some glories of Sri Uddhava part one

[Paramananda das]

dear devotees

 Please accept my humble obaisences 

All glories to Srila Prabhupada 

    .I have been reading Garga Samhita it is one of my favorite sastras .There is some extensive glorification of Sri Uddhava in the 5th Canto of this book chapter 13.Sri Uddhava appeared in Gaura Lila as Paramananda Puri .  

   Krsna send Uddhava with His own chariot to Vrindavana   .

    Text 4

 

 

shri-bhagavan uvaca

gaccha cighram vrajam he sakhe sundaram

     shri-lata-kunja-punjadibhir manditam

caila-krishna-prabha-caru-vrndavanam

     gopa-gopi-ganair gokulam sagkulam

 

     shri-bhagavan uvaca - the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; gaccha - go; cighram - at once; vrajam - to Vraja; he - O; sakhe - friend; sundaram - beautiful; shri-lata-kunja-pu 24jadibhih - with many beautiful forests and flowering vines;  manditam - decorated; caila - Govardhana Hill; krishna - the Yamuna; prabha - glory; caru - beautiful; vrndavanam - Vrndavana; gopa-gopi-ganaih - with many gopas and gopis; gokulam - Gokula; sagkulam - filled.

 

 

     The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Friend, please go at once to beautiful Vraja, which is decorated with many beautiful forest groves and flowering vines, which has beautiful Vrndavana forest glorious with Govardhana Hill and the Yamuna, and which is filled with gopas and gopis.

 

 

Text 5

 

 

eka-patram tu nandaya vai diyatam

     va dvitiyam yacoda-kare caiva bhoh

va trtiyam tv idam radhikayai sakhe

     tatra gatva hi tan-mandiram sundaram

 

     eka-patram - one letter; tu - indeed; nandaya - to Nanda; vai - indeed; diyatam - should be given; va - or; dvitiyam - a second; yacoda-kare - in Yacoda's hand; ca - and; eva - inded; bhoh - Oh; va - or; trtiyam - a third; tv - indeed; idam - this; radhikayai - to Radha; sakhe - O friend; tatra - there; gatva - having gone; hi - inded; tan-mandiram - to the palace; sundaram - beautiful.

 

 

     There please give a letter to King Nanda. Place a second letter in Yacoda's hand. Then, O friend, go to Radha's beautiful palace and give a letter to Radha.

 

 

Text 6

 

 

va caturtham sakhibhyah cicubhyah cubham

     kaucalam diyatam patram evam prthak

gopikanam catebhyac ca yuthebhya

     unmohitanam ca deyani patrani ca

 

     va - or; caturtham - a fourth; sakhibhyah - to the friends; cicubhyah - boys; cubham - beautiful; kaucalam - auspicious; diyatam - should be given; patram - letter; evam - thus; prthak - one; gopikanam - of the gopis; catebhyah - to hundreds; ca - and; yuthebhya - groups; unmohitanam - bewildered with love; ca - and; deyani - should be given; patrani - many letters; ca - and.

 

 

     Give a fourth splendid and auspicious letter to My childhood gopa friends. Give letters to each of the hundreds of groups of gopis bewildered with love for Me.

 

note: 

   When I was reading this a thought came to my mind , but sometimes the Gopis and Radha would go to Mathura  and sell Yoghurt ,milk etc,this is explained in Sri Gopal Tarpani Upanisad , it appears to me to have been when the Vrijabasis lived in Gokula.

ext 7

 

 

me pita nanda-rajo ghrni man-mana

     me ca mata yacoda smaraty acu mam

vakya-vrndaih cubhair niti-vit tvam tayor

     me param pritim arad dvayor avaha

 

     me - My; pita - father; nanda-rajah - King Nanda;  ghrni - kind; man-mana - his mind fixed on Me; me - My; ca - and; mata - mother; yacoda - Yacoda;  smarati - remembers; acu - at once; mam - Me; vakya-vrndaih - with many words; cubhaih - beautiful; niti-vit - wise; tvam - you; tayoh - of them; me - and; param - great; pritim - love; arat - near;  dvayoh - both; avaha - bring.

