Before Verses
Devanagari
Verse Text
Synonyms
Translation
Purport
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Bhakti-yoga
Thinking that the previously described spiritual practice, based on detachment, is too difficult, Uddhava inquired about an easier method. In reply, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa gave brief instructions on devotional service.
The fruitive workers and mystic yogīs, who are bewildered by the illusory energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and puffed up by their false identifications, refuse to take shelter of the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord. But the swanlike men, those who know how to discriminate between the essential and nonessential, always take shelter at the lotus feet of the Personality of Godhead. The Supreme Lord Himself — within the living entity as the caittya-guru and without as the spiritual master who teaches by example — eradicates all the misfortune of the spirit soul and reveals His own personal form.
One should execute all duties for the sake of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, keeping one’s mind absorbed in Him. One should take advantage of the sacred abodes of the Lord, where His devotees reside, and one should serve the Lord and celebrate the festivals and holidays in His honor. By understanding all living beings to be Lord Kṛṣṇa’s place of residence, one can attain the ability to see equally everywhere, and thus all faulty qualities of envy, false ego and so on will be removed. Bearing this in mind, the devotee should give up his proud relatives, his separatist outlook and his mundane embarrassment and should offer obeisances flat on the ground to all, even the dogs and outcastes. As long as one has not learned to see the presence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in all creatures, he must continue to use his body, mind and speech to worship the Supreme Lord in that manner of offering full obeisances to all.
Because this eternal process of devotional service to the Supreme Lord is transcendental and has been established by the Lord Himself, it can never, to the slightest extent, be defeated or prove fruitless. When one offers himself completely to the Supreme Lord with exclusive devotion, the Lord becomes particularly pleased, and thus the devotee achieves immortality, becoming qualified to obtain opulence equal to that of the Lord.
After receiving these instructions, Śrī Uddhava went to Badarikāśrama in pursuance of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s order, and by perfectly carrying out the instructions of the Supreme Lord, he attained the Lord’s transcendental abode. By faithfully serving these instructions spoken by the Personality of Godhead to Uddhava, the greatest of devotees, the entire world can become liberated.
Devanagari
श्रीउद्धव उवाच
सुदुस्तरामिमां मन्ये योगचर्यामनात्मन: ।
यथाञ्जसा पुमान् सिद्ध्येत् तन्मे ब्रूह्यञ्जसाच्युत ॥ १ ॥
सुदुस्तरामिमां मन्ये योगचर्यामनात्मन: ।
यथाञ्जसा पुमान् सिद्ध्येत् तन्मे ब्रूह्यञ्जसाच्युत ॥ १ ॥
Verse text
śrī-uddhava uvāca
su-dustarām imāṁ manye
yoga-caryām anātmanaḥ
yathāñjasā pumān siddhyet
tan me brūhy añjasācyuta
su-dustarām imāṁ manye
yoga-caryām anātmanaḥ
yathāñjasā pumān siddhyet
tan me brūhy añjasācyuta
Synonyms
śrī-uddhavaḥ uvāca — Śrī Uddhava said; su-dustarām — very difficult to execute; imām — this; manye — I think; yoga-caryām — process of yoga; anātmanaḥ — for one who has not controlled his mind; yathā — how; añjasā — easily; pumān — a person; siddhyet — may accomplish it; tat — that; me — to me; brūhi — please tell; añjasā — in a simple manner; acyuta — O infallible Lord.
Translation
Śrī Uddhava said: My dear Lord Acyuta, I fear that the method of yoga described by You is very difficult for one who cannot control his mind. Therefore please explain to me in simple terms how someone can more easily execute it.
Devanagari
प्रायश: पुण्डरीकाक्ष युञ्जन्ते योगिनो मन: ।
विषीदन्त्यसमाधानान्मनोनिग्रहकर्शिता: ॥ २ ॥
विषीदन्त्यसमाधानान्मनोनिग्रहकर्शिता: ॥ २ ॥
Verse text
prāyaśaḥ puṇḍarīkākṣa
yuñjanto yogino manaḥ
viṣīdanty asamādhānān
mano-nigraha-karśitāḥ
yuñjanto yogino manaḥ
viṣīdanty asamādhānān
mano-nigraha-karśitāḥ
Synonyms
Translation
O lotus-eyed Lord, generally those yogīs who try to steady the mind experience frustration because of their inability to perfect the state of trance. Thus they weary in their attempt to bring the mind under control.
Purport
Without the shelter of the Supreme Lord, a yogī easily becomes discouraged in the difficult task of fixing his mind on the Supreme.
Devanagari
अथात आनन्ददुघं पदाम्बुजं
हंसा: श्रयेरन्नरविन्दलोचन ।
सुखं नु विश्वेश्वर योगकर्मभि-
स्त्वन्माययामी विहता न मानिन: ॥ ३ ॥
हंसा: श्रयेरन्नरविन्दलोचन ।
सुखं नु विश्वेश्वर योगकर्मभि-
स्त्वन्माययामी विहता न मानिन: ॥ ३ ॥
Verse text
athāta ānanda-dughaṁ padāmbujaṁ
haṁsāḥ śrayerann aravinda-locana
sukhaṁ nu viśveśvara yoga-karmabhis
tvan-māyayāmī vihatā na māninaḥ
haṁsāḥ śrayerann aravinda-locana
sukhaṁ nu viśveśvara yoga-karmabhis
tvan-māyayāmī vihatā na māninaḥ
Synonyms
atha — now; ataḥ — therefore; ānanda-dugham — the source of all ecstasy; pada-ambujam — Your lotus feet; haṁsāḥ — the swanlike men; śrayeran — take shelter of; aravinda-locana — O lotus-eyed; sukham — happily; nu — indeed; viśva-īśvara — Lord of the universe; yoga-karmabhiḥ — because of their practice of mysticism and fruitive work; tvat-māyayā — by Your material energy; amī — these; vihatāḥ — defeated; na — do not (take shelter); māninaḥ — those who are falsely proud.
Translation
Therefore, O lotus-eyed Lord of the universe, swanlike men happily take shelter of Your lotus feet, the source of all transcendental ecstasy. But those who take pride in their accomplishments in yoga and karma fail to take shelter of You and are defeated by Your illusory energy.
Purport
Śrī Uddhava emphasizes here that one can achieve spiritual perfection simply by taking shelter of the Personality of Godhead. Those who do so are called haṁsāḥ, the most discriminating human beings, since they are able to locate the actual source of spiritual happiness, the Lord’s lotus feet. The word yoga-karmabhiḥ indicates that those who are attracted to or proud of achievements in the field of mystic yoga or ordinary material endeavor cannot appreciate the great advantage of obediently surrendering to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Generally the yogīs and fruitive workers are proud of their so-called achievements and are more attracted to their own endeavor than to the Lord Himself. By humbly taking shelter of Lord Kṛṣṇa, one can advance easily and quickly on the path of Kṛṣṇa consciousness and go back home, back to Godhead.
Devanagari
किं चित्रमच्युत तवैतदशेषबन्धोदासेष्वनन्यशरणेषु यदात्मसात्त्वम् ।
योऽरोचयत् सह मृगै: स्वयमीश्वराणांश्रीमत्किरीटतटपीडितपादपीठ: ॥ ४ ॥
योऽरोचयत् सह मृगै: स्वयमीश्वराणांश्रीमत्किरीटतटपीडितपादपीठ: ॥ ४ ॥
Verse text
kiṁ citram acyuta tavaitad aśeṣa-bandho
dāseṣv ananya-śaraṇesu yad ātma-sāttvam
yo ’rocayat saha mṛgaiḥ svayam īśvarāṇāṁ
śrīmat-kirīṭa-taṭa-pīḍita-pāda-pīṭhaḥ
dāseṣv ananya-śaraṇesu yad ātma-sāttvam
yo ’rocayat saha mṛgaiḥ svayam īśvarāṇāṁ
śrīmat-kirīṭa-taṭa-pīḍita-pāda-pīṭhaḥ
Synonyms
kim — what; citram — wonder; acyuta — O infallible Lord; tava — Your; etat — this; aśeṣa-bandho — O friend of all; dāseṣu — for the servants; ananya-śaraṇeṣu — who have taken no other shelter; yat — which; ātma-sāttvam — intimacy with You; yaḥ — who; arocayat — acted affectionately; saha — with; mṛgaiḥ — the animals (monkeys); svayam — Yourself; īśvarāṇām — of the great demigods; śrīmat — effulgent; kirīṭa — of the helmets; taṭa — by the edges; pīḍita — shaken; pāda-pīṭhaḥ — whose footstool.
Translation
My dear infallible Lord, it is not very astonishing that You intimately approach Your servants who have taken exclusive shelter of You. After all, during Your appearance as Lord Rāmacandra, even while great demigods like Brahmā were vying to place the effulgent tips of their helmets upon the cushion where Your lotus feet rested, You displayed special affection for monkeys such as Hanumān because they had taken exclusive shelter of You.
Purport
The devotees of the Lord become completely successful by the Lord’s causeless mercy. Sometimes Lord Kṛṣṇa accepts a position of subservience to His great devotees, as with Nanda Mahārāja, the gopīs, Bali Mahārāja and others. Although demigods like Lord Brahmā were standing in line to touch their helmets to the Lord’s foot cushion, still Lord Rāmacandra awarded His most intimate friendship to subhumans, such as the monkeys headed by Hanumān. Similarly Lord Kṛṣṇa’s affection for the deer and cows, and even for the trees of Vṛndāvana, is well known. Further, the Lord gladly drove the chariot of Arjuna and acted as the messenger and faithful subordinate of King Yudhiṣṭhira. Such devotees have no need for the elaborate jñāna-yoga systems or the process for achieving mystic powers. All these devotees are represented here by Śrī Uddhava, who frankly informs the Lord that the sophisticated systems of philosophical speculation and mystic yoga are not appealing for one who has developed a taste for direct loving service to the Lord.
