥ — disciple; bṛhaspateḥ — of Bṛhaspati, the spiritual master of the demigods; sākṣāt — directly; uddhavaḥ — Uddhava; buddhi — having intelligence; sat-tamaḥ — of the highest quality.
Translation
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: The supremely intelligent Uddhava was the best counselor of the Vṛṣṇi dynasty, a beloved friend of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa and a direct disciple of Bṛhaspati.
Purport
The ācāryas give various reasons why Lord Kṛṣṇa sent Uddhava to Vṛndāvana. The Lord had promised the residents of Vṛndāvana: āyāsye, “I shall return.” (Bhāg. 10.39.35) Also, in the previous chapter Lord Kṛṣṇa promised Nanda Mahārāja: draṣṭum eṣyāmaḥ, “We will come back to see you and mother Yaśodā.” (Bhāg. 10.45.23) At the same time, the Lord could not break His promise to Śrī Vasudeva and mother Devakī to finally spend some time with them after they had suffered for so many years. Therefore, the Lord decided to send His intimate representative to Vṛndāvana in His place.
The question may be asked, Why did Kṛṣṇa not invite Nanda and Yaśodā to visit Him in Mathurā? According to Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, for the Lord to have exchanged loving feelings with Nanda and Yaśodā in the same place and at the same time that He was exchanging them with Vasudeva and Devakī would have created an awkward situation in the Lord’s pastimes. Thus Kṛṣṇa did not invite Nanda and Yaśodā to stay with Him in Mathurā. The residents of Vṛndāvana had their own way of understanding Kṛṣṇa, and their feelings could not have been appropriately expressed on a regular basis in the kingly atmosphere of Mathurā.
Śrī Uddhava is described in this verse as buddhi-sattamaḥ, “the most intelligent,” and thus he could expertly pacify the residents of Vṛndāvana, who were feeling such intense separation from Lord Kṛṣṇa. Then, upon his return to Mathurā, Uddhava would describe to all the members of the Vṛṣṇi dynasty the extraordinary pure love he had seen in Vṛndāvana. Indeed, the love the cowherd men and gopīs felt for Kṛṣṇa was far beyond anything the Lord’s other devotees had ever experienced, and by hearing about that love all the Lord’s devotees would increase their faith and devotion.
As stated in the Third Canto by the Lord Himself, noddhavo ’nv api man-nyūnaḥ: “Uddhava is not even slightly different from Me.” Resembling Kṛṣṇa so much, Uddhava was the perfect person to carry out the Lord’s mission in Vṛndāvana. In fact, Śrī Hari-vaṁśa states that Uddhava is the son of Vasudeva’s brother Devabhāga: uddhavo devabhāgasya mahā-bhāgaḥ suto ’bhavat. In other words, he is a cousin-brother of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s.
Devanagari
तमाह भगवान्प्रेष्ठं भक्तमेकान्तिनं क्वचित् ।
गृहीत्वा पाणिना पाणिं प्रपन्नार्तिहरो हरि: ॥ २ ॥
गृहीत्वा पाणिना पाणिं प्रपन्नार्तिहरो हरि: ॥ २ ॥
Verse text
tam āha bhagavān preṣṭhaṁ
bhaktam ekāntinaṁ kvacit
gṛhītvā pāṇinā pāṇiṁ
prapannārti-haro hariḥ
bhaktam ekāntinaṁ kvacit
gṛhītvā pāṇinā pāṇiṁ
prapannārti-haro hariḥ
Synonyms
tam — to him; āha — spoke; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; preṣṭham — to His most dear; bhaktam — devotee; ekāntinam — exclusive; kvacit — on one occasion; gṛhītvā — taking; pāṇinā — with His hand; pāṇim — (Uddhava’s) hand; prapanna — of those who surrender; ārti — the distress; haraḥ — who takes away; hariḥ — Lord Hari.
Translation
The Supreme Lord Hari, who relieves the distress of all who surrender to Him, once took the hand of His fully devoted, dearmost friend Uddhava and addressed him as follows.
Devanagari
गच्छोद्धव व्रजं सौम्य पित्रोर्नौ प्रीतिमावह ।
गोपीनां मद्वियोगाधिं मत्सन्देशैर्विमोचय ॥ ३ ॥
गोपीनां मद्वियोगाधिं मत्सन्देशैर्विमोचय ॥ ३ ॥
Verse text
gacchoddhava vrajaṁ saumya
pitror nau prītim āvaha
gopīnāṁ mad-viyogādhiṁ
mat-sandeśair vimocaya
pitror nau prītim āvaha
gopīnāṁ mad-viyogādhiṁ
mat-sandeśair vimocaya
Synonyms
gaccha — please go; uddhava — O Uddhava; vrajam — to Vraja; saumya — O gentle one; pitroḥ — to the parents; nau — Our; prītim — satisfaction; āvaha — carry; gopīnām — of the gopīs; mat — from Me; viyoga — caused by separation; ādhim — of the mental pain; mat — brought from Me; sandeśaiḥ — by messages; vimocaya — relieve them.
Translation
[Lord Kṛṣṇa said:] Dear gentle Uddhava, go to Vraja and give pleasure to Our parents. And also relieve the gopīs, suffering in separation from Me, by giving them My message.
Devanagari
ता मन्मनस्का मत्प्राणा मतर्थे त्यक्तदैहिका: ।
मामेव दयितं प्रेष्ठमात्मानं मनसा गता: ।
ये त्यक्तलोकधर्माश्च मदर्थे तान्बिभर्म्यहम् ॥ ४ ॥
मामेव दयितं प्रेष्ठमात्मानं मनसा गता: ।
ये त्यक्तलोकधर्माश्च मदर्थे तान्बिभर्म्यहम् ॥ ४ ॥
Verse text
tā man-manaskā mat-prāṇā
mat-arthe tyakta-daihikāḥ
mām eva dayitaṁ preṣṭham
ātmānaṁ manasā gatāḥ
ye tyakta-loka-dharmāś ca
mad-arthe tān bibharmy aham
mat-arthe tyakta-daihikāḥ
mām eva dayitaṁ preṣṭham
ātmānaṁ manasā gatāḥ
ye tyakta-loka-dharmāś ca
mad-arthe tān bibharmy aham
Synonyms
tāḥ — they (the gopīs); mat — absorbed in Me; manaskāḥ — their minds; mat — fixed upon Me; prāṇāḥ — their lives; mat-arthe — for My sake; tyakta — abandoning; daihikāḥ — everything on the bodily platform; mām — Me; eva — alone; dayitam — their beloved; preṣṭham — dearmost; ātmānam — Self; manasā gatāḥ — understood; ye — who (the gopīs, or anyone); tyakta — giving up; loka — this world; dharmāḥ — religiosity; ca — and; mat-arthe — for My sake; tān — them; bibharmi — sustain; aham — I.
Translation
The minds of those gopīs are always absorbed in Me, and their very lives are ever devoted to Me. For My sake they have abandoned everything related to their bodies, renouncing ordinary happiness in this life, as well as religious duties necessary for such happiness in the next life. I alone am their dearmost beloved and, indeed, their very Self. I personally sustain such devotees, who for My sake give up all worldly duties.
Purport
Here the Lord explains why He wants to send a special message to the gopīs. According to the Vaiṣṇava ācāryas, the word daihikāḥ, “related to the body,” refers to husbands, children, homes and so on. The gopīs loved Kṛṣṇa so intensely that they could think of nothing else. Since Śrī Kṛṣṇa maintains ordinary devotees engaged in sādhana-bhakti, devotional service in practice, He will certainly maintain the gopīs, His most exalted devotees.
Devanagari
मयि ता: प्रेयसां प्रेष्ठे दूरस्थे गोकुलस्त्रिय: ।
स्मरन्त्योऽङ्ग विमुह्यन्ति विरहौत्कण्ठ्यविह्वला: ॥ ५ ॥
स्मरन्त्योऽङ्ग विमुह्यन्ति विरहौत्कण्ठ्यविह्वला: ॥ ५ ॥
Verse text
mayi tāḥ preyasāṁ preṣṭhe
dūra-sthe gokula-striyaḥ
smarantyo ’ṅga vimuhyanti
virahautkaṇṭhya-vihvalāḥ
dūra-sthe gokula-striyaḥ
smarantyo ’ṅga vimuhyanti
virahautkaṇṭhya-vihvalāḥ
Synonyms
mayi — I; tāḥ — they; preyasām — of all objects of endearment; preṣṭhe — the most dear; dūra-sthe — being far away; gokula-striyaḥ — the women of Gokula; smarantyaḥ — remembering; aṅga — dear (Uddhava); vimuhyanti — become stunned; viraha — of separation; autkaṇṭhya — by the anxiety; vihvalāḥ — overwhelmed.