 

 

     My kind father, King Nanda, places all his thoughts on Me. My mother, Yacoda, always thinks of Me. You are expert in speaking many graceful words. Please carry My love to them.

 

 

Text 8

 

 

mat-priya radhika mad-viyogatura

     manyate mam vina kham jagan mohatah

mad-viyogadhim asya mad-uktaih padair

     mocaya tvam bhavan daksino vak-pathe

 

     mat - My; priya - beloved; radhika - Radha; mad-viyogatura - overcome with separation fropm Me; manyate - thinks; mam - of Me; vina - without; kham - sky; jagat - the universe; mohatah - from bewilderment; mad-viyogadhim - tormented in My absence;  asya - of Her; mad-uktaih - with My words; padaih - with words; mocaya - please release; tvam - you; bhavan - you; daksinah - expert; vak-pathe - in the path of words.

 

 

     Radha, My beloved, is tortured by My absence. In My absence She thinks the entire world is a great expanse of empty sky. Speak My words to Her and free Her from Her suffering in My absence. You are expert in walking on the path of eloquent words.

 

 

Text 9

 

 

gopa-balah sudamadayo mat-priya

     mam sakhayam vina te 'pi mohaturah

dehi tesam sukham mitra-vac chri-vraje

     sv-alpa-kalena tatragamisyamy aham

 

     gopa-balah - the gopa boys; sudamadayah - headed by Sudama; mat-priya - dear to Me; mam - to Me; sakhayam - friend; vina - without; te - they; api - also; mohaturah - bewildered; dehi - give; tesam - of the them; sukham - happiness; mitra-vat - like a friend; shri-vraje - in beautiful Vraja; sv-alpa-kalena - in a little time; tatra - there; agamisyami aham - I will come.

 

 

     The gopa boys are also very dear to Me. Without Me, their friend, they are bewildered and unhappy. As a friend does, make them happy. Very soon I will return to beautiful Vraja.

 

Text 10

 

 

gopika mad-viyogadhi-vegatura

     man-manaskac ca mat-prapta-dehasavah

ya mad-arthe ca santyakta-lokabalas

     tah katham natra mantrin bibharmi svatah

 

     gopikah - the gopis; mad-viyogadhi-vegatura - tortured by My absence; man-manaskah - their thoughts fixed on Me; ca - and; mat-prapta - placed in Me; deha - their bodies; asavah - and life; ya - who; mad-arthe - for My sake; ca - and; santyakta - renounced; loka - the world; abalah - women; tah - they; katham - how?;  na - not; atra - here; mantrin - O counselor; bibharmi - I maintain; svatah - personally.

 

 

     The gopis are tortured by My absence. Their thoyghts are fixed on Me. Their bodies and lives are dedicated to Me. For My sake they have renounced the entire world. Counselor, how can I not protect and maintain them?

 

 

Text 11

 

 

ta asun tyaktum atrodyata uddhava

     yabhir adyapi krcchrair ghrtac casavah

mad-viyogadhim asam mad-uktaih padair

     mocaya tvam bhavan daksino vak-pathe

 

     tah - they; asun - life; tyaktum - to abandon; atra - here; udyata - about; uddhava - O Uddhava; yabhih - by whom; adya - now; api - even; krcchraih - with difficulty; ghrtah - held; ca - and; asavah - life; mad-viyogadhim - the torment of being separated from Me; asam - of them; mad-uktaih - with My words;  padaih - with words; mocaya - release; tvam - you; bhavan - you; daksinah - expert; vak-pathe - on the path of words.

 

 

     O Uddhava, they are on the verge of giving up their lives. It is very difficult for them to remain alive. Speak My words to them and free them from their suffering in My absence. You are expert in walking on the path of eloquent words

please carefully note this verse that gives great  pleasure to the vaisnavas:

Texts 12-14

 