Devanagari
तं त्वाखिलात्मदयितेश्वरमाश्रितानां
सर्वार्थदं स्वकृतविद् विसृजेत को नु ।
को वा भजेत् किमपि विस्मृतयेऽनु भूत्यै
किं वा भवेन्न तव पादरजोजुषां न: ॥ ५ ॥
सर्वार्थदं स्वकृतविद् विसृजेत को नु ।
को वा भजेत् किमपि विस्मृतयेऽनु भूत्यै
किं वा भवेन्न तव पादरजोजुषां न: ॥ ५ ॥
Verse text
taṁ tvākhilātma-dayiteśvaram āśritānāṁ
sarvārtha-daṁ sva-kṛta-vid visṛjeta ko nu
ko vā bhajet kim api vismṛtaye ’nu bhūtyai
kiṁ vā bhaven na tava pāda-rajo-juṣāṁ naḥ
sarvārtha-daṁ sva-kṛta-vid visṛjeta ko nu
ko vā bhajet kim api vismṛtaye ’nu bhūtyai
kiṁ vā bhaven na tava pāda-rajo-juṣāṁ naḥ
Synonyms
tam — that; tvā — You; akhila — of all; ātma — the Supreme Soul; dayita — the most dear; īśvaram — and the supreme controller; āśrītānām — of those who take shelter of You; sarva-artha — of all perfections; dam — the bestower; sva-kṛta — the benefit you have given; vit — who knows; visṛjeta — can reject; kaḥ — who; nu — indeed; kaḥ — who; vā — or; bhajet — can accept; kim api — anything; vismṛtaye — for forgetfulness; anu — consequently; bhūtyai — for sense gratification; kim — what; vā — or; bhavet — is; na — not; tava — Your; pāda — of the lotus feet; rajaḥ — the dust; juṣām — for those who are serving; naḥ — ourselves.
Translation
Who, then, could dare reject You, the very Soul, the most dear object of worship, and the Supreme Lord of all — You who give all possible perfections to the devotees who take shelter of You? Who could be so ungrateful, knowing the benefits You bestow? Who would reject You and accept something for the sake of material enjoyment, which simply leads to forgetfulness of You? And what lack is there for us who are engaged in the service of the dust of Your lotus feet?
Purport
As stated in the Nārāyaṇīya of the Mokṣa-dharma, in Śrī Mahābhārata:
yā vai sādhana-sampattiḥ
puruṣārtha-catuṣṭaye
tayā vinā tad āpnoti
naro nārāyaṇāśrayaḥ
puruṣārtha-catuṣṭaye
tayā vinā tad āpnoti
naro nārāyaṇāśrayaḥ
“Whatever among the four goals of human life can be achieved by various spiritual practices is automatically achieved without such endeavors by the person who has taken shelter of Lord Nārāyaṇa, the refuge of all persons.” Thus a Kṛṣṇa conscious person knows that he will obtain all perfection of life simply by surrendering to the devotional service of Lord Kṛṣṇa. This is the highest stage of yoga, as confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā.
Devanagari
नैवोपयन्त्यपचितिं कवयस्तवेश
ब्रह्मायुषापि कृतमृद्धमुद: स्मरन्त: ।
योऽन्तर्बहिस्तनुभृतामशुभं विधुन्वन्न
आचार्यचैत्त्यवपुषा स्वगतिं व्यनक्ति ॥ ६ ॥
ब्रह्मायुषापि कृतमृद्धमुद: स्मरन्त: ।
योऽन्तर्बहिस्तनुभृतामशुभं विधुन्वन्न
आचार्यचैत्त्यवपुषा स्वगतिं व्यनक्ति ॥ ६ ॥
Verse text
naivopayanty apacitiṁ kavayas taveśa
brahmāyuṣāpi kṛtam ṛddha-mudaḥ smarantaḥ
yo ’ntar bahis tanu-bhṛtām aśubhaṁ vidhunvann
ācārya-caittya-vapuṣā sva-gatiṁ vyanakti
brahmāyuṣāpi kṛtam ṛddha-mudaḥ smarantaḥ
yo ’ntar bahis tanu-bhṛtām aśubhaṁ vidhunvann
ācārya-caittya-vapuṣā sva-gatiṁ vyanakti
Synonyms
na eva — not at all; upayanti — are able to express; apacitim — their gratitude; kavayaḥ — learned devotees; tava — Your; īśa — O Lord; brahma-āyuṣā — with a lifetime equal to Lord Brahmā’s; api — in spite of; kṛtam — magnanimous work; ṛddha — increased; mudaḥ — joy; smarantaḥ — remembering; yaḥ — who; antaḥ — within; bahiḥ — outside; tanu-bhṛtām — of those who are embodied; aśubham — misfortune; vidhunvan — dissipating; ācārya — of the spiritual master; caittya — of the Supersoul; vapuṣā — by the forms; sva — own; gatim — path; vyanakti — shows.
Translation
O my Lord! Transcendental poets and experts in spiritual science could not fully express their indebtedness to You, even if they were endowed with the prolonged lifetime of Brahmā, for You appear in two features — externally as the ācārya and internally as the Supersoul — to deliver the embodied living being by directing him how to come to You.
Purport
According to Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, Lord Kṛṣṇa is ten million times more dear to a devotee than life itself. And according to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, even by rendering devotional service for the total duration of one thousand universal creations, a devotee cannot repay the debt he feels to the Lord for having awarded him loving service to the Lord’s lotus feet. The Lord appears within the heart as the Supersoul and externally both as the spiritual master and as His literary incarnation — the supreme Vedic knowledge of Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
Devanagari
श्रीशुक उवाच
इत्युद्धवेनात्यनुरक्तचेतसा
पृष्टो जगत्क्रीडनक: स्वशक्तिभि: ।
गृहीतमूर्तित्रय ईश्वरेश्वरो
जगाद सप्रेममनोहरस्मित: ॥ ७ ॥
इत्युद्धवेनात्यनुरक्तचेतसा
पृष्टो जगत्क्रीडनक: स्वशक्तिभि: ।
गृहीतमूर्तित्रय ईश्वरेश्वरो
जगाद सप्रेममनोहरस्मित: ॥ ७ ॥
Verse text
śrī-śuka uvāca
ity uddhavenāty-anurakta-cetasā
pṛṣṭo jagat-krīḍanakaḥ sva-śaktibhiḥ
gṛhīta-mūrti-traya īśvareśvaro
jagāda sa-prema-manohara-smitaḥ
ity uddhavenāty-anurakta-cetasā
pṛṣṭo jagat-krīḍanakaḥ sva-śaktibhiḥ
gṛhīta-mūrti-traya īśvareśvaro
jagāda sa-prema-manohara-smitaḥ
Synonyms
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; iti — thus; uddhavena — by Uddhava; ati-anurakta — extremely attached; cetasā — whose heart; pṛṣṭaḥ — asked; jagat — the universe; krīḍanakaḥ — whose plaything; sva-śaktibhiḥ — by His own energies; gṛhīta — who has assumed; mūrti — personal forms; trayaḥ — three; īśvara — of all controllers; īśvaraḥ — the supreme controller; jagāda — He spoke; sa-prema — loving; manaḥ-hara — attractive; smitaḥ — whose smile.
Translation
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Thus questioned by the most affectionate Uddhava, Lord Kṛṣṇa, the supreme controller of all controllers, who takes the entire universe as His plaything and assumes the three forms of Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva, began to reply, lovingly displaying His all-attractive smile.
Devanagari
श्रीभगवानुवाच
हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि मम धर्मान् सुमङ्गलान् ।
यान् श्रद्धयाचरन् मर्त्यो मृत्युं जयति दुर्जयम् ॥ ८ ॥
हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि मम धर्मान् सुमङ्गलान् ।
यान् श्रद्धयाचरन् मर्त्यो मृत्युं जयति दुर्जयम् ॥ ८ ॥
Verse text
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
hanta te kathayiṣyāmi
mama dharmān su-maṅgalān
yān śraddhayācaran martyo
mṛtyuṁ jayati durjayam
hanta te kathayiṣyāmi
mama dharmān su-maṅgalān
yān śraddhayācaran martyo
mṛtyuṁ jayati durjayam
Synonyms
śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; hanta — yes; te — to you; kathayiṣyāmi — I shall speak; mama — relating to Me; dharmān — religious principles; su-maṅgalān — most auspicious; yān — which; śraddhayā — with faith; ācaran — executing; martyaḥ — a mortal human being; mṛtyum — death; jayati — conquers; durjayam — unconquerable.
Translation
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Yes, I shall describe to you the principles of devotion to Me, by executing which a mortal human being will conquer unconquerable death.
Devanagari
कुर्यात् सर्वाणि कर्माणि मदर्थं शनकै: स्मरन् ।
मय्यर्पितमनश्चित्तो मद्धर्मात्ममनोरति: ॥ ९ ॥
मय्यर्पितमनश्चित्तो मद्धर्मात्ममनोरति: ॥ ९ ॥
Verse text
kuryāt sarvāṇi karmāṇi
mad-arthaṁ śanakaiḥ smaran
mayy arpita-manaś-citto
mad-dharmātma-mano-ratiḥ
mad-arthaṁ śanakaiḥ smaran
mayy arpita-manaś-citto
mad-dharmātma-mano-ratiḥ
Synonyms
kuryāt — one should perform; sarvāṇi — all; karmāṇi — prescribed activities; mat-artham — for Me; śanakaiḥ — without becoming impetuous; smaran — remembering; mayi — unto Me; arpita — who has offered; manaḥ-cittaḥ — his mind and his intelligence; mat-dharma — My devotional service; ātma-manaḥ — of his own mind; ratiḥ — the attraction.