Translation
My dear Uddhava, for those women of Gokula I am the most cherished object of love. Thus when they remember Me, who am so far away, they are overwhelmed by the anxiety of separation.
Purport
Whatever is dear to us becomes an object of our possessiveness. Ultimately the most dear object is our very soul, or our self. Thus things in a favorable relationship to our self also become dear to us, and we try to possess them. According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī, among countless millions of such dear things, Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the most dear of all, even dearer than one’s own self. The gopīs had realized this fact, and thus they were stunned in separation from the Lord because of their intense love for Him. Although they would have given up their lives, they were kept alive by the Lord’s transcendental potency.
Devanagari
धारयन्त्यतिकृच्छ्रेण प्राय: प्राणान् कथञ्चन ।
प्रत्यागमनसन्देशैर्बल्लव्यो मे मदात्मिका: ॥ ६ ॥
प्रत्यागमनसन्देशैर्बल्लव्यो मे मदात्मिका: ॥ ६ ॥
Verse text
dhārayanty ati-kṛcchreṇa
prāyaḥ prāṇān kathañcana
pratyāgamana-sandeśair
ballavyo me mad-ātmikāḥ
prāyaḥ prāṇān kathañcana
pratyāgamana-sandeśair
ballavyo me mad-ātmikāḥ
Synonyms
Translation
Simply because I have promised to return to them, My fully devoted cowherd girlfriends struggle to maintain their lives somehow or other.
Purport
According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī, although the gopīs of Vṛndāvana were apparently married, their husbands actually had no contact whatsoever with their supremely attractive qualities of form, taste, fragrance, sound, touch and so on. Rather, their husbands merely presumed, “These are our wives.” In other words, by Lord Kṛṣṇa’s spiritual potency, the gopīs existed entirely for His pleasure, and Kṛṣṇa loved them in the mood of a paramour. In fact, the gopīs were manifestations of Kṛṣṇa’s internal nature, His supreme pleasure potency, and on the spiritual platform they attracted the Lord by their pure love.
Nanda Mahārāja and mother Yaśodā, Lord Kṛṣṇa’s parents in Vṛndāvana, had also attained a most exalted state of love for Kṛṣṇa, and they too could barely maintain their lives in His absence. Thus Uddhava would also give special attention to them.
Devanagari
श्रीशुक उवाच
इत्युक्त उद्धवो राजन्सन्देशं भर्तुरादृत: ।
आदाय रथमारुह्य प्रययौ नन्दगोकुलम् ॥ ७ ॥
इत्युक्त उद्धवो राजन्सन्देशं भर्तुरादृत: ।
आदाय रथमारुह्य प्रययौ नन्दगोकुलम् ॥ ७ ॥
Verse text
śrī-śuka uvāca
ity ukta uddhavo rājan
sandeśaṁ bhartur ādṛtaḥ
ādāya ratham āruhya
prayayau nanda-gokulam
ity ukta uddhavo rājan
sandeśaṁ bhartur ādṛtaḥ
ādāya ratham āruhya
prayayau nanda-gokulam
Synonyms
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; iti — thus; uktaḥ — spoken to; uddhavaḥ — Uddhava; rājan — O King (Parīkṣit); sandeśam — the message; bhartuḥ — of his master; ādṛtaḥ — respectfully; ādāya — taking; ratham — his chariot; āruhya — mounting; prayayau — went off; nanda-gokulam — to the cowherd village of Nanda Mahārāja.
Translation
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Thus addressed, O King, Uddhava respectfully accepted his master’s message, mounted his chariot and set off for Nanda-gokula.
Devanagari
प्राप्तो नन्दव्रजं श्रीमान् निम्लोचति विभावसौ ।
छन्नयान: प्रविशतां पशूनां खुररेणुभि: ॥ ८ ॥
छन्नयान: प्रविशतां पशूनां खुररेणुभि: ॥ ८ ॥
Verse text
prāpto nanda-vrajaṁ śrīmān
nimlocati vibhāvasau
channa-yānaḥ praviśatāṁ
paśūnāṁ khura-reṇubhiḥ
nimlocati vibhāvasau
channa-yānaḥ praviśatāṁ
paśūnāṁ khura-reṇubhiḥ
Synonyms
prāptaḥ — reaching; nanda-vrajam — the pastures of Nanda Mahārāja; śrīmān — the fortunate (Uddhava); nimlocati — while it was setting; vibhāvasau — the sun; channa — invisible; yānaḥ — whose passing; praviśatām — who were entering; paśūnām — of the animals; khura — of the hooves; reṇubhiḥ — by the dust.
Translation
The fortunate Uddhava reached Nanda Mahārāja’s pastures just as the sun was setting, and since the returning cows and other animals were raising dust with their hooves, his chariot passed unnoticed.
Devanagari
वासितार्थेऽभियुध्यद्भिर्नादितं शुश्मिभिर्वृषै: ।
धावन्तीभिश्च वास्राभिरुधोभारै: स्ववत्सकान् ॥ ९ ॥
इतस्ततो विलङ्घद्भिर्गोवत्सैर्मण्डितं सितै: ।
गोदोहशब्दाभिरवं वेणूनां नि:स्वनेन च ॥ १० ॥
गायन्तीभिश्च कर्माणि शुभानि बलकृष्णयो: ।
स्वलङ्कृताभिर्गोपीभिर्गोपैश्च सुविराजितम् ॥ ११ ॥
अग्न्यर्कातिथिगोविप्रपितृदेवार्चनान्वितै: ।
धूपदीपैश्च माल्यैश्च गोपावासैर्मनोरमम् ॥ १२ ॥
सर्वत: पुष्पितवनं द्विजालिकुलनादितम् ।
हंसकारण्डवाकीर्णै: पद्मषण्डैश्च मण्डितम् ॥ १३ ॥
धावन्तीभिश्च वास्राभिरुधोभारै: स्ववत्सकान् ॥ ९ ॥
इतस्ततो विलङ्घद्भिर्गोवत्सैर्मण्डितं सितै: ।
गोदोहशब्दाभिरवं वेणूनां नि:स्वनेन च ॥ १० ॥
गायन्तीभिश्च कर्माणि शुभानि बलकृष्णयो: ।
स्वलङ्कृताभिर्गोपीभिर्गोपैश्च सुविराजितम् ॥ ११ ॥
अग्न्यर्कातिथिगोविप्रपितृदेवार्चनान्वितै: ।
धूपदीपैश्च माल्यैश्च गोपावासैर्मनोरमम् ॥ १२ ॥
सर्वत: पुष्पितवनं द्विजालिकुलनादितम् ।
हंसकारण्डवाकीर्णै: पद्मषण्डैश्च मण्डितम् ॥ १३ ॥
Verse text
vāsitārthe ’bhiyudhyadbhir
nāditaṁ śuśmibhir vṛṣaiḥ
dhāvantībhiś ca vāsrābhir
udho-bhāraiḥ sva-vatsakān
nāditaṁ śuśmibhir vṛṣaiḥ
dhāvantībhiś ca vāsrābhir
udho-bhāraiḥ sva-vatsakān
itas tato vilaṅghadbhir
go-vatsair maṇḍitaṁ sitaiḥ
go-doha-śabdābhiravaṁ
veṇūnāṁ niḥsvanena ca
go-vatsair maṇḍitaṁ sitaiḥ
go-doha-śabdābhiravaṁ
veṇūnāṁ niḥsvanena ca
gāyantībhiś ca karmāṇi
śubhāni bala-kṛṣṇayoḥ
sv-alaṅkṛtābhir gopībhir
gopaiś ca su-virājitam
śubhāni bala-kṛṣṇayoḥ
sv-alaṅkṛtābhir gopībhir
gopaiś ca su-virājitam
agny-arkātithi-go-vipra-
pitṛ-devārcanānvitaiḥ
dhūpa-dīpaiś ca mālyaiś ca
gopāvāsair mano-ramam
pitṛ-devārcanānvitaiḥ
dhūpa-dīpaiś ca mālyaiś ca
gopāvāsair mano-ramam
sarvataḥ puṣpita-vanaṁ
dvijāli-kula-nāditam
haṁsa-kāraṇḍavākīrṇaiḥ
padma-ṣaṇḍaiś ca maṇḍitam
dvijāli-kula-nāditam
haṁsa-kāraṇḍavākīrṇaiḥ
padma-ṣaṇḍaiś ca maṇḍitam
Synonyms
vāsita — of the fertile (cows); arthe — for the sake; abhiyudhyadbhiḥ — who were fighting with one another; nāditam — resounding; śuśmibhiḥ — sexually aroused; vṛṣaiḥ — with the bulls; dhāvantībhiḥ — running; ca — and; vāsrābhiḥ — with the cows; udhaḥ — by their udders; bhāraiḥ — burdened; sva — after their own; vatsakān — calves; itaḥ tataḥ — here and there; vilaṅghadbhiḥ — jumping; go-vatsaiḥ — by the calves; maṇḍitam — adorned; sitaiḥ — white; go-doha — of the milking of the cows; śabda — by the sounds; abhiravam — reverberating; veṇūnām — of flutes; niḥsvanena — with the loud vibration; ca — and; gāyantībhiḥ — who were singing; ca — and; karmāṇi — about the deeds; śubhāni — auspicious; bala-kṛṣṇayoḥ — of Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa; su — finely; alaṅkṛtābhiḥ — ornamented; gopībhiḥ — with the cowherd women; gopaiḥ — the cowherd men; ca — and; su-virājitam — resplendent; agni — of the sacrificial fire; arka — the sun; atithi — guests; go — the cows; vipra — the brāhmaṇas; pitṛ — forefathers; deva — and demigods; arcana — with worship; anvitaiḥ — filled; dhūpa — with incense; dīpaiḥ — lamps; ca — and; mālyaiḥ — with flower garlands; ca — also; gopa-āvāsaiḥ — because of the homes of the cowherds; manaḥ-ramam — very attractive; sarvataḥ — on all sides; puṣpita — flowering; vanam — with the forest; dvija — of birds; ali — and bees; kula — with the swarms; nāditam — resounding; haṁsa — with swans; kāraṇḍava — and a certain species of duck; ākīrṇaiḥ — crowded; padma-ṣaṇḍaiḥ — with bowers of lotuses; ca — and; maṇḍitam — beautified.
