Chapter 46 - Uddhava deputed for consoling Nanda

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Śrī Śuka said:

1. Uddhava was the foremost counsellor of the Vṛṣṇis and the utmost beloved friend of Kṛṣṇa. He was a direct disciple of Bṛhaspati (the preceptor of gods and a founder of the political science) and was most intelligent.

2. On one occasion, holding Uddhava’s hand in his own, Lord Hari, the destroyer of miseries of those who seek asylum in him, spoke to him—his most beloved votary of unflinching devotion.

3. “Oh gentle-natured Uddhava! Please do go to Vraja. Bring felicity to our^[1] parents (Nanda and Yaśodā) by communicating my message to them. Please relieve the (mental) agony of separation from me of the Gopīs by conveying my special message to them.

4. They have entirely devoted their heart and soul to me and they regard me as their very life. For my sake they have given up their husbands and sons—nay their bodily requirements^[2] as well.

4(A). They are united with me in mind regarding me as their beloved-most, the climax of their love and their Lord.

I always support and give happiness to those who renounce all pleasures and interests and means to obtain them here and hereafter, and have over-ruled popular moral conventions for my sake.

5. Myself, the foremost of their beloved objects, being away at a distant place, the women of Gokula always brood over me and being overwhelmed with deep anxiety and grief caused by separation from me, they have become oblivious to everything else, dear friend!

6. It is due to my message assuring them of my return to visit them that the cowherd women whose heart and soul is absorbed in me are somehow managing to stay alive with great difficulty”.

Śrī Śuka said:

7. Oh king! When thus instructed Uddhava received with respect and devotion the message of his Lord. Getting into his chariot, he drove fast to Nanda’s Gokula.

8. While the sun was setting and his chariot was obscured with the thick cloud of dust raised by the hoofs of the cattle that were returning home, the blessed Uddhava reached Nanda’s Vraja (and could contact Nanda without Gopīs being aware of his arrival).

9. It (the Gokula) was noisy to the roaring of maddened bulls (in rut) fighting with one another for cows in heat, and by rushing of cows with heavy udders to meet their calves.

10. It appeared beautiful with snow-white calves (briskly) frisking and capering here and there and with the musical notes of flutes and (whistle-like) sounds while milking the cows.

11. The Gokula appeared most resplendent with richly adorned Gopīs and Gopas, the former glorifying in songs the auspicious deeds of Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa.

12. It was charming with the habitations of the cowherds where the sacred fire, the sun-God, guests, cows, Brāhmaṇas, ancestors and gods were being worshipped with flowers, lights and fragrant frank-incense burnt before them (OR and which were beautified by garlands, lamps and burning frankincense).

13. On all sides, it abounded in groves in full blossom and resounded with the sweet warblings and notes of birds and hummings of bees. It was beautified with ponds full of lotus-beds teeming with swans and Kāraṇḍavas (a species of ducks).

14. Seeing (and receiving) Uddhava, the beloved follower of kṛṣṇa, who had arrived there, Nanda was exceedingly delighted. He embraced him and worshipped him (with due formalities and respect) regarding him to be Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa) himself.

15. When he was served with rich dishes and was comfortably resting on a bed, and had been relieved of his fatigue by shampooing and such other services, Nanda enquired of him.

16. “Oh Highly blessed dear Uddhava! Is our friend Vasudeva, the delight (or son) of Śūra happy and doing well, as he is now free (from imprisonment) united with his sons, wives and others and is surrounded by his friends and well- wishers?

17. The wicked Kaṃsa who always hated the righteous and religious-minded Yadus, has fortunately been killed by his own sins along with his followers.

18. Does Kṛṣṇa remember us, his mother Yaśodā, his friends, well-wishers and other Gopas, Vraja of which he was the protector, cows, Vṛndāvana and mount Govardhana!

19. Will Kṛṣṇa, the Protector of cows, come at least once, to see his friends, kith and kin (hereof)? Then alone we shall be able to see his charming countenance with a shapely nose, happy smiles and (loving) glances.

20. We have been protected from the forest conflagration, stormy winds and driving showers, the demon in the bullock form (Ariṣṭa), the serpent (Kāliya) and from perils and fatal accidents which were difficult to be avoided, by the highly noble-souled Kṛṣṇa.

21. Dear Uddhava! When we remember the heroic exploits of Kṛṣṇa, his sportive glances, his smiles and talks, all our actions become slackened.

22. Even as we see the play-grounds, the river Yamunā, hills, forests and groves adorned with the foot-prints of Kṛṣṇa, our mind becomes absorbed in him.

23. As observed by Garga, I too regard that Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa are the most prominent divinities who have descended on this earth for accomplishing some important mission of gods.

24. Both of them easily killed, as in a sport, Kaṃsa who possessed the strength of ten thousand elephants, the two wrestlers (Cāṇūra and Muṣṭika) and the king of elephants. Kuvalayāpīḍa.

25. Like a king of elephants breaking down a sugarcane, Kṛṣṇa snapped the formidable bow three tālas (i.e. twentyseven spans) in length. And on one hand, he held up the mount Govardhana for a period of seven days.

26. By him were killed as in a sport demons like Pralamba, Dhenuka, Ariṣṭa, Tṛṇāvarta, Baka and others who have vanquished gods and asuras.”