Translation
Always remembering Me, one should perform all his duties for Me without becoming impetuous. With mind and intelligence offered to Me, one should fix his mind in attraction to My devotional service.
Purport
The words mad-dharmātma-mano-ratiḥ mean that all of one’s love and affection should be devoted to pleasing the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is not indicated here that one should try to relish selfish satisfaction in devotional service, but rather that one should be attracted to the Lord’s own satisfaction, which one achieves by faithfully executing the order of a bona fide spiritual master coming in disciplic succession from Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself. Attachment to one’s own satisfaction, even within devotional service, is materialistic, whereas attachment to the satisfaction of the Lord is pure spiritual emotion.
Devanagari
देशान् पुण्यानाश्रयेत मद्भक्तै: साधुभि: श्रितान् ।
देवासुरमनुष्येषु मद्भक्ताचरितानि च ॥ १० ॥
देवासुरमनुष्येषु मद्भक्ताचरितानि च ॥ १० ॥
Verse text
deśān puṇyān āśrayeta
mad-bhaktaiḥ sādhubhiḥ śritān
devāsura-manuṣyeṣu
mad-bhaktācaritāni ca
mad-bhaktaiḥ sādhubhiḥ śritān
devāsura-manuṣyeṣu
mad-bhaktācaritāni ca
Synonyms
Translation
One should take shelter of holy places where My saintly devotees reside, and one should be guided by the exemplary activities of My devotees, who appear among the demigods, demons and human beings.
Purport
Nārada Muni is one of the great devotees of the Lord who appeared among the demigods. Prahlāda Mahārāja appeared among the demons, and many other great devotees, such as Ambarīṣa Mahārāja and the Pāṇḍavas, appeared among human beings. One should take shelter of the devotees’ exemplary activities and also the holy places where devotees reside. Thus one will remain safe on the path of devotional service.
Devanagari
पृथक् सत्रेण वा मह्यं पर्वयात्रामहोत्सवान् ।
कारयेद् गीतनृत्याद्यैर्महाराजविभूतिभि: ॥ ११ ॥
कारयेद् गीतनृत्याद्यैर्महाराजविभूतिभि: ॥ ११ ॥
Verse text
pṛthak satreṇa vā mahyaṁ
parva-yātrā-mahotsavān
kārayed gīta-nṛtyādyair
mahārāja-vibhūtibhiḥ
parva-yātrā-mahotsavān
kārayed gīta-nṛtyādyair
mahārāja-vibhūtibhiḥ
Synonyms
pṛthak — alone; satreṇa — in assembly; vā — or; mahyam — for Me; parva — monthly observances, such as Ekādaśī; yātrā — special gatherings; mahā-utsavān — and festivals; kārayet — one should arrange to perform; gīta — with singing; nṛtya-ādyaiḥ — dancing and so on; mahā-rāja — royal; vibhūtibhiḥ — with signs of opulence.
Translation
Either alone or in public gatherings, with singing, dancing and other exhibitions of royal opulence, one should arrange to celebrate those holy days, ceremonies and festivals set aside specially for My worship.
Devanagari
मामेव सर्वभूतेषु बहिरन्तरपावृतम् ।
ईक्षेतात्मनि चात्मानं यथा खममलाशय: ॥ १२ ॥
ईक्षेतात्मनि चात्मानं यथा खममलाशय: ॥ १२ ॥
Verse text
mām eva sarva-bhūteṣu
bahir antar apāvṛtam
īkṣetātmani cātmānaṁ
yathā kham amalāśayaḥ
bahir antar apāvṛtam
īkṣetātmani cātmānaṁ
yathā kham amalāśayaḥ
Synonyms
Translation
With a pure heart one should see Me, the Supreme Soul within all beings and also within oneself, to be both unblemished by anything material and also present everywhere, both externally and internally, just like the omnipresent sky.
Purport
According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, the Lord has spoken the present verse to attract those who are inclined toward philosophical speculation about the Absolute Truth. Such transcendental scholars searching for the ultimate unity will be attracted by the Lord’s manifestation described here.
Devanagari
इति सर्वाणि भूतानि मद्भावेन महाद्युते ।
सभाजयन् मन्यमानो ज्ञानं केवलमाश्रित: ॥ १३ ॥
ब्राह्मणे पुक्कसे स्तेने ब्रह्मण्येऽर्के स्फुलिङ्गके ।
अक्रूरे क्रूरके चैव समदृक् पण्डितो मत: ॥ १४ ॥
सभाजयन् मन्यमानो ज्ञानं केवलमाश्रित: ॥ १३ ॥
ब्राह्मणे पुक्कसे स्तेने ब्रह्मण्येऽर्के स्फुलिङ्गके ।
अक्रूरे क्रूरके चैव समदृक् पण्डितो मत: ॥ १४ ॥
Verse text
iti sarvāṇi bhūtāni
mad-bhāvena mahā-dyute
sabhājayan manyamāno
jñānaṁ kevalam āśritaḥ
mad-bhāvena mahā-dyute
sabhājayan manyamāno
jñānaṁ kevalam āśritaḥ
brāhmaṇe pukkase stene
brahmaṇye ’rke sphuliṅgake
akrūre krūrake caiva
sama-dṛk paṇḍito mataḥ
brahmaṇye ’rke sphuliṅgake
akrūre krūrake caiva
sama-dṛk paṇḍito mataḥ
Synonyms
iti — in this way; sarvāṇi — to all; bhūtāni — living beings; mat-bhāvena — with the sense of My presence; mahā-dyute — O greatly effulgent Uddhava; sabhājayan — giving respect; manyamānaḥ — so considering; jñānam — knowledge; kevalam — transcendental; āśritaḥ — taking shelter of; brāhmaṇe — in the brāhmaṇa; pukkase — in the outcaste of the Pukkasa tribe; stene — in the thief; brahmaṇye — in the man who respects brahminical culture; arke — in the sun; sphuliṅgake — in the spark of the fire; akrūre — in the gentle; krūrake — in the cruel; ca — also; eva — indeed; sama-dṛk — having equal vision; paṇḍitaḥ — a learned scholar; mataḥ — is considered.
Translation
O brilliant Uddhava, one who thus views all living entities with the idea that I am present within each of them, and who by taking shelter of this divine knowledge offers due respect to everyone, is considered actually wise. Such a man sees equally the brāhmaṇa and the outcaste, the thief and the charitable promoter of brahminical culture, the sun and the tiny sparks of fire, the gentle and the cruel.
Purport
A series of opposites is set forth here — namely the high-class brāhmaṇa and the low-class aborigine, the thief who steals from respectable persons and the respecter of brahminical culture who gives charity to brāhmaṇas, the all-powerful sun and the insignificant spark, and finally the kind and the cruel. Ordinarily, the ability to distinguish between such opposites qualifies one as intelligent. How, then, can the Lord state that ignoring such obvious differences establishes one as a wise man? The answer is given by the words mad-bhāvena: a wise person sees the Supreme Personality of Godhead within everything. Therefore, although externally perceiving and dealing with the varieties of material situations, a wise man is more impressed by and concerned with the overwhelming unity of all existence, which is based on the presence of the Supreme Lord within everything. As explained here, a truly wise person is not limited to superficial material discrimination.
Devanagari
नरेष्वभीक्ष्णं मद्भावं पुंसो भावयतोऽचिरात् ।
स्पर्धासूयातिरस्कारा: साहङ्कारा वियन्ति हि ॥ १५ ॥
स्पर्धासूयातिरस्कारा: साहङ्कारा वियन्ति हि ॥ १५ ॥
Verse text
nareṣv abhīkṣṇaṁ mad-bhāvaṁ
puṁso bhāvayato ’cirāt
spardhāsūyā-tiraskārāḥ
sāhaṅkārā viyanti hi
puṁso bhāvayato ’cirāt
spardhāsūyā-tiraskārāḥ
sāhaṅkārā viyanti hi
Synonyms
nareṣu — in all persons; abhīkṣṇam — constantly; mat-bhāvam — the personal presence of Me; puṁsaḥ — of the person; bhāvayataḥ — who is meditating upon; acirāt — quickly; spardhā — the tendency to feel rivalry (against equals); asūyā — envy (of superiors); tiraskārāḥ — and abuse (of inferiors); sa — along with; ahaṅkārāḥ — false ego; viyanti — they disappear; hi — indeed.
Translation
For him who constantly meditates upon My presence within all persons, the bad tendencies of rivalry, envy and abusiveness, along with false ego, are very quickly destroyed.
Purport
We conditioned souls tend to feel rivalry toward our equals, envy toward our superior, and the desire to belittle our subordinates. These contaminated propensities, along with their very basis, false ego, can be quickly vanquished by meditating upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead within every living being.
Devanagari
विसृज्य स्मयमानान् स्वान् दृशं व्रीडां च दैहिकीम् ।
प्रणमेद् दण्डवद् भूमावाश्वचाण्डालगोखरम् ॥ १६ ॥
प्रणमेद् दण्डवद् भूमावाश्वचाण्डालगोखरम् ॥ १६ ॥
Verse text
visṛjya smayamānān svān
dṛśaṁ vrīḍāṁ ca daihikīm
praṇamed daṇḍa-vad bhūmāv
ā-śva-cāṇḍāla-go-kharam
dṛśaṁ vrīḍāṁ ca daihikīm
praṇamed daṇḍa-vad bhūmāv
ā-śva-cāṇḍāla-go-kharam
Synonyms
visṛjya — giving up; smayamānān — who are laughing; svān — one’s own friends; dṛśam — the outlook; vrīḍām — the embarrassment; ca — and; daihikīm — of the bodily conception; praṇamet — one should offer obeisances; daṇḍa-vat — falling down like a rod; bhūmau — upon the ground; ā — even; śva — to the dogs; cāṇḍāla — outcastes; go — cows; kharam — and asses.