Translation
Gokula resounded on all sides with the sounds of bulls in rut fighting with one another for fertile cows; with the mooing of cows, burdened by their udders, chasing after their calves; with the noise of milking and of the white calves jumping here and there; with the loud reverberation of flute-playing; and with the singing of the all-auspicious deeds of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma by the cowherd men and women, who made the village resplendent with their wonderfully ornamented attire. The cowherds’ homes in Gokula appeared most charming with their abundant paraphernalia for worship of the sacrificial fire, the sun, unexpected guests, the cows, the brāhmaṇas, the forefathers and the demigods. On all sides lay the flowering forest, echoing with flocks of birds and swarms of bees and beautified by its lakes crowded with swans, kāraṇḍava ducks and bowers of lotuses.
Purport
Although Gokula was merged in grief because of separation from Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Lord expanded His internal potency to cover that particular manifestation of Vraja and allow Uddhava to see the normal bustle and joy of Vraja at sunset.
Devanagari
तमागतं समागम्य कृष्णस्यानुचरं प्रियम् ।
नन्द: प्रीत: परिष्वज्य वासुदेवधियार्चयत् ॥ १४ ॥
नन्द: प्रीत: परिष्वज्य वासुदेवधियार्चयत् ॥ १४ ॥
Verse text
tam āgataṁ samāgamya
kṛṣṇasyānucaraṁ priyam
nandaḥ prītaḥ pariṣvajya
vāsudeva-dhiyārcayat
kṛṣṇasyānucaraṁ priyam
nandaḥ prītaḥ pariṣvajya
vāsudeva-dhiyārcayat
Synonyms
Translation
As soon as Uddhava arrived at Nanda Mahārāja’s home, Nanda came forward to meet him. The cowherd King embraced him in great happiness and worshiped him as nondifferent from Lord Vāsudeva.
Purport
Uddhava looked just like Nanda’s son Kṛṣṇa and gave pleasure to anyone who saw him. Thus although Nanda was absorbed in thoughts of separation from Kṛṣṇa, when he saw Uddhava coming toward his house, he became aware of external events and eagerly went out to embrace his exalted visitor.
Devanagari
भोजितं परमान्नेन संविष्टं कशिपौ सुखम् ।
गतश्रमं पर्यपृच्छत् पादसंवाहनादिभि: ॥ १५ ॥
गतश्रमं पर्यपृच्छत् पादसंवाहनादिभि: ॥ १५ ॥
Verse text
bhojitaṁ paramānnena
saṁviṣṭaṁ kaśipau sukham
gata-śramaṁ paryapṛcchat
pāda-saṁvāhanādibhiḥ
saṁviṣṭaṁ kaśipau sukham
gata-śramaṁ paryapṛcchat
pāda-saṁvāhanādibhiḥ
Synonyms
Translation
After Uddhava had eaten first-class food, been seated comfortably on a bed and been relieved of his fatigue by a foot massage and other means, Nanda inquired from him as follows.
Purport
Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī mentions that Nanda had a servant massage Uddhava’s feet, since Uddhava was Nanda’s nephew.
Devanagari
कच्चिदङ्ग महाभाग सखा न: शूरनन्दन: ।
आस्ते कुशल्यपत्याद्यैर्युक्तो मुक्त: सुहृद्व्रत: ॥ १६ ॥
आस्ते कुशल्यपत्याद्यैर्युक्तो मुक्त: सुहृद्व्रत: ॥ १६ ॥
Verse text
kaccid aṅga mahā-bhāga
sakhā naḥ śūra-nandanaḥ
āste kuśaly apatyādyair
yukto muktaḥ suhṛd-vrataḥ
sakhā naḥ śūra-nandanaḥ
āste kuśaly apatyādyair
yukto muktaḥ suhṛd-vrataḥ
Synonyms
kaccit — whether; aṅga — my dear; mahā-bhāga — O most fortunate one; sakhā — the friend; naḥ — our; śūra-nandanaḥ — the son of King Śūra (Vasudeva); āste — lives; kuśalī — well; apatya-ādyaiḥ — with his children and so on; yuktaḥ — joined; muktaḥ — freed; suhṛt — to his friends; vrataḥ — who is devoted.
Translation
[Nanda Mahārāja said:] My dear most fortunate one, does the son of Śūra fare well, now that he is free and has rejoined his children and other relatives?
Devanagari
दिष्ट्या कंसो हत: पाप: सानुग: स्वेन पाप्मना ।
साधूनां धर्मशीलानां यदूनां द्वेष्टि य: सदा ॥ १७ ॥
साधूनां धर्मशीलानां यदूनां द्वेष्टि य: सदा ॥ १७ ॥
Verse text
diṣṭyā kaṁso hataḥ pāpaḥ
sānugaḥ svena pāpmanā
sādhūnāṁ dharma-śīlānāṁ
yadūnāṁ dveṣṭi yaḥ sadā
sānugaḥ svena pāpmanā
sādhūnāṁ dharma-śīlānāṁ
yadūnāṁ dveṣṭi yaḥ sadā
Synonyms
diṣṭyā — by good fortune; kaṁsaḥ — King Kaṁsa; hataḥ — has been killed; pāpaḥ — the sinful; sa — along with; anugaḥ — his followers (brothers); svena — because of his own; pāpmanā — sinfulness; sādhūnām — saintly; dharma-śīlānām — always righteous in their behavior; yadūnām — the Yadus; dveṣṭi — hated; yaḥ — who; sadā — always.
Translation
Fortunately, because of his own sins, the sinful Kaṁsa has been killed, along with all his brothers. He always hated the saintly and righteous Yadus.
Devanagari
अपि स्मरति न: कृष्णो मातरं सुहृद: सखीन् ।
गोपान् व्रजं चात्मनाथं गावो वृन्दावनं गिरिम् ॥ १८ ॥
गोपान् व्रजं चात्मनाथं गावो वृन्दावनं गिरिम् ॥ १८ ॥
Verse text
api smarati naḥ kṛṣṇo
mātaraṁ suhṛdaḥ sakhīn
gopān vrajaṁ cātma-nāthaṁ
gāvo vṛndāvanaṁ girim
mātaraṁ suhṛdaḥ sakhīn
gopān vrajaṁ cātma-nāthaṁ
gāvo vṛndāvanaṁ girim
Synonyms
api — perhaps; smarati — remembers; naḥ — us; kṛṣṇaḥ — Kṛṣṇa; mātaram — His mother; suhṛdaḥ — His well-wishers; sakhīn — and dear friends; gopān — the cowherds; vrajam — the village of Vraja; ca — and; ātma — Himself; nātham — whose master; gāvaḥ — the cows; vṛndāvanam — the forest of Vṛndāvana; girim — the mountain Govardhana.