 

yena purvam vrajad agato 'ham sakhe

     tam ratham sacva-sutam ranad-ghantikam

me ca sarupyam adyaiva pitambaram

     vaijayantim sahasra-cchadam pagkajam

 

kundale divya-ratna-prabha-mandite

     koti-balarka-diptam manim kaustubham

me maha-nadini caru-vamcim cubham

     puspa-yuktam ca yastim jagan-mohinim

 

candanam sundaram divya-gandhavrtam

     barha-malladi-vesam kvanan-nupuram

maulim evam grhanaggade uddhava

     gaccha gacchacu cadyaiva mad-vakyatah

 

     yena - by which; purvam - before; vrajat - from Vraja; agatah - come; aham - I; sakhe - O friend;  tam - you; ratham - chariot; sa - with; acva - horses; sutam - and charioteer; ranad-ghantikam - with tinkling bells; me - of Me; ca - and;  sarupyam - the same form; adya - now; eva - indeed;  pitambaram - yellow garments; vaijayantim - a vaijayanti garland; sahasra-cchadam pagkajam - a thousand-petal lotus. kundale divya-ratna-prabha-mandite koti-balarka-diptam manim kaustubham me maha-nadini caru-vamcim cubham puspa-yuktam ca yastim jagan-mohinim candanam sundaram divya-gandhavrtam barha-malladi-vesam kvanan-nupuram maulim evam grhanaggade uddhava gaccha gacchacu cadyaiva mad-vakyatah

 

 

     Take the chariot on which I left Vraja, decorate it with tinkling bells, take a charioteer and horses, take a form like My own, take My yellow garments, vaijayanti garland, thousand-petal lotus, splendid jewel earrings, Kaustubha jewel more glorious than millions of rising suns, beautiful flute filled with sweet music, flower-decorated stick that charms all the worlds, beautiful, splendidly fragrant sandal paste, ornaments of jasmine flowers and peacock feathers, tinkling anklets, crown, and armlets, and then go at once, go now, on My word, to Vraja.

So Krsna then sends Uddhava to Nandagrama and Varsana:

then there is a beautiful description of Krsnas cows:

Text 15

 

 

shri-narada uvaca

ity ukta uddhava cighram

     namaskrtya krtanjalih

krishnam pradaksini-krtya

     ratharudho vrajam yayau

 

     shri-narada uvaca - Shri Narada said; iti - thus; ukta - addressed; uddhava - Uddhava; cighram - at once;  namaskrtya - offering obeisances; krtanjalih - with folded hands; krishnam - Lord Krishna; pradaksini-krtya - circumambulating; ratharudhah - riding on a chariot;  vrajam - to Vraja; yayau - went.

 

 

     Hearing these words, with folded hands Uddhava bowed before Lord Krishna, circumambulated Him, and at once rode on a chariot to Vraja.

 

 

Text 16

 

 

koticah kotico gavah

     yatra yatra manoharah

cveta-parvata-sagkaca

     divya-bhusana-bhusitah

 

     koticah - millions; koticah - and miullions; gavah - cows; yatra - where; yatra - where; manoharah - beautiful; cveta-parvata - white mountains; sagkaca - splendid; divya-bhusana-bhusitah - decorated with splendid ornaments.

 

 

     Wherever he went in Vraja there were millions and millions of beautiful cows glorious as great white mountains and decorated with splendid ornaments.

 

 

Text 17

 

 

payasvinyas tarunyac ca

     cila-rupa-gunair yutah

sa-vatsah pita-pucchac ca

     vrajantyo bhavya-murtikah

 

     payasvinyah - full of milk; tarunyah - young; ca - and; cila-rupa-gunaih - virtuous; yutah - endowed;  sa-vatsah - with calves; pita-pucchah - yellow tails; ca - and; vrajantyah - going; bhavya-murtikah - beautiful forms.

 

 

     They were young, virtuous, full of milk, and accompanied by their calves. They were beautiful and their tails were yellow.

 

 

Text 18

 

 

ghanta-manjita-jhagkarah

     kigkini-jala-manditah

hema-tulya hema-crggyo

     hara-malah sphurat-prabhah

 

     ghanta-manjita-jhagkarah - with tinkjling bells and ornamnets; kigkini-jala-manditah - decorated with a network of tinkling ornaments; hema-tulya - like gold; hema-crggyah - with gold horns; hara-malah - with necklaces and garlands; sphurat-prabhah - splendid.

 

 

     They were deocrated with networks of tinkling bells and ornaments and with garlands and necklaces. Their bodies and horns were like gold.