Translation
Disregarding the ridicule of one’s companions, one should give up the bodily conception and its accompanying embarrassment. One should offer obeisances before all — even the dogs, outcastes, cows and asses — falling flat upon the ground like a rod.
Purport
One should practice seeing the Supreme Personality of Godhead within all creatures. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu advised all devotees to consider themselves lower than a blade of grass and to be more tolerant than a tree. In such a humble position, one will not be disturbed in the prosecution of pure devotional service to the Lord. A devotee does not foolishly think that a cow or an ass is God, but rather the devotee sees the Supreme Lord within all creatures, and on this higher, spiritual plane he does not discriminate.
Devanagari
यावत् सर्वेषु भूतेषु मद्भावो नोपजायते ।
तावदेवमुपासीत वाङ्मन:कायवृत्तिभि: ॥ १७ ॥
तावदेवमुपासीत वाङ्मन:कायवृत्तिभि: ॥ १७ ॥
Verse text
yāvat sarveṣu bhūteṣu
mad-bhāvo nopajāyate
tāvad evam upāsīta
vāṅ-manaḥ-kāya-vṛttibhiḥ
mad-bhāvo nopajāyate
tāvad evam upāsīta
vāṅ-manaḥ-kāya-vṛttibhiḥ
Synonyms
Translation
Until one has fully developed the ability to see Me within all living beings, one must continue to worship Me by this process with the activities of his speech, mind and body.
Purport
Until one fully realizes the Supreme Lord within all beings, he should continue the process of offering obeisances to all creatures. Although one may not be able to actually fall on the ground before all creatures, at least within his mind or by his words one should offer respect to all living beings. This will accelerate the devotee’s self-realization.
Devanagari
सर्वं ब्रह्मात्मकं तस्य विद्ययात्ममनीषया ।
परिपश्यन्नुपरमेत् सर्वतो मुक्तसंशय: ॥ १८ ॥
परिपश्यन्नुपरमेत् सर्वतो मुक्तसंशय: ॥ १८ ॥
Verse text
sarvaṁ brahmātmakaṁ tasya
vidyayātma-manīṣayā
paripaśyann uparamet
sarvato mukta-saṁśayaḥ
vidyayātma-manīṣayā
paripaśyann uparamet
sarvato mukta-saṁśayaḥ
Synonyms
sarvam — everything; brahma-ātmakam — based on the Absolute Truth; tasya — for him; vidyayā — by transcendental knowledge; ātma-manīṣayā — by realization of the Supreme Soul; paripaśyan — seeing everywhere; uparamet — he should desist from material activities; sarvataḥ — in all cases; mukta-saṁśayaḥ — freed from doubts.
Translation
By such transcendental knowledge of the all-pervading Personality of Godhead, one is able to see the Absolute Truth everywhere. Freed thus from all doubts, one gives up fruitive activities.
Devanagari
अयं हि सर्वकल्पानां सध्रीचीनो मतो मम ।
मद्भाव: सर्वभूतेषु मनोवाक्कायवृत्तिभि: ॥ १९ ॥
मद्भाव: सर्वभूतेषु मनोवाक्कायवृत्तिभि: ॥ १९ ॥
Verse text
ayaṁ hi sarva-kalpānāṁ
sadhrīcīno mato mama
mad-bhāvaḥ sarva-bhūteṣu
mano-vāk-kāya-vṛttibhiḥ
sadhrīcīno mato mama
mad-bhāvaḥ sarva-bhūteṣu
mano-vāk-kāya-vṛttibhiḥ
Synonyms
Translation
Indeed, I consider this process — using one’s mind, words and bodily functions for realizing Me within all living beings — to be the best possible method of spiritual enlightenment.
Devanagari
न ह्यङ्गोपक्रमे ध्वंसो मद्धर्मस्योद्धवाण्वपि ।
मया व्यवसित: सम्यङ्निर्गुणत्वादनाशिष: ॥ २० ॥
मया व्यवसित: सम्यङ्निर्गुणत्वादनाशिष: ॥ २० ॥
Verse text
na hy aṅgopakrame dhvaṁso
mad-dharmasyoddhavāṇv api
mayā vyavasitaḥ samyaṅ
nirguṇatvād anāśiṣaḥ
mad-dharmasyoddhavāṇv api
mayā vyavasitaḥ samyaṅ
nirguṇatvād anāśiṣaḥ
Synonyms
na — there is not; hi — indeed; aṅga — My dear Uddhava; upakrame — in the attempt; dhvaṁsaḥ — destruction; mat-dharmasya — of My devotional service; uddhava — My dear Uddhava; aṇu — the slightest; api — even; mayā — by Me; vyavasitaḥ — established; samyak — perfectly; nirguṇa-tvāt — because of its being transcendental; anāśiṣaḥ — having no ulterior motive.
Translation
My dear Uddhava, because I have personally established it, this process of devotional service unto Me is transcendental and free from any material motivation. Certainly a devotee never suffers even the slightest loss by adopting this process.
Purport
Although great sages and authorities have established various methods of human progress, the Supreme Lord Himself has introduced the system of bhakti-yoga, wherein one directly takes shelter of the Lord in loving service. One who serves the Lord without personal motivation can never be defeated in his progress and will certainly go back home, back to Godhead, in the near future.
Devanagari
यो यो मयि परे धर्म: कल्प्यते निष्फलाय चेत् ।
तदायासो निरर्थ: स्याद् भयादेरिव सत्तम ॥ २१ ॥
तदायासो निरर्थ: स्याद् भयादेरिव सत्तम ॥ २१ ॥
Verse text
yo yo mayi pare dharmaḥ
kalpyate niṣphalāya cet
tad-āyāso nirarthaḥ syād
bhayāder iva sattama
kalpyate niṣphalāya cet
tad-āyāso nirarthaḥ syād
bhayāder iva sattama
Synonyms
yaḥ yaḥ — whatever; mayi — unto Me; pare — the Supreme; dharmaḥ — is religion; kalpyate — tends; niṣphalāya — toward becoming free from the result of material work; cet — if; tat — of that; āyāsaḥ — the endeavor; nirarthaḥ — futile; syāt — may be; bhaya-ādeḥ — of fear and so on; iva — as; sat-tama — O best of saintly persons.
Translation
O Uddhava, greatest of saints, in a dangerous situation an ordinary person cries, becomes fearful and laments, although such useless emotions do not change the situation. But activities offered to Me without personal motivation, even if they are externally useless, amount to the actual process of religion.
Purport
Even the most insignificant activity, when offered to the Supreme Lord without personal desire, can elevate one to the perfection of spiritual life. Actually, Lord Kṛṣṇa always protects and maintains His devotee. But if a devotee cries to the Lord for protection or maintenance, desiring to continue his devotional service unimpeded, Lord Kṛṣṇa accepts such apparently unnecessary appeals to be the highest religious process.
Devanagari
एषा बुद्धिमतां बुद्धिर्मनीषा च मनीषिणाम् ।
यत् सत्यमनृतेनेह मर्त्येनाप्नोति मामृतम् ॥ २२ ॥
यत् सत्यमनृतेनेह मर्त्येनाप्नोति मामृतम् ॥ २२ ॥
Verse text
eṣā buddhimatāṁ buddhir
manīṣā ca manīṣiṇām
yat satyam anṛteneha
martyenāpnoti māmṛtam
manīṣā ca manīṣiṇām
yat satyam anṛteneha
martyenāpnoti māmṛtam
Synonyms
Translation
This process is the supreme intelligence of the intelligent and the cleverness of the most clever, for by following it one can in this very life make use of the temporary and unreal to achieve Me, the eternal reality.
Purport
As described in this chapter, one who desires personal prestige in the Lord’s service cannot be considered intelligent and clever. Similarly, one who is anxious to become a sophisticated transcendental philosopher is not the most intelligent. Nor is one who is expert in accumulating money. The Lord here states that the most intelligent and clever person is the devotee who offers his temporary, illusory material body and possessions to Him with love and without personal motivation. The devotee thus obtains the eternal Absolute Truth. In other words, real intelligence is to actually surrender to Lord Kṛṣṇa, without personal desire or duplicity. That is the Lord’s opinion.
Devanagari
एष तेऽभिहित: कृत्स्नो ब्रह्मवादस्य सङ्ग्रह: ।
समासव्यासविधिना देवानामपि दुर्गम: ॥ २३ ॥
समासव्यासविधिना देवानामपि दुर्गम: ॥ २३ ॥
Verse text
eṣa te ’bhihitaḥ kṛtsno
brahma-vādasya saṅgrahaḥ
samāsa-vyāsa-vidhinā
devānām api durgamaḥ
brahma-vādasya saṅgrahaḥ
samāsa-vyāsa-vidhinā
devānām api durgamaḥ
Synonyms
Translation
Thus have I related to you — both in brief and in detail — a complete survey of the science of the Absolute Truth. Even for the demigods, this science is very difficult to comprehend.
Purport
The word devānām indicates those living beings in the mode of goodness (such as demigods, saints and pious philosophers) who nevertheless cannot understand the Absolute Truth because they lack full surrender to the Personality of Godhead.