Translation
Does Kṛṣṇa remember us? Does He remember His mother and His friends and well-wishers? Does He remember the cowherds and their village of Vraja, of which He is the master? Does He remember the cows, Vṛndāvana forest and Govardhana Hill?
Devanagari
अप्यायास्यति गोविन्द: स्वजनान्सकृदीक्षितुम् ।
तर्हि द्रक्ष्याम तद्वक्त्रं सुनसं सुस्मितेक्षणम् ॥ १९ ॥
तर्हि द्रक्ष्याम तद्वक्त्रं सुनसं सुस्मितेक्षणम् ॥ १९ ॥
Verse text
apy āyāsyati govindaḥ
sva-janān sakṛd īkṣitum
tarhi drakṣyāma tad-vaktraṁ
su-nasaṁ su-smitekṣaṇam
sva-janān sakṛd īkṣitum
tarhi drakṣyāma tad-vaktraṁ
su-nasaṁ su-smitekṣaṇam
Synonyms
Translation
Will Govinda return even once to see His family? If He ever does, we may then glance upon His beautiful face, with its beautiful eyes, nose and smile.
Purport
Now that Kṛṣṇa had become a prince in the great city of Mathurā, Nanda had lost hope that He would come back to live in the simple cowherd village of Vṛndāvana. But he hoped against hope that Kṛṣṇa would come back at least once to visit the simple cowherd folk who had raised Him from birth.
Devanagari
दावाग्नेर्वातवर्षाच्च वृषसर्पाच्च रक्षिता: ।
दुरत्ययेभ्यो मृत्युभ्य: कृष्णेन सुमहात्मना ॥ २० ॥
दुरत्ययेभ्यो मृत्युभ्य: कृष्णेन सुमहात्मना ॥ २० ॥
Verse text
dāvāgner vāta-varṣāc ca
vṛṣa-sarpāc ca rakṣitāḥ
duratyayebhyo mṛtyubhyaḥ
kṛṣṇena su-mahātmanā
vṛṣa-sarpāc ca rakṣitāḥ
duratyayebhyo mṛtyubhyaḥ
kṛṣṇena su-mahātmanā
Synonyms
Translation
We were saved from the forest fire, the wind and rain, the bull and serpent demons — from all such insurmountable, deadly dangers — by that very great soul, Kṛṣṇa.
Devanagari
स्मरतां कृष्णवीर्याणि लीलापाङ्गनिरीक्षितम् ।
हसितं भाषितं चाङ्ग सर्वा न: शिथिला: क्रिया: ॥ २१ ॥
हसितं भाषितं चाङ्ग सर्वा न: शिथिला: क्रिया: ॥ २१ ॥
Verse text
smaratāṁ kṛṣṇa-vīryāṇi
līlāpāṅga-nirīkṣitam
hasitaṁ bhāṣitaṁ cāṅga
sarvā naḥ śithilāḥ kriyāḥ
līlāpāṅga-nirīkṣitam
hasitaṁ bhāṣitaṁ cāṅga
sarvā naḥ śithilāḥ kriyāḥ
Synonyms
smaratām — who are remembering; kṛṣṇa-vīryāṇi — the valorous deeds of Kṛṣṇa; līlā — playful; apāṅga — with sidelong glances; nirīkṣitam — His looking; hasitam — smiling; bhāṣitam — speaking; ca — and; aṅga — my dear (Uddhava); sarvāḥ — all; naḥ — for us; śithilāḥ — slackened; kriyāḥ — material activities.
Translation
As we remember the wonderful deeds Kṛṣṇa performed, His playful sidelong glances, His smiles and His words, O Uddhava, we forget all our material engagements.
Devanagari
सरिच्छैलवनोद्देशान् मुकुन्दपदभूषितान् ।
आक्रीडानीक्ष्यमाणानां मनो याति तदात्मताम् ॥ २२ ॥
आक्रीडानीक्ष्यमाणानां मनो याति तदात्मताम् ॥ २२ ॥
Verse text
saric-chaila-vanoddeśān
mukunda-pada-bhūṣitān
ākrīḍān īkṣyamāṇānāṁ
mano yāti tad-ātmatām
mukunda-pada-bhūṣitān
ākrīḍān īkṣyamāṇānāṁ
mano yāti tad-ātmatām
Synonyms
sarit — the rivers; śaila — hills; vana — of the forests; uddeśān — and the various parts; mukunda — of Kṛṣṇa; pada — by the feet; bhūṣitān — ornamented; ākrīḍān — the locations of His play; īkṣyamāṇānām — for those who are seeing; manaḥ — the mind; yāti — attains; tat-ātmatām — total absorption in Him.
Translation
When we see the places where Mukunda enjoyed His sporting pastimes — the rivers, hills and forests He decorated with His feet — our minds become totally absorbed in Him.
Devanagari
मन्ये कृष्णं च रामं च प्राप्ताविह सुरोत्तमौ ।
सुराणां महदर्थाय गर्गस्य वचनं यथा ॥ २३ ॥
सुराणां महदर्थाय गर्गस्य वचनं यथा ॥ २३ ॥
Verse text
manye kṛṣṇaṁ ca rāmaṁ ca
prāptāv iha surottamau
surāṇāṁ mahad-arthāya
gargasya vacanaṁ yathā
prāptāv iha surottamau
surāṇāṁ mahad-arthāya
gargasya vacanaṁ yathā
Synonyms
manye — I think; kṛṣṇam — Kṛṣṇa; ca — and; rāmam — Balarāma; ca — and; prāptau — obtained; iha — on this planet; sura — of demigods; uttamau — two of the most elevated; surāṇām — of the demigods; mahat — great; arthāya — for a purpose; gargasya — of the sage Garga; vacanam — the statement; yathā — as.
Translation
In my opinion, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma must be two exalted demigods who have come to this planet to fulfill some great mission of the demigods. Such was foretold by Garga Ṛṣi.
Devanagari
कंसं नागायुतप्राणं मल्लौ गजपतिं यथा ।
अवधिष्टां लीलयैव पशूनिव मृगाधिप: ॥ २४ ॥
अवधिष्टां लीलयैव पशूनिव मृगाधिप: ॥ २४ ॥
Verse text
kaṁsaṁ nāgāyuta-prāṇaṁ
mallau gaja-patiṁ yathā
avadhiṣṭāṁ līlayaiva
paśūn iva mṛgādhipaḥ
mallau gaja-patiṁ yathā
avadhiṣṭāṁ līlayaiva
paśūn iva mṛgādhipaḥ
Synonyms
kaṁsam — Kaṁsa; nāga — of elephants; ayuta — ten thousand; prāṇam — whose vital strength; mallau — the two wrestlers (Cāṇūra and Muṣṭika); gaja-patim — the king of the elephants (Kuvalayāpīḍa); yathā — inasmuch as; avadhiṣṭām — the two of Them killed; līlayā — as a game; eva — simply; paśūn — animals; iva — as; mṛga-adhipaḥ — the lion, king of animals.
Translation
After all, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma killed Kaṁsa, who was as strong as ten thousand elephants, as well as the wrestlers Cāṇūra and Muṣṭika and the elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa. They killed them all sportingly, as easily as a lion disposes of small animals.
Purport
Here Nanda means to say, “Not only did Garga Muni declare that these boys are divine, but just see what They have done! Everyone is talking about it.”
Devanagari
तालत्रयं महासारं धनुर्यष्टिमिवेभराट् ।
बभञ्जैकेन हस्तेन सप्ताहमदधाद् गिरिम् ॥ २५ ॥
बभञ्जैकेन हस्तेन सप्ताहमदधाद् गिरिम् ॥ २५ ॥
Verse text
tāla-trayaṁ mahā-sāraṁ
dhanur yaṣṭim ivebha-rāṭ
babhañjaikena hastena
saptāham adadhād girim
dhanur yaṣṭim ivebha-rāṭ
babhañjaikena hastena
saptāham adadhād girim
Synonyms
Translation
With the ease of a royal elephant breaking a stick, Kṛṣṇa broke a powerful, giant bow three tālas long. He also held a mountain aloft for seven days with just one hand.
