Verse 1.5.129

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 1.5.129:

यथाहं प्रार्थ्य तत्-सङ्ग-स्थितिं नाप्नोमि कर्हिचित् ।
तन्-महा-लाभतो हीनोऽसत्यया राज्य-रक्षया ॥ १२९ ॥

yathāhaṃ prārthya tat-saṅga-sthitiṃ nāpnomi karhicit |
tan-mahā-lābhato hīno'satyayā rājya-rakṣayā || 129 ||

However, I cannot get the association of Śrī Kṛṣṇa in spite of praying. Due to these trivial royal duties, I have become void of the great benefit of the Lord’s divine association.

Commentary: Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā with Bhāvānuvāda

(By Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī himself including a deep purport of that commentary)

By discussing the topic of Śrī Uddhava’s constant residence with Bhagavān and by stopping Śrī Nārada from going to the residence of Uddhavajī, Śrī Ugrasena is reciting the glories of Uddhavajī, in order to counter his own glories spoken by Śrī Nārada.

“I can never obtain the association of Śrī Kṛṣṇa despite praying. Bhagavān has never cheated anyone like me, just as He has made me devoid of His association. Bhagavān could not have cheated anyone in the same way as He cheated me. I am cheated of the great benefit of His association. Why? Because of handling the transient activity of managing the kingdom, I am cheated of His great association. Even though it is said that there is no chance of defeat from the enemies in the kingdom that has received Bhagavān’s mercy, this is truly impossible.”

The word asatya means apparent. However, in a kingdom established by Bhagavān there is no chance of any defect or shortcoming. Still, Śrī Kṛṣṇa ordered me, “Until I arrive from the other place, you should protect this kingdom.” The order is given to protect this kingdom from the deception of the Lord.

The description of this topic is given in the book called Śrī Harivaṃśa (2.47.16-18) in the episode of the kidnapping of Śrī Rukmini, Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa told Śrī Ugrasena:

तिष्ठ त्वं नृप-शार्दूल भ्रात्रा मे सहितो नृप
क्षत्रिया निकृत-प्रज्ञाः शास्त्र्-निश्चित-दर्शनाः
पुरीं शुन्याम् इमं वीर जघन्या मास्म पीडयन्

tiṣṭha tvaṃ nṛpa-śārdūla bhrātrā me sahito nṛpa
kṣatriyā nikṛta-prajñāḥ śāstr-niścita-darśanāḥ
purīṃ śunyām imaṃ vīra jaghanyā māsma pīḍayan

“O lion among kings (nṛpa-keśarī), you should stay in this kingdom with My brother. Though the kings who belong to the warrior class believe in the scriptures, they are naturally of the wicked nature. Therefore, O hero, to protect this city, you should reside in this sovereignless city, while punishing the miscreants.”

After hearing all these orders of Bhagavān, Śrī Ugrasena replied:

त्वया विहीनाः सर्वे स्म, न शक्ताः सुखम् आसितुम्
पुरे’स्मिन् विशयान्ते च, पति-हीना यथा स्त्रियः
त्वत्-सनाथा वयं तात, त्वद्-बाहु-बलम् आश्रिताः
बिभीमो न नरेन्द्राणां, सेन्द्राणाम् अपि मान-द
विजयाय यदु-श्रेष्ठ यत्र यत्र गमिष्यसि
तत्र त्वं सहितो’स्माभिर् गच्छेथा यादवर्षभ

tvayā vihīnāḥ sarve sma, na śaktāḥ sukham āsitum
pure’smin viśayānte ca, pati-hīnā yathā striyaḥ
tvat-sanāthā vayaṃ tāta, tvad-bāhu-balam āśritāḥ
bibhīmo na narendrāṇāṃ, sendrāṇām api māna-da
vijayāya yadu-śreṣṭha yatra yatra gamiṣyasi
tatra tvaṃ sahito’smābhir gacchethā yādavarṣabha

“O Kṛṣṇa, we are unable to stay in this city like a woman bereft of her husband because You are our master. O dearmost one, after obtaining You, we have become protected by Your Lordship, under the shelter of Your strong arms. What to speak of the kings of the Earth, we are not even afraid of the crooked eyebrows of Indra. O best among the Yadus, wherever You may go, we shall also go with You.” (Śrī Harivaṃśa 2.47.21-23)