 

 

Text 19

 

 

patalah haritas tamra

     pitah cyama vicitritah

dhumrah kokila-varnac ca

     yatra gavas tv anekadha

 

     patalah - pink; haritah - green; tamra - brown; pitah - yellow; cyama - black; vicitritah - different colors; dhumrah - smokey; kokila-varnah - the color of cuckoos; ca - and; yatra - where; gavah - cows;  tv - indeed; anekadha - many.

 

 

     Some cows were pink, some green, some brown, some multi-colored, some yellow, some smoke-colored, and some the color of cuckoos.

 

 

Text 20

 

 

samudra-vad dugdha-dac ca

     taruni-kara-citritah

kuragga-vad vilagghadbhir

     go-vatsair manditah cubhah

 

     samudra-vat - like an ocean; dugdha-dah - giving milk;  ca - and; taruni-kara-citritah - decorated with girls' handprints; kuragga-vat - like deer; vilagghadbhih - leaping; go-vatsaih - with calves; manditah - decorated; cubhah - beautiful and auspicious.

 

 

     They were decorated with pictures of girls' handprints. They gave milk that was like an ocean. They were decorated with calves leaping like deer.

 

 first Uddhava met the gopas:

Text 21

 

 

itas tatac calantac ca

     go-ganesu maha-vrsah

dirgha-kandhara-crggadhya

     yatra dharma-dhurandharah

 

     itas tatah - here and there; calantah - going; ca - and; go-ganesu - among the cows; maha-vrsah - great bulls; dirgha - long; kandhara - shoulders; crgga - horns; adhyah - opulent; yatra - where; dharma-dhurandharah - carrying the principles of religion.

 

 

     Wandering here and there among the cows were great bulls with broad shoulders and long horns, bulls bearing the principles of religion.

 

 

Text 22

 

 

gopala vetra-hastac ca

     cyama-vamci-dharah parah

krishna-lilah pragayanto

     ragair madana-mohanaih

 

     gopala - gopas; vetra-hastah - with stick in hand; ca - and; cyama-vamci-dharah - holding black flutes; parah - great; krishna - of Lord Krishna; lilah - pastimes;  pragayantah - singing; ragaih - with ragas; madana-mohanaih - charming Kamadeva.

 

 

     There were many gopas playing black flutes and, with melodies that could charm Kamadeva himself, singing of Lord Krishna's pastimes

 

Text 23

 

 

durat tam agatam viksya

     jnatva krishnam vrajarbhakah

ucuh parasparam te vai

     krishna-darcana-lalasah

 

     durat - from far away; tam - him; agatam - coming;  viksya - seeing; jnatva - understanding; krishnam - Krishna; vrajarbhakah - the boys of Vraja; ucuh - said; parasparam - among themselves; te - they;  vai - indeed; krishna-darcana-lalasah - yearning to see Krishna.

 

 

     Seeing Uddhava coming, and thinking he was Krishna Himself, the gopa boys, eager to see Krishna, spoke among among themselves.

 

Text 24

 

 

shri-gopa ucuh

nanda-sunuh kilayati

     sakha yo 'yam na samcayah

megha-cyamah pita-vasah

     sragvi kundala-manditah

 

     shri-gopa ucuh - the gopas said; nanda-sunuh - Nanda's son; kila - indeed; ayati - comes; sakha - friend; yah - who; ayam - He; na - not; samcayah - doubt; megha-cyamah - dark as a cloud; pita-vasah - with yellow garments; sragvi - garlanded; kundala-manditah - decorated with earrings.

 

 

     The gopas said: Nanda's son is coming. It is our friend Krishna. There is no doubt of it. He is dark as a monsoon cloud. He wears yellow garments. He is decorated with earrings and a garland.

 

 

Text 25

 

 

kaustubhi kundali bibhrat

     sahasra-dala-pagkajam

tad eva mukutam bibhrat

     koti-martanda-sannibham

 

     kaustubhi - kaustubha; kundali - earrings; bibhrat - carrying; sahasra-dala-pagkajam - a thousand petal lotus; tat - that; eva - indeed; mukutam - crown;  bibhrat - wearing; koti-martanda-sannibham - splendid as a million suns.