Purport
According to Ācārya Viśvanātha, a tāla (“palm tree”) is a measurement of about sixty hastas, or ninety feet. Thus the great bow Kṛṣṇa broke was two hundred seventy feet long.
Devanagari
प्रलम्बो धेनुकोऽरिष्टस्तृणावर्तो बकादय: ।
दैत्या: सुरासुरजितो हता येनेह लीलया ॥ २६ ॥
दैत्या: सुरासुरजितो हता येनेह लीलया ॥ २६ ॥
Verse text
pralambo dhenuko ’riṣṭas
tṛṇāvarto bakādayaḥ
daityāḥ surāsura-jito
hatā yeneha līlayā
tṛṇāvarto bakādayaḥ
daityāḥ surāsura-jito
hatā yeneha līlayā
Synonyms
Translation
Here in Vṛndāvana, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma easily destroyed demons like Pralamba, Dhenuka, Arista, Tṛṇāvarta and Baka, who had themselves defeated both demigods and other demons.
Devanagari
श्रीशुक उवाच
इति संस्मृत्य संस्मृत्य नन्द: कृष्णानुरक्तधी: ।
अत्युत्कण्ठोऽभवत्तूष्णीं प्रेमप्रसरविह्वल: ॥ २७ ॥
इति संस्मृत्य संस्मृत्य नन्द: कृष्णानुरक्तधी: ।
अत्युत्कण्ठोऽभवत्तूष्णीं प्रेमप्रसरविह्वल: ॥ २७ ॥
Verse text
śrī-śuka uvāca
iti saṁsmṛtya saṁsmṛtya
nandaḥ kṛṣṇānurakta-dhīḥ
aty-utkaṇṭho ’bhavat tūṣṇīṁ
prema-prasara-vihvalaḥ
iti saṁsmṛtya saṁsmṛtya
nandaḥ kṛṣṇānurakta-dhīḥ
aty-utkaṇṭho ’bhavat tūṣṇīṁ
prema-prasara-vihvalaḥ
Synonyms
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; iti — thus; saṁsmṛtya saṁsmṛtya — intensely and repeatedly remembering; nandaḥ — Nanda Mahārāja; kṛṣṇa — to Kṛṣṇa; anurakta — completely attracted; dhīḥ — whose mind; ati — extremely; utkaṇṭhaḥ — anxious; abhavat — he became; tūṣṇīm — silent; prema — of his pure love; prasara — by the force; vihvalaḥ — overcome.
Translation
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Thus intensely remembering Kṛṣṇa again and again, Nanda Mahārāja, his mind completely attached to the Lord, felt extreme anxiety and fell silent, overcome by the strength of his love.
Devanagari
यशोदा वर्ण्यमानानि पुत्रस्य चरितानि च ।
शृण्वन्त्यश्रूण्यवास्राक्षीत् स्नेहस्नुतपयोधरा ॥ २८ ॥
शृण्वन्त्यश्रूण्यवास्राक्षीत् स्नेहस्नुतपयोधरा ॥ २८ ॥
Verse text
yaśodā varṇyamānāni
putrasya caritāni ca
śṛṇvanty aśrūṇy avāsrākṣīt
sneha-snuta-payodharā
putrasya caritāni ca
śṛṇvanty aśrūṇy avāsrākṣīt
sneha-snuta-payodharā
Synonyms
Translation
As mother Yaśodā heard the descriptions of her son’s activities, she poured out her tears, and milk flowed from her breasts out of love.
Purport
From the very day that Kṛṣṇa had left for Mathurā, mother Yaśodā, though counseled and consoled by hundreds of men and women, could see nothing but the face of her son. She kept her eyes closed to everyone else and cried constantly. Thus she could not recognize Uddhava, treat him with parental affection, ask him any questions or give him any message for her son. She was simply overwhelmed with love for Kṛṣṇa.
Devanagari
तयोरित्थं भगवति कृष्णे नन्दयशोदयो: ।
वीक्ष्यानुरागं परमं नन्दमाहोद्धवो मुदा ॥ २९ ॥
वीक्ष्यानुरागं परमं नन्दमाहोद्धवो मुदा ॥ २९ ॥
Verse text
tayor itthaṁ bhagavati
kṛṣṇe nanda-yaśodayoḥ
vīkṣyānurāgaṁ paramaṁ
nandam āhoddhavo mudā
kṛṣṇe nanda-yaśodayoḥ
vīkṣyānurāgaṁ paramaṁ
nandam āhoddhavo mudā
Synonyms
tayoḥ — of the two of them; ittham — like this; bhagavati — for the Supreme Personality of Godhead; kṛṣṇe — Lord Kṛṣṇa; nanda-yaśodayoḥ — of Nanda and Yaśodā; vīkṣya — clearly seeing; anurāgam — the loving attraction; paramam — supreme; nandam — to Nanda; āha — spoke; uddhavaḥ — Uddhava; mudā — with joy.
Translation
Uddhava then joyfully addressed Nanda Mahārāja, having clearly seen the supreme loving attraction he and Yaśodā felt for Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Purport
If Uddhava had seen Nanda and Yaśodā actually suffering, he would not have reacted with joy. But in fact all emotions on the spiritual platform are transcendental bliss. The so-called anguish of the pure devotees is another form of loving ecstasy. This was clearly seen by Uddhava, and thus he spoke as follows.
Devanagari
श्रीउद्धव उवाच
युवां श्लाघ्यतमौ नूनं देहिनामिह मानद ।
नारायणेऽखिलगुरौ यत्कृता मतिरीदृशी ॥ ३० ॥
युवां श्लाघ्यतमौ नूनं देहिनामिह मानद ।
नारायणेऽखिलगुरौ यत्कृता मतिरीदृशी ॥ ३० ॥
Verse text
śrī-uddhava uvāca
yuvāṁ ślāghyatamau nūnaṁ
dehinām iha māna-da
nārāyaṇe ’khila-gurau
yat kṛtā matir īdṛśī
yuvāṁ ślāghyatamau nūnaṁ
dehinām iha māna-da
nārāyaṇe ’khila-gurau
yat kṛtā matir īdṛśī
Synonyms
śrī-uddhavaḥ uvāca — Śrī Uddhava said; yuvām — you two; ślāghyatamau — the most praiseworthy; nūnam — for certain; dehinām — of embodied living beings; iha — in this world; mana-da — O respectful one; nārāyaṇe — for the Supreme Lord Nārāyaṇa; akhila-gurau — the spiritual master of all; yat — because; kṛtā — produced; matiḥ — a mentality; īdṛśī — like this.
Translation
Śrī Uddhava said: O respectful Nanda, certainly you and mother Yaśodā are the most praiseworthy persons in the entire world, since you have developed such a loving attitude toward Lord Nārāyaṇa, the spiritual master of all living beings.
Purport
Understanding Nanda’s mood, as expressed by his statement manye kṛṣṇaṁ ca rāmaṁ ca prāptāv iha surottamau (“I think Kṛṣṇa and Rāma must be two exalted demigods”), Uddhava here referred to Kṛṣṇa as Lord Nārāyaṇa.
Devanagari
एतौ हि विश्वस्य च बीजयोनी
रामो मुकुन्द: पुरुष: प्रधानम् ।
अन्वीय भूतेषु विलक्षणस्य
ज्ञानस्य चेशात इमौ पुराणौ ॥ ३१ ॥
रामो मुकुन्द: पुरुष: प्रधानम् ।
अन्वीय भूतेषु विलक्षणस्य
ज्ञानस्य चेशात इमौ पुराणौ ॥ ३१ ॥
Verse text
etau hi viśvasya ca bīja-yonī
rāmo mukundaḥ puruṣaḥ pradhānam
anvīya bhūteṣu vilakṣaṇasya
jñānasya ceśāta imau purāṇau
rāmo mukundaḥ puruṣaḥ pradhānam
anvīya bhūteṣu vilakṣaṇasya
jñānasya ceśāta imau purāṇau
Synonyms
etau — these two; hi — indeed; viśvasya — of the universe; ca — and; bīja — the seed; yonī — and the womb; rāmaḥ — Lord Balarāma; mukundaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; puruṣaḥ — the creating Lord; pradhānam — His creative energy; anvīya — entering; bhūteṣu — within all living beings; vilakṣaṇasya — confused or perceiving; jñānasya — knowledge; ca — and; īśāte — control; imau — They; purāṇau — primeval.