Devanagari
अभीक्ष्णशस्ते गदितं ज्ञानं विस्पष्टयुक्तिमत् ।
एतद् विज्ञाय मुच्येत पुरुषो नष्टसंशय: ॥ २४ ॥
एतद् विज्ञाय मुच्येत पुरुषो नष्टसंशय: ॥ २४ ॥
Verse text
abhīkṣṇaśas te gaditaṁ
jñānaṁ vispaṣṭa-yuktimat
etad vijñāya mucyeta
puruṣo naṣṭa-saṁśayaḥ
jñānaṁ vispaṣṭa-yuktimat
etad vijñāya mucyeta
puruṣo naṣṭa-saṁśayaḥ
Synonyms
Translation
I have repeatedly spoken this knowledge to you with clear reasoning. Anyone who properly understands it will become free from all doubts and attain liberation.
Devanagari
सुविविक्तं तव प्रश्नं मयैतदपि धारयेत् ।
सनातनं ब्रह्मगुह्यं परं ब्रह्माधिगच्छति ॥ २५ ॥
सनातनं ब्रह्मगुह्यं परं ब्रह्माधिगच्छति ॥ २५ ॥
Verse text
su-viviktaṁ tava praśnaṁ
mayaitad api dhārayet
sanātanaṁ brahma-guhyaṁ
paraṁ brahmādhigacchati
mayaitad api dhārayet
sanātanaṁ brahma-guhyaṁ
paraṁ brahmādhigacchati
Synonyms
Translation
Anyone who fixes his attention on these clear answers to your questions will attain to the eternal, confidential goal of the Vedas — the Supreme Absolute Truth.
Devanagari
य एतन्मम भक्तेषु सम्प्रदद्यात् सुपुष्कलम् ।
तस्याहं ब्रह्मदायस्य ददाम्यात्मानमात्मना ॥ २६ ॥
तस्याहं ब्रह्मदायस्य ददाम्यात्मानमात्मना ॥ २६ ॥
Verse text
ya etan mama bhakteṣu
sampradadyāt su-puṣkalam
tasyāhaṁ brahma-dāyasya
dadāmy ātmānam ātmanā
sampradadyāt su-puṣkalam
tasyāhaṁ brahma-dāyasya
dadāmy ātmānam ātmanā
Synonyms
Translation
One who liberally disseminates this knowledge among My devotees is the bestower of the Absolute Truth, and to him I give My very own self.
Devanagari
य एतत् समधीयीत पवित्रं परमं शुचि ।
स पूयेताहरहर्मां ज्ञानदीपेन दर्शयन् ॥ २७ ॥
स पूयेताहरहर्मां ज्ञानदीपेन दर्शयन् ॥ २७ ॥
Verse text
ya etat samadhīyīta
pavitraṁ paramaṁ śuci
sa pūyetāhar ahar māṁ
jñāna-dīpena darśayan
pavitraṁ paramaṁ śuci
sa pūyetāhar ahar māṁ
jñāna-dīpena darśayan
Synonyms
Translation
He who loudly recites this supreme knowledge, which is the most lucid and purifying, becomes purified day by day, for he reveals Me to others with the lamp of transcendental knowledge.
Devanagari
य एतच्छ्रद्धया नित्यमव्यग्र: शृणुयान्नर: ।
मयि भक्तिं परां कुर्वन् कर्मभिर्न स बध्यते ॥ २८ ॥
मयि भक्तिं परां कुर्वन् कर्मभिर्न स बध्यते ॥ २८ ॥
Verse text
ya etac chraddhayā nityam
avyagraḥ śṛṇuyān naraḥ
mayi bhaktiṁ parāṁ kurvan
karmabhir na sa badhyate
avyagraḥ śṛṇuyān naraḥ
mayi bhaktiṁ parāṁ kurvan
karmabhir na sa badhyate
Synonyms
yaḥ — who; etat — this; śraddhayā — with faith; nityam — regularly; avyagraḥ — free from distraction; śṛṇuyāt — listens; naraḥ — a person; mayi — to Me; bhaktim — devotional service; parām — transcendental; kurvan — performing; karmabhiḥ — by fruitive actions; na — not; saḥ — he; badhyate — becomes bound up.
Translation
Anyone who regularly listens to this knowledge with faith and attention, all the while engaging in My pure devotional service, will never become bound by the reactions of material work.
Devanagari
अप्युद्धव त्वया ब्रह्म सखे समवधारितम् ।
अपि ते विगतो मोह: शोकश्चासौ मनोभव: ॥ २९ ॥
अपि ते विगतो मोह: शोकश्चासौ मनोभव: ॥ २९ ॥
Verse text
apy uddhava tvayā brahma
sakhe samavadhāritam
api te vigato mohaḥ
śokaś cāsau mano-bhavaḥ
sakhe samavadhāritam
api te vigato mohaḥ
śokaś cāsau mano-bhavaḥ
Synonyms
Translation
My dear friend Uddhava, have you now completely understood this transcendental knowledge? Are the confusion and lamentation that arose in your mind now dispelled?
Purport
Śrī Uddhava had been bewildered by considering manifestations of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s own potency to be separate from Him. Uddhava’s lamentation arose because he thought himself separated from Lord Kṛṣṇa. Actually, Śrī Uddhava is an eternally liberated soul, but the Lord placed him in bewilderment and lamentation so that this supreme knowledge of the Uddhava-gīta could be spoken. Lord Kṛṣṇa’s question here indicates that if Uddhava had not perfectly understood this knowledge, Lord Kṛṣṇa would have explained the same thing again. According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, since Śrī Uddhava is the intimate friend of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Lord’s question here was in a friendly, playful spirit. The Lord was well aware of Uddhava’s complete enlightenment in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Devanagari
नैतत्त्वया दाम्भिकाय नास्तिकाय शठाय च ।
अशुश्रूषोरभक्ताय दुर्विनीताय दीयताम् ॥ ३० ॥
अशुश्रूषोरभक्ताय दुर्विनीताय दीयताम् ॥ ३० ॥
Verse text
naitat tvayā dāmbhikāya
nāstikāya śaṭhāya ca
aśuśrūṣor abhaktāya
durvinītāya dīyatām
nāstikāya śaṭhāya ca
aśuśrūṣor abhaktāya
durvinītāya dīyatām
Synonyms
Translation
You should not share this instruction with anyone who is hypocritical, atheistic or dishonest, or with anyone who will not listen faithfully, who is not a devotee, or who is simply not humble.
Devanagari
एतैर्दोषैर्विहीनाय ब्रह्मण्याय प्रियाय च ।
साधवे शुचये ब्रूयाद् भक्ति: स्याच्छूद्रयोषिताम् ॥ ३१ ॥
साधवे शुचये ब्रूयाद् भक्ति: स्याच्छूद्रयोषिताम् ॥ ३१ ॥
Verse text
etair doṣair vihīnāya
brahmaṇyāya priyāya ca
sādhave śucaye brūyād
bhaktiḥ syāc chūdra-yoṣitām
brahmaṇyāya priyāya ca
sādhave śucaye brūyād
bhaktiḥ syāc chūdra-yoṣitām
Synonyms
etaiḥ — of these; doṣaiḥ — faulty qualities; vihīnāya — to the person who is devoid; brahmaṇyāya — to one dedicated to the welfare of the brāhmaṇas; priyāya — kindly disposed; ca — and; sādhave — saintly; śucaye — pure; brūyāt — one should speak; bhaktiḥ — devotion; syāt — if it is present; śūdra — of the common workers; yoṣitām — and women.
Translation
This knowledge should be taught to one who is free from these bad qualities, who is dedicated to the welfare of the brāhmaṇas, and who is kindly disposed, saintly and pure. And if common workers and women are found to have devotion for the Supreme Lord, they are also to be accepted as qualified hearers.
Devanagari
नैतद् विज्ञाय जिज्ञासोर्ज्ञातव्यमवशिष्यते ।
पीत्वा पीयूषममृतं पातव्यं नावशिष्यते ॥ ३२ ॥
पीत्वा पीयूषममृतं पातव्यं नावशिष्यते ॥ ३२ ॥
Verse text
naitad vijñāya jijñāsor
jñātavyam avaśiṣyate
pītvā pīyūṣam amṛtaṁ
pātavyaṁ nāvaśiṣyate
jñātavyam avaśiṣyate
pītvā pīyūṣam amṛtaṁ
pātavyaṁ nāvaśiṣyate
Synonyms
Translation
When an inquisitive person comes to understand this knowledge, he has nothing further to know. After all, one who has drunk the most palatable nectar cannot remain thirsty.
Devanagari
ज्ञाने कर्मणि योगे च वार्तायां दण्डधारणे ।
यावानर्थो नृणां तात तावांस्तेऽहं चतुर्विध: ॥ ३३ ॥
यावानर्थो नृणां तात तावांस्तेऽहं चतुर्विध: ॥ ३३ ॥
Verse text
jñāne karmaṇi yoge ca
vārtāyāṁ daṇḍa-dhāraṇe
yāvān artho nṛṇāṁ tāta
tāvāṁs te ’haṁ catur-vidhaḥ
vārtāyāṁ daṇḍa-dhāraṇe
yāvān artho nṛṇāṁ tāta
tāvāṁs te ’haṁ catur-vidhaḥ
Synonyms
jñāne — in the process of knowledge; karmaṇi — in fruitive work; yoge — in mystic yoga; ca — and; vārtāyām — in ordinary business; daṇḍa-dhāraṇe — in political rule; yāvān — whatever; arthaḥ — accomplishment; nṛṇām — of men; tāta — My dear Uddhava; tāvān — that much; te — to you; aham — I; catuḥ-vidhaḥ — fourfold (i.e., the fourfold goals of human life: religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and liberation).