Śrī Śuka said:

27. Recollecting graphically again and again the sports and exploits of Kṛṣṇa, Nanda whose mind and intellect were deeply attached to Kṛṣṇa lapsed into silence, as he was overwhelmed with extreme longing and (felt choked up) with a flood of affection.

28. While Yaśodā was listening to the description of the exploits of her sons, she shed tears profusely and her breasts overflowed with milk through maternal affection.

29. Noticing such a supreme affection of Nanda and Yaśodā towards Lord Kṛṣṇa, Uddhava spoke with great joy to Nanda.

Uddhava said:

30. “Oh courteous bestower of honours!^[3] Both of you are indeed the most praiseworthy among embodied beings in this world, inasmuch as you cherish such a deep love for Nārāyaṇa (Kṛṣṇa) who is the Creator of all beings.

31. For these two—Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa—are the primary (efficient and material) cause of the Universe; they are the Puruṣa (spirit) and Pradhāna (Primordial matter). Permeating all beings, these two Ancient(beginningless) Lords control varieties of consciousness.

32. If at the time of death, a person concentrates his mind in him at least for a moment, he reduces to ashes all his (accumulated) karmas and (realizing the nature of his self) becomes identical with Brahman, (and attaining a form constituted of pure sattva) acquires the refulgence of the Sun, and instantly reaches the highest goal.

33. Both of you cherish utmost devotion unto him (Kṛṣṇa) who is the veritable Lord Nārāyaṇa himself, the cause (source) of all beings, and who has assumed a human form for some divine purpose. Oh noble-souled Nanda! What meritorious acts are yet to be achieved by you both!

34. At no distant date, the immutable Lord Kṛṣṇa will visit Vraja again. The glorious of the Sātvatas will accomplish whatever delights his parents.

35. Whatever Kṛṣṇa has promised you after slaying Kaṃsa, the enemy of Sātvatas, in the arena^[4] he will accomplish it for you.

36. Please do not get depressed, Oh highly fortunate ones! You shall see Kṛṣṇa by your side. Just as the fire (latently) exists in fuel, he abides in the hearts of all beings.

37. (Please do not entertain doubt how he will leave his ḍear parents and come to you). None is extremely beloved of or disliked by him, for he is above attachments. None is superior or inferior or unequal to him as he is the same to all.^[5]

38. He has no mother, no father, no wife, no children or other relatives. He has none who is his own or who is his non-self. He has no corporeal form at all.

39. He has no bound of Karma. But out of sport and for the protection of the righteous, he incarnates in good (eg. Rāma, Kṛṣṇa, bad (Fish, Boar) and mixed (e.g. Man-lion) types of species.)^[6]

40. Though this unborn Lord is transcendental to and hence unaffected by guṇas, he assumes all the guṇas such as the sattva, rajas and tamas. It is out of sportiveness that he creates, maintains and destroys the universe by these means.

41. Just as the whole earth appears rotating to an eye that is rolling, the Soul is regarded as the Agent through the influence of ahaṃkāra (Ego) while it is actually the mind that is active.^[7]

42. This glorious Lord Hari is not merely a son of you both, but is the Sun, Soul, father, mother and the Almighty Ruler of all.

43. Without the presence of and apart from the Lord, there is nothing which is seen or heard of, has happened in the past or present or can happen in future: nothing immobile or mobile, great or small is different from or without the presence of the Lord. For only he is everything and real.

44. In this way, while Nanda and Kṛṣṇa’s follower (Uddhava) were talking, the whole night passed away (without their being aware of it). (At dawn) the cowherd women got up, lighted the lamps, duly worshipped the presiding deities of their home e.g. the threshold, and began to churn their curds.

45. The Gopīs appeared splendid with their jewels shining refulgent in the light of lamps, as they pulled to and fro the cords of the churning-rod, with (jingling) rows of bangles on their hands, with their big hips, heavy breasts and pearl necklaces moving (in a rhythmic motion), with their cheeks refulgent with the radiance of the rocking ear-rings (while churning), and with their countenance decked with red saffron.

46. The sound of the singing damsels of Vraja glorifying loudly in songs the deeds of the lotus-eyed God (Kṛṣṇa) mixed with the (gurgling) sound of the churning of the curds, filled the heaven and thereby whatever was inauspicious in all directions was dispelled.

47. When the sun rose, and the Gopīs of Vraja saw a gold-plated chariot at the door of Nanda, they enquired whose chariot it was.

48. Has Akrūra, the accomplice of Kaṃsa who carried away lotus-eyed Kṛṣṇa to Mathura and thus accomplished Kaṃsa’s purpose, come again?

49. Is he going to bring about the gratification of his dead master by offering us i.e. our bodies or flesh as piṇḍa (offering to the deceased) to him. While the women were talking thus, Uddhava who had finished his bath and morning (religious) duties, arrived there.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

v.l. nau—of us both—Subodhinī

[2]:

4(A). Some editions (e.g. Yande’s Bombay edition) add this line here:

māmeva dayitaṃ preṣṭham ātmānam manasā gatāḥ /

[3]:

You gave us the honour of belonging to the fraternity of devotees of the Lord from Nārada down to a resident of Gokula—VT.

[4]:

Vide. Supra 45.23

[5]:

Not traced in Subodhinī

[6]:

Incarnates among gods, humans and sub-human beings—Padaratnāvalī

[7]:

Not traced in Padaratnāvalī’s Text.