Translation
These two Lords, Mukunda and Balarāma, are each the seed and womb of the universe, the creator and His creative potency. They enter the hearts of living beings and control their conditioned awareness. They are the primeval Supreme.
Purport
The word vilakṣaṇa means either “distinctly perceiving” or “confused,” depending on how the prefix vi is understood in context. In the case of enlightened souls, vilakṣaṇa means “perceiving the correct distinction between the body and the soul” and thus Lord Kṛṣṇa, as indicated by the word īśāte, guides the spiritually advancing soul. The other meaning of vilakṣaṇa — “confused” or “bewildered” — clearly applies to those who have not understood the difference between the soul and the body, or the distinction between the individual soul and the Supreme Soul. Such bewildered living beings do not go back home, back to Godhead, to the eternal spiritual world, but rather achieve temporary destinations according to the laws of nature.
It is understood from all Vaiṣṇava literature that Śrī Rāma, Balarāma, here accompanying Lord Kṛṣṇa, is nondifferent from Him, being His plenary expansion. The Lord is one, yet He expands Himself, and thus Lord Balarāma in no way compromises the principle of monotheism.
Devanagari
यस्मिन् जन: प्राणवियोगकाले
क्षणं समावेश्य मनोऽविशुद्धम् ।
निर्हृत्य कर्माशयमाशु याति
परां गतिं ब्रह्ममयोऽर्कवर्ण: ॥ ३२ ॥
तस्मिन् भवन्तावखिलात्महेतौ
नारायणे कारणमर्त्यमूर्तौ ।
भावं विधत्तां नितरां महात्मन्
किं वावशिष्टं युवयो: सुकृत्यम् ॥ ३३ ॥
क्षणं समावेश्य मनोऽविशुद्धम् ।
निर्हृत्य कर्माशयमाशु याति
परां गतिं ब्रह्ममयोऽर्कवर्ण: ॥ ३२ ॥
तस्मिन् भवन्तावखिलात्महेतौ
नारायणे कारणमर्त्यमूर्तौ ।
भावं विधत्तां नितरां महात्मन्
किं वावशिष्टं युवयो: सुकृत्यम् ॥ ३३ ॥
Verse text
yasmin janaḥ prāṇa-viyoga-kāle
kṣanaṁ samāveśya mano ’viśuddham
nirhṛtya karmāśayam āśu yāti
parāṁ gatiṁ brahma-mayo ’rka-varṇaḥ
kṣanaṁ samāveśya mano ’viśuddham
nirhṛtya karmāśayam āśu yāti
parāṁ gatiṁ brahma-mayo ’rka-varṇaḥ
tasmin bhavantāv akhilātma-hetau
nārāyaṇe kāraṇa-martya-mūrtau
bhāvaṁ vidhattāṁ nitarāṁ mahātman
kiṁ vāvaśiṣṭaṁ yuvayoḥ su-kṛtyam
nārāyaṇe kāraṇa-martya-mūrtau
bhāvaṁ vidhattāṁ nitarāṁ mahātman
kiṁ vāvaśiṣṭaṁ yuvayoḥ su-kṛtyam
Synonyms
yasmin — in whom; janaḥ — any person; prāṇa — from one’s life air; viyoga — of separation; kāle — at the time; kṣaṇam — for a moment; samāveśya — absorbing; manaḥ — one’s mind; aviśuddham — impure; nirhṛtya — eradicating; karma — of the reactions of material work; āśayam — all traces; āśu — immediately; yāti — he goes; parām — to the supreme; gatim — destination; brahma-mayaḥ — in a purely spiritual form; arka — like the sun; varṇaḥ — whose color; tasmin — to Him; bhavantau — your good selves; akhila — of all; ātma — the Supreme Soul; hetau — and reason for existence; nārāyaṇe — Lord Nārāyaṇa; kāraṇa — the cause of everything; martya — human; mūrtau — in a form; bhāvam — pure love; vidhattām — have given; nitarām — exceedingly; mahā-ātman — to the perfectly complete; kim vā — then what; avaśiṣṭam — remaining; yuvayoḥ — for you; su-kṛtyam — required pious activity.
Translation
Anyone, even a person in an impure state, who absorbs his mind in Him for just a moment at the time of death burns up all traces of sinful reactions and immediately attains the supreme transcendental destination in a pure, spiritual form as effulgent as the sun. You two have rendered exceptional loving service to Him, Lord Nārāyaṇa, the Supersoul of all and the cause of all existence, the great soul who, although the original cause of everything, has a humanlike form. What pious deeds could still be required of you?
Devanagari
आगमिष्यत्यदीर्घेण कालेन व्रजमच्युत: ।
प्रियं विधास्यते पित्रोर्भगवान् सात्वतां पति: ॥ ३४ ॥
प्रियं विधास्यते पित्रोर्भगवान् सात्वतां पति: ॥ ३४ ॥
Verse text
āgamiṣyaty adīrgheṇa
kālena vrajam acyutaḥ
priyaṁ vidhāsyate pitror
bhagavān sātvatāṁ patiḥ
kālena vrajam acyutaḥ
priyaṁ vidhāsyate pitror
bhagavān sātvatāṁ patiḥ
Synonyms
Translation
Infallible Kṛṣṇa, the Lord of the devotees, will soon return to Vraja to satisfy His parents.
Purport
Here Uddhava begins to deliver Lord Kṛṣṇa’s message.
Devanagari
हत्वा कंसं रङ्गमध्ये प्रतीपं सर्वसात्वताम् ।
यदाह व: समागत्य कृष्ण: सत्यं करोति तत् ॥ ३५ ॥
यदाह व: समागत्य कृष्ण: सत्यं करोति तत् ॥ ३५ ॥
Verse text
hatvā kaṁsaṁ raṅga-madhye
pratīpaṁ sarva-sātvatām
yad āha vaḥ samāgatya
kṛṣṇaḥ satyaṁ karoti tat
pratīpaṁ sarva-sātvatām
yad āha vaḥ samāgatya
kṛṣṇaḥ satyaṁ karoti tat
Synonyms
Translation
Having killed Kaṁsa, the enemy of all the Yadus, in the wrestling arena, Kṛṣṇa will now surely fulfill His promise to you by coming back.
Devanagari
मा खिद्यतं महाभागौ द्रक्ष्यथ: कृष्णमन्तिके ।
अन्तर्हृदि स भूतानामास्ते ज्योतिरिवैधसि ॥ ३६ ॥
अन्तर्हृदि स भूतानामास्ते ज्योतिरिवैधसि ॥ ३६ ॥
Verse text
mā khidyataṁ mahā-bhāgau
drakṣyathaḥ kṛṣṇam antike
antar hṛdi sa bhūtānām
āste jyotir ivaidhasi
drakṣyathaḥ kṛṣṇam antike
antar hṛdi sa bhūtānām
āste jyotir ivaidhasi
Synonyms
Translation
O most fortunate ones, do not lament. You will see Kṛṣṇa again very soon. He is present in the hearts of all living beings, just as fire lies dormant in wood.
Purport
Uddhava understood that Nanda and Yaśodā were very impatient to see Kṛṣṇa, and thus he reassured them that Śrī Kṛṣṇa would come soon.
Devanagari
न ह्यस्यास्ति प्रिय: कश्चिन्नाप्रियो वास्त्यमानिन: ।
नोत्तमो नाधमो वापि समानस्यासमोऽपि वा ॥ ३७ ॥
नोत्तमो नाधमो वापि समानस्यासमोऽपि वा ॥ ३७ ॥
Verse text
na hy asyāsti priyaḥ kaścin
nāpriyo vāsty amāninaḥ
nottamo nādhamo vāpi
sa-mānasyāsamo ’pi vā
nāpriyo vāsty amāninaḥ
nottamo nādhamo vāpi
sa-mānasyāsamo ’pi vā
Synonyms
na — not; hi — indeed; asya — for Him; asti — there is; priyaḥ — dear; kaścit — anyone; na — not; apriyaḥ — not dear; vā — or; asti — there is; amāninaḥ — who is free from desire for respect; na — not; uttamaḥ — superior; na — not; adhamaḥ — inferior; vā — or; api — also; samānasya — for Him who has all respect for others; āsamaḥ — completely ordinary; api — also; vā — or.