 

 

     He wears earrings and a Kastubha jewel. He holds a thousand-petal lotus. He wears a crown splendid as millions of suns.

 

 

Text 26

 

 

ta evacva rathah so 'yam

     kigkini-jala-manditah

balo nasti rathe casminn

     ekaki nanda-nandanah

 

     te - they; eva - indeed; acvah - horses; rathah - chariot; sah - He; ayam - He; kigkini-jala-manditah - decorated with a network of tinkling ornaments; balah - Balarama; na - not; asti - is; rathe - on the chariot; ca - and; asmin - in this; ekaki - alone; nanda-nandanah - Krishna.

 

 

     These are the same horses. It is the same chariot decorated with a network of tinkling ornaments. Balarama is not on it. Nanda's son has come alone.

 

 Text 27

 

 

shri-narada uvaca

evam vadanto gopalah

     cridamadya videha-rat

krishnakrtim krishna-sakham

     ayayuh sarvato ratham

 

     shri-narada uvaca - Shri Narada said; evam - thus; vadantah - saying; gopalah - the gopas; cridamadya - headed by Shridama; videha-rat - O king of Videha; krishna - of Lord Krishna; akrtim - the form; krishna-sakham - Lord Krishna's friend; ayayuh - came; sarvatah - from everywhere; ratham - the chariot.

 

 

     Shri Narada said: O king of Videha, speaking in this way, the gopas headed by Shridama surrounded the chariot Krishna's friend, whose form was like Krishna's.

 

 

Text 28

 

 

krsno nastiti vadatah

     ko 'yam saksat tad-akrtih

tan namaskrtyaupagavih

     parirabhyavadat pathi

 

     krishnah - Krishna; na - not; asti - is; iti - thus; vadatah - saying; kah - who?; ayam - he;  saksat - directly; tad-akrtih - His form; tan - to them; namaskrtya - bowing; aupagavih - Uddhava; parirabhya - embracing; avadat - spoke; pathi - on the path.

 

 

     The gopas said, "He is not Krishna. Who is he? His form is like Krishna's." Then, in the middle of the road, Uddhava bowed before the gopas and embraced them all.

 

 

Text 29

 

 

shri-uddhava uvaca

grhana patram cridaman

     krishna-dattam na samcayah

cokam ma kuru gopalaih

     kucaly aste harih svayam

 

     shri-uddhava uvaca - Shri Uddhava said; grhana - take; patram - this letter; cridaman - O Shridama; krishna-dattam - given by Krishna; na - not; samcayah - doubt; cokam - lament; ma - don't; kuru - do; gopalaih - with gopas; kucali - welfare; aste - is; harih - Krishna; svayam - Himself.

 

 

     Shri Uddhava said: O Shridama, please take this letter. Krishna gave it. Of this there is no doubt. Don't lament. Krishna takes a personal interest in the welfare of the gopas.

 

 Now Uddhava is the highest of all the Lords devotees outside of Vraja ,this is explained in  Brhad Bhagavatamrta ,Krsna send Uddhava also to get the mercy of the Gopas and Gopis of even Sri Radha and of Nanda Maharaja and Yasoda and all the Vrijabasis.Uddhava is such a high class devotee, he simply prayed to become grass around Kusuma sarovara so the Gopis would step on him and give him the dust of their lotus feet . 

Text 30

 

 

yadavanam mahat karyam

     krtvatha sa-balah prabhuh

hrasva-kalena catrapi

     bhagavan agamisyati

 

     yadavanam - of the Yadavass; mahat - great; karyam - deed; krtva - doing; atha - then; sa-balah - with Balarama; prabhuh - the Lord; hrasva - short; kalena - time; ca - and; atra - here; api - also; bhagavan - the Lord; agamisyati - will return.

 

 

     After He has fulfilled His responsibilities to the Yadavas, Lord Krishna and Balarama will quickly erturn to Vraja.

 

 

Text 31

 

 

shri-narada uvaca

pathitva tad-dhasta-patram

     cridamadya vrajarbhakah

bhrcam acruni muncantah

     prahur gadgadaya gira

 

     shri-narada uvaca - Shri Narada said; pathitva - after reading; tad-dhasta-patram - the letter in his hand; cridamadya - headed by Shridama; vrajarbhakah - the boys of Vraja; bhrcam - greatly; acruni - tears; mu 24cantah - shedding; prahuh - said; gadgadaya - choked with emotion; gira - with words.