Translation
Through analytic knowledge, ritualistic work, mystic yoga, mundane business and political rule, people seek to advance in religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and liberation. But because you are My devotee, whatever men can accomplish in these multifarious ways you will very easily find within Me.
Purport
Lord Kṛṣṇa is the basis of all that exists, and one who takes exclusive shelter of the Lord never suffers any loss whatsoever for his intelligent decision to surrender to Kṛṣṇa.
Devanagari
मर्त्यो यदा त्यक्तसमस्तकर्मा
निवेदितात्मा विचिकीर्षितो मे ।
तदामृतत्त्वं प्रतिपद्यमानो
मयात्मभूयाय च कल्पते वै ॥ ३४ ॥
निवेदितात्मा विचिकीर्षितो मे ।
तदामृतत्त्वं प्रतिपद्यमानो
मयात्मभूयाय च कल्पते वै ॥ ३४ ॥
Verse text
martyo yadā tyakta-samasta-karmā
niveditātmā vicikīrṣito me
tadāmṛtatvaṁ pratipadyamāno
mayātma-bhūyāya ca kalpate vai
niveditātmā vicikīrṣito me
tadāmṛtatvaṁ pratipadyamāno
mayātma-bhūyāya ca kalpate vai
Synonyms
martyaḥ — a mortal; yadā — when; tyakta — having given up; samasta — all; karmā — his fruitive activities; nivedita-ātmā — having offered his very self; vicikīrṣitaḥ — desirous of doing something special; me — for Me; tadā — at that time; amṛtatvam — immortality; pratipadyamānaḥ — in the process of attaining; mayā — with Me; ātma-bhūyāya — for equal opulence; ca — also; kalpate — he becomes qualified; vai — indeed.
Translation
A person who gives up all fruitive activities and offers himself entirely unto Me, eagerly desiring to render service unto Me, achieves liberation from birth and death and is promoted to the status of sharing My own opulences.
Devanagari
श्रीशुक उवाच
स एवमादर्शितयोगमार्ग-
स्तदोत्तम:श्लोकवचो निशम्य ।
बद्धाञ्जलि: प्रीत्युपरुद्धकण्ठो
न किञ्चिदूचेऽश्रुपरिप्लुताक्ष: ॥ ३५ ॥
स एवमादर्शितयोगमार्ग-
स्तदोत्तम:श्लोकवचो निशम्य ।
बद्धाञ्जलि: प्रीत्युपरुद्धकण्ठो
न किञ्चिदूचेऽश्रुपरिप्लुताक्ष: ॥ ३५ ॥
Verse text
śrī-śuka uvāca
sa evam ādarśita-yoga-mārgas
tadottamaḥśloka-vaco niśamya
baddhāñjaliḥ prīty-uparuddha-kaṇṭho
na kiñcid ūce ’śru-pariplutākṣaḥ
sa evam ādarśita-yoga-mārgas
tadottamaḥśloka-vaco niśamya
baddhāñjaliḥ prīty-uparuddha-kaṇṭho
na kiñcid ūce ’śru-pariplutākṣaḥ
Synonyms
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; saḥ — he (Uddhava); evam — thus; ādarśita — shown; yoga-mārgaḥ — the path of yoga; tadā — then; uttamaḥ-śloka — of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa; vacaḥ — the words; niśamya — having heard; baddha-añjaliḥ — with hands folded in prayer; prīti — out of love; uparuddha — choked; kaṇṭhaḥ — his throat; na kiñcit — nothing; ūce — he said; aśru — with tears; paripluta — overflowing; akṣaḥ — his eyes.
Translation
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Hearing these words spoken by Lord Kṛṣṇa, and having thus been shown the entire path of yoga, Uddhava folded his hands to offer obeisances. But his throat choked up with love and his eyes overflowed with tears; so he could say nothing.
Devanagari
विष्टभ्य चित्तं प्रणयावघूर्णं
धैर्येण राजन् बहु मन्यमान: ।
कृताञ्जलि: प्राह यदुप्रवीरं
शीर्ष्णा स्पृशंस्तच्चरणारविन्दम् ॥ ३६ ॥
धैर्येण राजन् बहु मन्यमान: ।
कृताञ्जलि: प्राह यदुप्रवीरं
शीर्ष्णा स्पृशंस्तच्चरणारविन्दम् ॥ ३६ ॥
Verse text
viṣṭabhya cittaṁ praṇayāvaghūrṇaṁ
dhairyeṇa rājan bahu-manyamānaḥ
kṛtāñjaliḥ prāha yadu-pravīraṁ
śīrṣṇā spṛśaṁs tac-caraṇāravindam
dhairyeṇa rājan bahu-manyamānaḥ
kṛtāñjaliḥ prāha yadu-pravīraṁ
śīrṣṇā spṛśaṁs tac-caraṇāravindam
Synonyms
viṣṭabhya — restraining; cittam — his mind; praṇaya — with love; avaghūrṇam — completely agitated; dhairyeṇa — with steadfastness; rājan — O King; bahu-manyamānaḥ — feeling grateful; kṛta-añjaliḥ — his hands folded; prāha — he spoke; yadu-pravīram — to the greatest hero of the Yadus; śīrṣṇā — with his head; spṛśan — touching; tat — His; caraṇa-aravindam — lotus feet.
Translation
Steadying his mind, which had become overwhelmed with love, Uddhava felt extremely grateful to Lord Kṛṣṇa, the greatest hero of the Yadu dynasty. My dear King Parīkṣit, Uddhava bowed down to touch the Lord’s lotus feet with his head and then spoke with folded hands.
Purport
According to Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, the fear of separation from Lord Kṛṣṇa was continually entering the mind of Śrī Uddhava, and thus he tried to maintain his enthusiasm by remembering the Lord’s great kindness upon him. He steadied his mind with feelings of gratitude toward the Lord.
Devanagari
श्रीउद्धव उवाच
विद्रावितो मोहमहान्धकारो
य आश्रितो मे तव सन्निधानात् ।
विभावसो: किं नु समीपगस्य
शीतं तमो भी: प्रभवन्त्यजाद्य ॥ ३७ ॥
विद्रावितो मोहमहान्धकारो
य आश्रितो मे तव सन्निधानात् ।
विभावसो: किं नु समीपगस्य
शीतं तमो भी: प्रभवन्त्यजाद्य ॥ ३७ ॥
Verse text
śrī-uddhava uvāca
vidrāvito moha-mahāndhakāro
ya āśrito me tava sannidhānāt
vibhāvasoḥ kiṁ nu samīpa-gasya
śītaṁ tamo bhīḥ prabhavanty ajādya
vidrāvito moha-mahāndhakāro
ya āśrito me tava sannidhānāt
vibhāvasoḥ kiṁ nu samīpa-gasya
śītaṁ tamo bhīḥ prabhavanty ajādya
Synonyms
śrī-uddhavaḥ uvāca — Śrī Uddhava said; vidrāvitaḥ — is driven away; moha — of delusion; mahā-andhakāraḥ — the great darkness; yaḥ — which; āśritaḥ — was taken shelter of; me — by me; tava — Your; sannidhānāt — by the presence; vibhāvasoḥ — of the sun; kim — what; nu — indeed; samīpa-gasya — for one who has come into the proximity; śītam — cold; tamaḥ — darkness; bhīḥ — fear; prabhavanti — have power; aja — O unborn; ādya — O primeval Lord.
Translation
Śrī Uddhava said: O unborn, primeval Lord, although I had fallen into the great darkness of illusion, my ignorance has now been dispelled by Your merciful association. Indeed, how can cold, darkness and fear exert their power over one who has approached the brilliant sun?
Purport
Although Śrī Uddhava feared separation from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa, he now understands that in a fundamental sense the Lord is everything. Kṛṣṇa consciousness can never be threatened or diminished for one who has taken full shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord.
Devanagari
प्रत्यर्पितो मे भवतानुकम्पिना
भृत्याय विज्ञानमय: प्रदीप: ।
हित्वा कृतज्ञस्तव पादमूलं
कोऽन्यं समीयाच्छरणं त्वदीयम् ॥ ३८ ॥
भृत्याय विज्ञानमय: प्रदीप: ।
हित्वा कृतज्ञस्तव पादमूलं
कोऽन्यं समीयाच्छरणं त्वदीयम् ॥ ३८ ॥
Verse text
pratyarpito me bhavatānukampinā
bhṛtyāya vijñāna-mayaḥ pradīpaḥ
hitvā kṛta-jñas tava pāda-mūlaṁ
ko ’nyaṁ samīyāc charaṇaṁ tvadīyam
bhṛtyāya vijñāna-mayaḥ pradīpaḥ
hitvā kṛta-jñas tava pāda-mūlaṁ
ko ’nyaṁ samīyāc charaṇaṁ tvadīyam
Synonyms
pratyarpitaḥ — offered in return; me — to me; bhavatā — by Your good self; anukampinā — who is merciful; bhṛtyāya — to Your servant; vijñāna-mayaḥ — of transcendental knowledge; pradīpaḥ — the torchlight; hitvā — giving up; kṛta-jñaḥ — who is grateful; tava — Your; pāda-mūlam — the sole of the lotus feet; kaḥ — who; anyam — to another; samīyāt — can go; śaraṇam — for shelter; tvadīyam — Your.
Translation
In return for my insignificant surrender, You have mercifully bestowed upon me, Your servant, the torchlight of transcendental knowledge. Therefore, what devotee of Yours who has any gratitude could ever give up Your lotus feet and take shelter of another master?