Translation
For Him no one is especially dear or despicable, superior or inferior, and yet He is not indifferent to anyone. He is free from all desire for respect and yet gives respect to all others.
Devanagari
न माता न पिता तस्य न भार्या न सुतादय: ।
नात्मीयो न परश्चापि न देहो जन्म एव च ॥ ३८ ॥
नात्मीयो न परश्चापि न देहो जन्म एव च ॥ ३८ ॥
Verse text
na mātā na pitā tasya
na bhāryā na sutādayaḥ
nātmīyo na paraś cāpi
na deho janma eva ca
na bhāryā na sutādayaḥ
nātmīyo na paraś cāpi
na deho janma eva ca
Synonyms
Translation
He has no mother, no father, no wife, children or other relatives. No one is related to Him, and yet no one is a stranger to Him. He has no material body and no birth.
Devanagari
न चास्य कर्म वा लोके सदसन्मिश्रयोनिषु ।
क्रीडार्थं सोऽपि साधूनां परित्राणाय कल्पते ॥ ३९ ॥
क्रीडार्थं सोऽपि साधूनां परित्राणाय कल्पते ॥ ३९ ॥
Verse text
na cāsya karma vā loke
sad-asan-miśra-yoniṣu
krīḍārthaṁ so ’pi sādhūnāṁ
paritrāṇāya kalpate
sad-asan-miśra-yoniṣu
krīḍārthaṁ so ’pi sādhūnāṁ
paritrāṇāya kalpate
Synonyms
na — there is not; ca — and; asya — for Him; karma — work; vā — or; loke — in this world; sat — pure; asat — impure; miśra — or mixed; yoniṣu — in wombs or species; krīḍā — of playing; artham — for the sake; saḥ — He; api — also; sādhūnām — of His saintly devotees; paritrāṇāya — for the saving; kalpate — appears.
Translation
He has no work to do in this world that would oblige Him to take birth in pure, impure or mixed species of life. Yet to enjoy His pastimes and deliver His saintly devotees, He manifests Himself.
Devanagari
सत्त्वं रजस्तम इति भजते निर्गुणो गुणान् ।
क्रीडन्नतीतोऽपि गुणै: सृजत्यवति हन्त्यज: ॥ ४० ॥
क्रीडन्नतीतोऽपि गुणै: सृजत्यवति हन्त्यज: ॥ ४० ॥
Verse text
sattvaṁ rajas tama iti
bhajate nirguṇo guṇān
krīḍann atīto ’pi guṇaiḥ
sṛjaty avan hanty ajaḥ
bhajate nirguṇo guṇān
krīḍann atīto ’pi guṇaiḥ
sṛjaty avan hanty ajaḥ
Synonyms
sattvam — goodness; rajaḥ — passion; tamaḥ — and ignorance; iti — thus called; bhajate — He accepts; nirguṇaḥ — beyond the material modes; guṇān — the modes; krīḍan — playing; atītaḥ — transcendental; api — although; guṇaiḥ — using the modes; sṛjati — He creates; avati — maintains; hanti — and destroys; ajaḥ — the unborn Lord.
Translation
Although beyond the three modes of material nature — goodness, passion and ignorance — the transcendental Lord accepts association with them as His play. Thus the unborn Supreme Lord utilizes the material modes to create, maintain and destroy.
Purport
As stated in the Brahma-sūtra (2.1.33), loka-vat līlā-kaivalyam: “The Lord performs His spiritual pastimes as if He were a resident of this world.”
Although the Lord does not favor or abuse anyone, we still observe happiness and suffering in this world. The Gītā (13.22) states, kāraṇaṁ guṇa-saṅgo ’sya: We desire to associate with various qualities of material nature, and thus we must accept the consequences. The Lord provides the field of material nature, in which we exercise our free will. Foolish nondevotees not only attempt to cheat the Lord by trying to exploit His nature, but when they suffer the reaction they blame God for their own misdeeds. This is the shameless position of those who are envious of God.
Devanagari
यथा भ्रमरिकादृष्ट्या भ्राम्यतीव महीयते ।
चित्ते कर्तरि तत्रात्मा कर्तेवाहंधिया स्मृत: ॥ ४१ ॥
चित्ते कर्तरि तत्रात्मा कर्तेवाहंधिया स्मृत: ॥ ४१ ॥
Verse text
yathā bhramarikā-dṛṣṭyā
bhrāmyatīva mahīyate
citte kartari tatrātmā
kartevāhaṁ-dhiyā smṛtaḥ
bhrāmyatīva mahīyate
citte kartari tatrātmā
kartevāhaṁ-dhiyā smṛtaḥ
Synonyms
yathā — as; bhramarikā — because of whirling around; dṛṣṭyā — in one’s vision; bhrāmyati — whirling; iva — as if; mahī — the ground; īyate — appears; citte — the mind; kartari — being the doer; tatra — there; ātmā — the self; kartā — the doer; iva — as if; aham-dhiyā — because of false ego; smṛtaḥ — is thought.
Translation
Just as a person who is whirling around perceives the ground to be turning, one who is affected by false ego thinks himself the doer, when actually only his mind is acting.
Purport
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī gives a parallel idea: Although our happiness and distress are caused by our own interaction with the material qualities, we perceive the Lord to be their cause.
Devanagari
युवयोरेव नैवायमात्मजो भगवान् हरि: ।
सर्वेषामात्मजो ह्यात्मा पिता माता स ईश्वर: ॥ ४२ ॥
सर्वेषामात्मजो ह्यात्मा पिता माता स ईश्वर: ॥ ४२ ॥
Verse text
yuvayor eva naivāyam
ātmajo bhagavān hariḥ
sarveṣām ātmajo hy ātmā
pitā mātā sa īśvaraḥ
ātmajo bhagavān hariḥ
sarveṣām ātmajo hy ātmā
pitā mātā sa īśvaraḥ
Synonyms
yuvayoḥ — of you two; eva — alone; na — not; eva — indeed; ayam — He; ātma-jaḥ — the son; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; hariḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; sarveṣām — of all; ātma-jaḥ — the son; hi — indeed; ātmā — the very self; pitā — father; mātā — mother; saḥ — He; īśvaraḥ — the controlling Lord.
Translation
The Supreme Lord Hari is certainly not your son alone. Rather, being the Lord, He is the son, Soul, father and mother of everyone.
Devanagari
दृष्टं श्रुतं भूतभवद् भविष्यत्
स्थास्नुश्चरिष्णुर्महदल्पकं च ।
विनाच्युताद् वस्तु तरां न वाच्यं
स एव सर्वं परमात्मभूत: ॥ ४३ ॥
स्थास्नुश्चरिष्णुर्महदल्पकं च ।
विनाच्युताद् वस्तु तरां न वाच्यं
स एव सर्वं परमात्मभूत: ॥ ४३ ॥
Verse text
dṛṣṭaṁ śrutaṁ bhūta-bhavad-bhaviṣyat
sthāsnuś cariṣṇur mahad alpakaṁ ca
vinācyutād vastu tarāṁ na vācyaṁ
sa eva sarvaṁ paramātma-bhūtaḥ
sthāsnuś cariṣṇur mahad alpakaṁ ca
vinācyutād vastu tarāṁ na vācyaṁ
sa eva sarvaṁ paramātma-bhūtaḥ
Synonyms
dṛṣṭam — seen; śrutam — heard; bhūta — past; bhavat — present; bhaviṣyat — future; sthāsnuḥ — stationary; cariṣṇuḥ — mobile; mahat — large; alpakam — small; ca — and; vinā — apart from; acyutāt — the infallible Lord Kṛṣṇa; vastu — thing; tarām — at all; na — is not; varyam — capable of being named; saḥ — He; eva — alone; sarvam — everything; parama-ātma — as the Supersoul; bhūtaḥ — manifesting.
Translation
Nothing can be said to exist independent of Lord Acyuta — nothing heard or seen, nothing in the past, present or future, nothing moving or unmoving, great or small. He indeed is everything, for He is the Supreme Soul.
Purport
Śrī Uddhava is relieving the distress of Nanda and Yaśodā by bringing them to a more philosophical plane. He is explaining that since Lord Kṛṣṇa is everything and is within everything, His pure devotees are always with Him.