 

 

     Shri Narada said: After reading the letter in their hands, the boys of Vraja burst into tears. Then, their voices choked with emotion, they spoke.

 

 

Text 32

 

 

shri-gopa ucuh

pantheti nirmohini nanda-sunau

     tanur vibhutic ca dhanam balam ca

sarva dhiyah krishnam rte vraje nah      cunyam prajatam hi jagat samastam

 

     shri-gopah ucuh - the gopas said; pantha - O traveller;  iti - thus; nirmohini - free from illusion; nanda-sunau - Nanda's son; tanuh - the body; vibhutih - opulence; ca - and; dhanam - wealth; balam - strength; ca - and; sarva - all; dhiyah - intelligence; krishnam - Krishna; rte - without; vraje - in Vraja; nah  - of us; cunyam - void; prajatam - born; hi - indeed; jagat - the universe; samastam - all.

 

 

     The gopas said: O traveler, Krishna's body, opulence, wealth, strength, intelligence are never thwarted or bewildered. For us people of Vraja, to be without Krishna is to live in a world that is a desert.

 

 

Text 33

 

 

ksano yugatvam va ghati maha-mate

     prayati manvantaratam vrajaukasam

yamac ca kalpam ca dinam vina harim

     viyoga-duhkhair dvi-parardhatam gatam

 

     ksanah - a second; yugatvam - the status of a yuga; va - or; ghati - a half-hour; maha-mate - O noble-hearted one; prayati - attains; manvantaratam - the status of a manvantara; vrajaukasam - of the people of Vraja; yamah - three hours; ca - and; kalpam - a kalpa; ca - and; dinam - day; vina - without; harim - Krishna; viyoga-duhkhaih - with the suffering of separation; dvi-parardhatam - a lifetime of Brahma; gatam - attains.

 

 

     O noble-hearted one, for the people of Vraja suffering in Krishna's absence, a moment has become a yuga, a half-hour has become a manvantara, three hours has become a kalpa, and a day has become a lifetime of Brahma.

 

 

Text 34

 

 

ahar-nicam tam na hi vismaramahe

     dusta ghati sa prayayau yaya hi sah

mano harann uddhava no vanaukasam

     vayasya-bhavena sada krtagasam

 

     ahar-nicam - day and night; tam - that; na - not;  hi - indeed; vismaramahe - we forget; dusta - wicked;  ghati - half-hour; sa - that; prayayau - goes; yaya - by which; hi - inbdeed; sah - He; manah - the mind; harann - stealing; uddhava - O Uddhava; nah - of us; vanaukasam - the people of Vraja; vayasya-bhavena - with friendship; sada - always; krtagasam - sinners.

 

 

     Day and night we cannot forget Him. The treacherous half-hours pass, but He does not return. O Uddhava, He has stolen all the thoughts of the people of Vraja. Thinking He was just our friend, we must have offended Him again and again.

  So much more can be said about this part , but it is more confidential than the Vedas and all Upanisads .

We must bow down in front of all the Vrijabasis and beg for their mercy , I offer my prostrated obaisences to Sri Uddhava and the Gopas of Vraja , I pray they will sprinkle their mercy on me.

Sri Krsna and the sakhas

how dear is Uddhava to Krsna?

"Of all devotees, I am Uddhava", and, "He is not less than Me". Krsna also told Uddhava personally, "Oh Uddhava, you are very dear to me. You are dearer to Me than Lord Brahma, more dear than My most dear Mahadeva, more dear than My brother and expansion Sankarsana, and you are more dear to Me than Sri." This word "Sri" refers to Sri Laksmi devi and Srimati Rukmini devi, not to Srimati Radharani. "Oh Uddhava, you are so dear to Me; even My own body is not as dear to Me as you are." in Brhad Bhagavatamrita Naradapraises Uddhava, "O Uddhava, you are so great that Lord Krsna has continuously described your glories both in the Srimad Bhagavatam and in the various Puranas."

 your servant

Paramananda das