Devanagari
वृक्णश्च मे सुदृढ: स्नेहपाशो
दाशार्हवृष्ण्यन्धकसात्वतेषु ।
प्रसारित: सृष्टिविवृद्धये त्वया
स्वमायया ह्यात्मसुबोधहेतिना ॥ ३९ ॥
दाशार्हवृष्ण्यन्धकसात्वतेषु ।
प्रसारित: सृष्टिविवृद्धये त्वया
स्वमायया ह्यात्मसुबोधहेतिना ॥ ३९ ॥
Verse text
vṛkṇaś ca me su-dṛḍhaḥ sneha-pāśo
dāśārha-vṛṣṇy-andhaka-sātvateṣu
prasāritaḥ sṛṣṭi-vivṛddhaye tvayā
sva-māyayā hy ātma-subodha-hetinā
dāśārha-vṛṣṇy-andhaka-sātvateṣu
prasāritaḥ sṛṣṭi-vivṛddhaye tvayā
sva-māyayā hy ātma-subodha-hetinā
Synonyms
vṛkṇaḥ — cut off; ca — and; me — my; su-dṛḍhaḥ — very firm; sneha-pāśaḥ — binding rope of affection; dāśārha-vṛṣṇi-andhaka-sātvateṣu — for the Dāśārhas, Vṛṣṇis, Andhakas and Sātvatas; prasāritaḥ — cast; sṛṣṭi — of Your creation; vivṛddhaye — for the increase; tvayā — by You; sva-māyayā — through Your illusory energy; hi — indeed; ātma — of the soul; su-bodha — of proper knowledge; hetinā — by the sword.
Translation
The firmly binding rope of my affection for the families of the Dāśārhas, Vṛṣṇis, Andhakas and Sātvatas — a rope You originally cast over me by Your illusory energy for the purpose of developing Your creation — is now cut off by the weapon of transcendental knowledge of the self.
Purport
Although the members of the families mentioned in this verse are eternal associates of Lord Kṛṣṇa and thus proper objects of affection, Śrī Uddhava had regarded them as his personal relatives rather than simply as pure devotees of the Lord. Influenced by the Lord’s illusory potency, Uddhava had desired the prosperity and victory of these dynasties. But now, by hearing Lord Kṛṣṇa’s instructions, he has again fixed his mind exclusively upon Lord Kṛṣṇa, and thus he regards his so-called family members without any mundane conception — as eternal servants of the Lord.
Devanagari
नमोऽस्तु ते महायोगिन् प्रपन्नमनुशाधि माम् ।
यथा त्वच्चरणाम्भोजे रति: स्यादनपायिनी ॥ ४० ॥
यथा त्वच्चरणाम्भोजे रति: स्यादनपायिनी ॥ ४० ॥
Verse text
namo ’stu te mahā-yogin
prapannam anuśādhi mām
yathā tvac-caraṇāmbhoje
ratiḥ syād anapāyinī
prapannam anuśādhi mām
yathā tvac-caraṇāmbhoje
ratiḥ syād anapāyinī
Synonyms
Translation
Obeisances unto You, O greatest of yogīs. Please instruct me, who am surrendered unto You, how I may have undeviating attachment to Your lotus feet.
Devanagari
श्रीभगवानुवाच
गच्छोद्धव मयादिष्टो बदर्याख्यं ममाश्रमम् ।
तत्र मत्पादतीर्थोदे स्नानोपस्पर्शनै: शुचि: ॥ ४१ ॥
ईक्षयालकनन्दाया विधूताशेषकल्मष: ।
वसानो वल्कलान्यङ्ग वन्यभुक् सुखनि:स्पृह: ॥ ४२ ॥
तितिक्षुर्द्वन्द्वमात्राणां सुशील: संयतेन्द्रिय: ।
शान्त: समाहितधिया ज्ञानविज्ञानसंयुत: ॥ ४३ ॥
मत्तोऽनुशिक्षितं यत्ते विविक्तमनुभावयन् ।
मय्यावेशितवाक्चित्तो मद्धर्मनिरतो भव ।
अतिव्रज्य गतीस्तिस्रो मामेष्यसि तत: परम् ॥ ४४ ॥
गच्छोद्धव मयादिष्टो बदर्याख्यं ममाश्रमम् ।
तत्र मत्पादतीर्थोदे स्नानोपस्पर्शनै: शुचि: ॥ ४१ ॥
ईक्षयालकनन्दाया विधूताशेषकल्मष: ।
वसानो वल्कलान्यङ्ग वन्यभुक् सुखनि:स्पृह: ॥ ४२ ॥
तितिक्षुर्द्वन्द्वमात्राणां सुशील: संयतेन्द्रिय: ।
शान्त: समाहितधिया ज्ञानविज्ञानसंयुत: ॥ ४३ ॥
मत्तोऽनुशिक्षितं यत्ते विविक्तमनुभावयन् ।
मय्यावेशितवाक्चित्तो मद्धर्मनिरतो भव ।
अतिव्रज्य गतीस्तिस्रो मामेष्यसि तत: परम् ॥ ४४ ॥
Verse text
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
gacchoddhava mayādiṣṭo
badary-ākhyaṁ mamāśramam
tatra mat-pāda-tīrthode
snānopasparśanaiḥ śuciḥ
gacchoddhava mayādiṣṭo
badary-ākhyaṁ mamāśramam
tatra mat-pāda-tīrthode
snānopasparśanaiḥ śuciḥ
īkṣayālakanandāyā
vidhūtāśeṣa-kalmaṣaḥ
vasāno valkalāny aṅga
vanya-bhuk sukha-niḥspṛhaḥ
vidhūtāśeṣa-kalmaṣaḥ
vasāno valkalāny aṅga
vanya-bhuk sukha-niḥspṛhaḥ
titikṣur dvandva-mātrāṇāṁ
suśīlaḥ saṁyatendriyaḥ
śāntaḥ samāhita-dhiyā
jñāna-vijñāna-saṁyutaḥ
suśīlaḥ saṁyatendriyaḥ
śāntaḥ samāhita-dhiyā
jñāna-vijñāna-saṁyutaḥ
matto ’nuśikṣitaṁ yat te
viviktam anubhāvayan
mayy āveśita-vāk-citto
mad-dharma-nirato bhava
ativrajya gatīs tisro
mām eṣyasi tataḥ param
viviktam anubhāvayan
mayy āveśita-vāk-citto
mad-dharma-nirato bhava
ativrajya gatīs tisro
mām eṣyasi tataḥ param
Synonyms
śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; gaccha — please go; uddhava — O Uddhava; mayā — by Me; ādiṣṭaḥ — ordered; badarī-ākhyam — named Badarikā; mama — My; āśramam — to the hermitage; tatra — there; mat-pāda — emanating from My feet; tīrtha — of the holy places; ude — in the water; snāna — by bathing; upasparśanaiḥ — and by touching for purification; śuciḥ — cleansed; īkṣayā — by glancing; alakanandāyāḥ — upon the river Gaṅgā; vidhūta — cleansed; aśeṣa — of all; kalmaṣaḥ — sinful reactions; vasānaḥ — wearing; valkalāni — bark; aṅga — My dear Uddhava; vanya — fruits, nuts, roots, etc., of the forest; bhuk — eating; sukha — happy; niḥspṛhaḥ — and free from desire; titikṣuḥ — tolerant; dvandva-mātrāṇām — of all dualities; su-śīlaḥ — exhibiting saintly character; saṁyata-indriyaḥ — with controlled senses; śāntaḥ — peaceful; samāhita — perfectly concentrated; dhiyā — with intelligence; jñāna — with knowledge; vijñāna — and realization; saṁyutaḥ — endowed; mattaḥ — from Me; anuśikṣitam — learned; yat — that which; te — by you; viviktam — ascertained with discrimination; anubhāvayan — thoroughly meditating upon; mayi — in Me; āveśita — absorbed; vāk — your words; cittaḥ — and mind; mat-dharma — My transcendental qualities; nirataḥ — constantly endeavoring to realize; bhava — be thus situated; ativrajya — crossing beyond; gatīḥ — the destinations of material nature; tisraḥ — three; mām — unto Me; eṣyasi — you will come; tataḥ param — thereafter.
Translation
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Uddhava, take My order and go to My āśrama called Badarikā. Purify yourself by both touching and also bathing in the holy waters there, which have emanated from My lotus feet. Rid yourself of all sinful reactions with the sight of the sacred Alakanandā River. Dress yourself in bark and eat whatever is naturally available in the forest. Thus you should remain content and free from desire, tolerant of all dualities, good-natured, self-controlled, peaceful and endowed with transcendental knowledge and realization. With fixed attention, meditate constantly upon these instructions I have imparted to you and assimilate their essence. Fix your words and thoughts upon Me, and always endeavor to increase your realization of My transcendental qualities. In this way you will cross beyond the destinations of the three modes of nature and finally come back to Me.