Devanagari
एवं निशा सा ब्रुवतोर्व्यतीता
नन्दस्य कृष्णानुचरस्य राजन् ।
गोप्य: समुत्थाय निरूप्य दीपान्
वास्तून् समभ्यर्च्य दधीन्यमन्थन् ॥ ४४ ॥
नन्दस्य कृष्णानुचरस्य राजन् ।
गोप्य: समुत्थाय निरूप्य दीपान्
वास्तून् समभ्यर्च्य दधीन्यमन्थन् ॥ ४४ ॥
Verse text
evaṁ niśā sā bruvator vyatītā
nandasya kṛṣṇānucarasya rājan
gopyaḥ samutthāya nirūpya dīpān
vāstūn samabhyarcya daudhīny amanthun
nandasya kṛṣṇānucarasya rājan
gopyaḥ samutthāya nirūpya dīpān
vāstūn samabhyarcya daudhīny amanthun
Synonyms
evam — in this way; niśā — the night; sā — that; bruvatoḥ — as they were both speaking; vyatītā — was finished; nandasya — Nanda Mahārāja; kṛṣṇa-anucarasya — and the servant of Kṛṣṇa (Uddhava); rājan — O King (Parīkṣit); gopyaḥ — the cowherd women; samutthāya — rising from sleep; nirūpya — lighting; dīpān — lamps; vāstūn — the domestic deities; samabhyarcya — worshiping; dadhīni — curds; amanthan — churned.
Translation
While Kṛṣṇa’s messenger continued speaking with Nanda, the night ended, O King. The women of the cowherd village rose from bed and, lighting lamps, worshiped their household deities. Then they began churning the yogurt into butter.
Devanagari
ता दीपदीप्तैर्मणिभिर्विरेजू
रज्जूर्विकर्षद्भुजकङ्कणस्रज: ।
चलन्नितम्बस्तनहारकुण्डल-
त्विषत्कपोलारुणकुङ्कुमानना: ॥ ४५ ॥
रज्जूर्विकर्षद्भुजकङ्कणस्रज: ।
चलन्नितम्बस्तनहारकुण्डल-
त्विषत्कपोलारुणकुङ्कुमानना: ॥ ४५ ॥
Verse text
tā dīpa-dīptair maṇibhir virejū
rajjūr vikarṣad-bhuja-kaṅkaṇa-srajaḥ
calan-nitamba-stana-hāra-kuṇḍala-
tviṣat-kapolāruṇa-kuṅkumānanāḥ
rajjūr vikarṣad-bhuja-kaṅkaṇa-srajaḥ
calan-nitamba-stana-hāra-kuṇḍala-
tviṣat-kapolāruṇa-kuṅkumānanāḥ
Synonyms
tāḥ — those women; dīpa — by the lamps; dīptaiḥ — illumined; maṇibhiḥ — with jewels; virejuḥ — shone; rajjūḥ — the (churning) ropes; vikarṣat — pulling; bhuja — upon their arms; kaṅkaṇa — of bangles; srajaḥ — wearing rows; calan — moving; nitamba — their hips; stana — breasts; hāra — and necklaces; kuṇḍala — due to their earrings; tviṣat — glowing; kapola — their cheeks; aruṇa — reddish; kuṅkuma — with kuṅkuma powder; ānanāḥ — their faces.
Translation
As they pulled on the churning ropes with their bangled arms, the women of Vraja shone with the splendor of their jewels, which reflected the lamps’ light. Their hips, breasts and necklaces moved about, and their faces, anointed with reddish kuṅkuma, glowed radiantly with the luster of their earrings reflecting from their cheeks.
Devanagari
उद्गायतीनामरविन्दलोचनं
व्रजाङ्गनानां दिवमस्पृशद् ध्वनि: ।
दध्नश्च निर्मन्थनशब्दमिश्रितो
निरस्यते येन दिशाममङ्गलम् ॥ ४६ ॥
व्रजाङ्गनानां दिवमस्पृशद् ध्वनि: ।
दध्नश्च निर्मन्थनशब्दमिश्रितो
निरस्यते येन दिशाममङ्गलम् ॥ ४६ ॥
Verse text
udgāyatīnām aravinda-locanaṁ
vrajāṅganānāṁ divam aspṛśad dhvaniḥ
dadhnaś ca nirmanthana-śabda-miśrito
nirasyate yena diśām amaṅgalam
vrajāṅganānāṁ divam aspṛśad dhvaniḥ
dadhnaś ca nirmanthana-śabda-miśrito
nirasyate yena diśām amaṅgalam
Synonyms
udgāyatīnām — who were loudly singing; aravinda — like lotuses; locanam — (about the Lord) whose eyes; vraja-aṅganānām — of the women of Vraja; divam — the sky; aspṛśat — touched; dhvaniḥ — the reverberation; dadhnaḥ — of the curds; ca — and; nirmanthana — of the churning; śabda — with the sound; miśritaḥ — mixed; nirasyate — is dispelled; yena — by which; diśām — of all directions; amaṅgalam — the inauspiciousness.
Translation
As the ladies of Vraja loudly sang the glories of lotus-eyed Kṛṣṇa, their songs blended with the sound of their churning, ascended to the sky and dissipated all inauspiciousness in every direction.
Purport
The gopīs were absorbed in thought of Kṛṣṇa and were thus feeling His presence. Therefore they could joyfully sing.
Devanagari
भगवत्युदिते सूर्ये नन्दद्वारि व्रजौकस: ।
दृष्ट्वा रथं शातकौम्भं कस्यायमिति चाब्रुवन् ॥ ४७ ॥
दृष्ट्वा रथं शातकौम्भं कस्यायमिति चाब्रुवन् ॥ ४७ ॥
Verse text
bhagavaty udite sūrye
nanda-dvāri vrajaukasaḥ
dṛṣṭvā rathaṁ śātakaumbhaṁ
kasyāyam iti cābruvan
nanda-dvāri vrajaukasaḥ
dṛṣṭvā rathaṁ śātakaumbhaṁ
kasyāyam iti cābruvan
Synonyms
Translation
When the godly sun had risen, the people of Vraja noticed the golden chariot in front of Nanda Mahārāja’s doorway. “Who does this belong to?” they asked.
Devanagari
अक्रूर आगत: किं वा य: कंसस्यार्थसाधक: ।
येन नीतो मधुपुरीं कृष्ण: कमललोचन: ॥ ४८ ॥
येन नीतो मधुपुरीं कृष्ण: कमललोचन: ॥ ४८ ॥
Verse text
akrūra āgataḥ kiṁ vā
yaḥ kaṁsasyārtha-sādhakaḥ
yena nīto madhu-purīṁ
kṛṣṇaḥ kamala-locanaḥ
yaḥ kaṁsasyārtha-sādhakaḥ
yena nīto madhu-purīṁ
kṛṣṇaḥ kamala-locanaḥ
Synonyms
Translation
“Perhaps Akrūra has returned — he who fulfilled Kaṁsa’s desire by taking lotus-eyed Kṛṣṇa to Mathurā.
Purport
The gopīs angrily spoke this statement.
Devanagari
किं साधयिष्यत्यस्माभिर्भर्तु: प्रीतस्य निष्कृतिम् ।
तत: स्त्रीणां वदन्तीनामुद्धवोऽगात् कृताह्निक: ॥ ४९ ॥
तत: स्त्रीणां वदन्तीनामुद्धवोऽगात् कृताह्निक: ॥ ४९ ॥
Verse text
kiṁ sādhayiṣyaty asmābhir
bhartuḥ prītasya niṣkṛtim
tataḥ strīṇāṁ vadantīnām
uddhavo ’gāt kṛtāhnikaḥ
bhartuḥ prītasya niṣkṛtim
tataḥ strīṇāṁ vadantīnām
uddhavo ’gāt kṛtāhnikaḥ
Synonyms
kim — whether; sādhayiṣyati — will he accomplish; asmābhiḥ — with us; bhartuḥ — of his master; prītasya — who was satisfied with him; niṣkṛtim — the funeral ritual; tataḥ — then; strīṇām — the women; vadantīnām — as they were speaking; uddhavaḥ — Uddhava; agāt — came there; kṛta — having performed; ahnikaḥ — his early-morning religious duties.
Translation
“Is he going to use our flesh to offer funeral oblations for his master, who was so satisfied with his service?” As the women were speaking in this way, Uddhava appeared, having finished his early-morning duties.
Purport
This verse reveals the bitter disappointment the gopīs felt when Akrūra took Kṛṣṇa away. However, they will be pleasantly surprised to see that the unexpected guest is Uddhava.
Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda to the Tenth Canto, Forty-sixth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Uddhava Visits Vṛndāvana.”