Devanagari
श्रीशुक उवाच
स एवमुक्तो हरिमेधसोद्धव:
प्रदक्षिणं तं परिसृत्य पादयो: ।
शिरो निधायाश्रुकलाभिरार्द्रधी-
र्न्यषिञ्चदद्वन्द्वपरोऽप्यपक्रमे ॥ ४५ ॥
स एवमुक्तो हरिमेधसोद्धव:
प्रदक्षिणं तं परिसृत्य पादयो: ।
शिरो निधायाश्रुकलाभिरार्द्रधी-
र्न्यषिञ्चदद्वन्द्वपरोऽप्यपक्रमे ॥ ४५ ॥
Verse text
śrī-śuka uvāca
sa evam ukto hari-medhasoddhavaḥ
pradakṣiṇaṁ taṁ parisṛtya pādayoḥ
śiro nidhāyāśru-kalābhir ārdra-dhīr
nyaṣiñcad advandva-paro ’py apakrame
sa evam ukto hari-medhasoddhavaḥ
pradakṣiṇaṁ taṁ parisṛtya pādayoḥ
śiro nidhāyāśru-kalābhir ārdra-dhīr
nyaṣiñcad advandva-paro ’py apakrame
Synonyms
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; saḥ — he; evam — thus; uktaḥ — addressed; hari-medhasā — by the Supreme Lord, whose intelligence takes away the misery of material life; uddhavaḥ — Uddhava; pradakṣiṇam — facing with his right side; tam — Him; parisṛtya — circumambulating; pādayoḥ — at the two feet; śiraḥ — his head; nidhāya — placing; aśru-kalābhiḥ — with the teardrops; ārdra — melted; dhīḥ — whose heart; nyaṣiñcat — he drenched; advandva-paraḥ — uninvolved in material dualities; api — although; apakrame — at the time of leaving.
Translation
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Thus addressed by Lord Kṛṣṇa, whose intelligence destroys all the suffering of material life, Śrī Uddhava circumambulated the Lord and then fell down, placing his head upon the Lord’s feet. Although Uddhava was free from the influence of all material dualities, his heart was breaking, and at this time of departure he drenched the Lord’s lotus feet with his tears.
Devanagari
सुदुस्त्यजस्नेहवियोगकातरो
न शक्नुवंस्तं परिहातुमातुर: ।
कृच्छ्रं ययौ मूर्धनि भर्तृपादुके
बिभ्रन्नमस्कृत्य ययौ पुन: पुन: ॥ ४६ ॥
न शक्नुवंस्तं परिहातुमातुर: ।
कृच्छ्रं ययौ मूर्धनि भर्तृपादुके
बिभ्रन्नमस्कृत्य ययौ पुन: पुन: ॥ ४६ ॥
Verse text
su-dustyaja-sneha-viyoga-kātaro
na śaknuvaṁs taṁ parihātum āturaḥ
kṛcchraṁ yayau mūrdhani bhartṛ-pāduke
bibhran namaskṛtya yayau punaḥ punaḥ
na śaknuvaṁs taṁ parihātum āturaḥ
kṛcchraṁ yayau mūrdhani bhartṛ-pāduke
bibhran namaskṛtya yayau punaḥ punaḥ
Synonyms
su-dustyaja — impossible to give up; sneha — (from Him) in whom he had reposed such affection; viyoga — because of separation; kātaraḥ — beside himself; na śaknuvan — being incapable; tam — Him; parihātum — to abandon; āturaḥ — overwhelmed; kṛcchram yayau — he experienced great pain; mūrdhani — upon his head; bhartṛ — of his master; pāduke — the slippers; bibhran — carrying; namaskṛtya — bowing down to offer obeisances; yayau — he went away; punaḥ punaḥ — again and again.
Translation
Greatly fearing separation from Him for whom he felt such indestructible affection, Uddhava was distraught, and he could not give up the Lord’s company. Finally, feeling great pain, he bowed down to the Lord again and again, placed the slippers of his master upon his head, and departed.
Purport
According to the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.4.5), while Uddhava was enroute to Badarikāśrama he heard about the Lord’s journey to Prabhāsa. Turning back and following Lord Kṛṣṇa from behind, he saw the Lord alone just after the withdrawal of the Yadu dynasty. After being again mercifully instructed by the Personality of Godhead (along with Maitreya, who had just arrived), Uddhava felt his knowledge of the truth reawaken, and then, by the order of the Lord, he went on his way.
Devanagari
ततस्तमन्तर्हृदि सन्निवेश्य
गतो महाभागवतो विशालाम् ।
यथोपदिष्टां जगदेकबन्धुना
तप: समास्थाय हरेरगाद् गतिम् ॥ ४७ ॥
गतो महाभागवतो विशालाम् ।
यथोपदिष्टां जगदेकबन्धुना
तप: समास्थाय हरेरगाद् गतिम् ॥ ४७ ॥
Verse text
tatas tam antar hṛdi sanniveśya
gato mahā-bhāgavato viśālām
yathopadiṣṭāṁ jagad-eka-bandhunā
tapaḥ samāsthāya harer agād gatim
gato mahā-bhāgavato viśālām
yathopadiṣṭāṁ jagad-eka-bandhunā
tapaḥ samāsthāya harer agād gatim
Synonyms
tataḥ — then; tam — Him; antaḥ — within; hṛdi — his mind; sanniveśya — placing; gataḥ — going; mahā-bhāgavataḥ — the great devotee; viśālām — to Badarikāśrama; yathā — as; upadiṣṭām — described; jagat — of the universe; eka — by the only; bandhunā — friend; tapaḥ — austerities; samāsthāya — properly executing; hareḥ — of the Supreme Lord; agāt — he attained; gatim — the destination.
Translation
Thereupon, placing the Lord deeply within his heart, the great devotee Uddhava went to Badarikāśrama. By engaging there in austerities, he attained to the Lord’s personal abode, which had been described to him by the only friend of the universe, Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself.
Purport
Śrī Uddhava returned to Dvārakā in the spiritual sky, according to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura.
Devanagari
य एतदानन्दसमुद्रसम्भृतं
ज्ञानामृतं भागवताय भाषितम् ।
कृष्णेन योगेश्वरसेविताङ्घ्रिणा
सच्छ्रद्धयासेव्य जगद् विमुच्यते ॥ ४८ ॥
ज्ञानामृतं भागवताय भाषितम् ।
कृष्णेन योगेश्वरसेविताङ्घ्रिणा
सच्छ्रद्धयासेव्य जगद् विमुच्यते ॥ ४८ ॥
Verse text
ya etad ānanda-samudra-sambhṛtaṁ
jñānāmṛtaṁ bhāgavatāya bhāṣitam
kṛṣṇena yogeśvara-sevitāṅghriṇā
sac-chraddhayāsevya jagad vimucyate
jñānāmṛtaṁ bhāgavatāya bhāṣitam
kṛṣṇena yogeśvara-sevitāṅghriṇā
sac-chraddhayāsevya jagad vimucyate
Synonyms
yaḥ — anyone who; etat — this; ānanda — of ecstasy; samudra — ocean; sambhṛtam — collected; jñāna — of knowledge; amṛtam — the nectar; bhāgavatāya — to His devotee; bhāṣitam — spoken; kṛṣṇena — by Kṛṣṇa; yoga-īśvara — by the masters of yoga; sevita — served; aṅghriṇā — whose lotus feet; sat — true; śraddhayā — with faith; āsevya — rendering service; jagat — the whole world; vimucyate — becomes liberated.
Translation
Thus Lord Kṛṣṇa, whose lotus feet are served by all great yoga masters, spoke to His devotee this nectarean knowledge, which comprises the entire ocean of spiritual bliss. Anyone within this universe who receives this narration with great faith is assured of liberation.
Devanagari
भवभयमपहन्तुं ज्ञानविज्ञानसारं
निगमकृदुपजह्रे भृङ्गवद् वेदसारम् ।
अमृतमुदधितश्चापाययद् भृत्यवर्गान्
पुरुषमृषभमाद्यं कृष्णसंज्ञं नतोऽस्मि ॥ ४९ ॥
निगमकृदुपजह्रे भृङ्गवद् वेदसारम् ।
अमृतमुदधितश्चापाययद् भृत्यवर्गान्
पुरुषमृषभमाद्यं कृष्णसंज्ञं नतोऽस्मि ॥ ४९ ॥
Verse text
bhava-bhayam apahantuṁ jñāna-vijñāna-sāraṁ
nigama-kṛd upajahre bhṛṅga-vad veda-sāram
amṛtam udadhitaś cāpāyayad bhṛtya-vargān
puruṣam ṛṣabham ādyaṁ kṛṣṇa-saṁjñaṁ nato ’smi
nigama-kṛd upajahre bhṛṅga-vad veda-sāram
amṛtam udadhitaś cāpāyayad bhṛtya-vargān
puruṣam ṛṣabham ādyaṁ kṛṣṇa-saṁjñaṁ nato ’smi
Synonyms
bhava — of material life; bhayam — the fear; apahantum — in order to take away; jñāna-vijñāna — of knowledge and self-realization; sāram — the essence; nigama — of the Vedas; kṛt — the author; upajahre — delivered; bhṛṅga-vat — like a bee; veda-sāram — the essential meaning of the Vedas; amṛtam — the nectar; udadhitaḥ — from the ocean; ca — and; apāyayat — made to drink; bhṛtya-vargān — His many devotees; puruṣam — to the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ṛṣabham — the greatest; ādyam — the first of all beings; kṛṣṇa-saṁjñam — named Lord Kṛṣṇa; nataḥ — bowed down; asmi — I am.
Translation
I offer my obeisances to that Supreme Personality of Godhead, the original and greatest of all beings, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. He is the author of the Vedas, and just to destroy His devotees’ fear of material existence, like a bee He has collected this nectarean essence of all knowledge and self-realization. Thus He has awarded to His many devotees this nectar from the ocean of bliss, and by His mercy they have drunk it.
Purport
Just as a bee extracts nectar from a flower without harming the flower, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa extracts the essence of all Vedic knowledge without disturbing the elaborate system of Vedic advancement. In other words, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa establishes Himself as the goal of Vedic knowledge without destroying preliminary, inferior processes that may be applicable to grossly materialistic men. Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī thus concludes by offering his obeisances to the spiritual master of the entire universe, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda to the Eleventh Canto, Twenty-ninth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Bhakti-yoga.”