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Sri Kamadä Ekädaçé Issue no: 233 19th April 2024

Uddhava Visits Vrindavana


Uddhava Visits Vrindavana
Srila Shukadeva Goswami

"These are our wives"


Disciples of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Uddhava And Nanda Maharaja


Sri Srimad Gaur Govinda Swami
Issue no 233, Page — 2 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä
wonderfully ornamented attire. The cowherds’
Uddhava Visits Vrindavana homes in Gokula appeared most charming with
Srila Shukadeva Goswami their abundant paraphernalia for worship of the
sacrificial fire, the sun, unexpected guests, the
Shukadeva Gosvami said: The supremely cows, the brahmanas, the forefathers and the
intelligent Uddhava was the best counselor of demigods. On all sides lay the flowering forest,
the Vrishni dynasty, a beloved friend of Lord Sri echoing with flocks of birds and swarms of bees
Krishna and a direct disciple of Brihaspati. The and beautified by its lakes crowded with swans,
Supreme Lord Hari, who relieves the distress of karandava ducks and bowers of lotuses.
all who surrender to Him, once took the hand of As soon as Uddhava arrived at Nanda Maharaja’s
His fully devoted, dearmost friend Uddhava and home, Nanda came forward to meet him. The
addressed him as follows. cowherd King embraced him in great happiness
[Lord Krishna said:] Dear gentle Uddhava, go and worshiped him as nondifferent from Lord
to Vraja and give pleasure to Our parents. And Vasudeva. After Uddhava had eaten first-class
also relieve the gopis, suffering in separation from food, been seated comfortably on a bed and been
Me, by giving them My message. The minds of relieved of his fatigue by a foot massage and other
those gopis are always absorbed in Me, and their means, Nanda inquired from him as follows.
very lives are ever devoted to Me. For My sake [Nanda Maharaja said:] My dear most fortu-
they have abandoned everything related to their nate one, does the son of Shura fare well, now
bodies, renouncing ordinary happiness in this life, that he is free and has rejoined his children and
as well as religious duties necessary for such hap- other relatives? Fortunately, because of his own
piness in the next life. I alone am their dearmost sins, the sinful Kamsa has been killed, along with
beloved and, indeed, their very Self. I personally all his brothers. He always hated the saintly and
sustain such devotees, who for My sake give up righteous Yadus. Does Krishna remember us?
all worldly duties. My dear Uddhava, for those Does He remember His mother and His friends
women of Gokula I am the most cherished object and well-wishers? Does He remember the cow-
of love. Thus when they remember Me, who am herds and their village of Vraja, of which He is the
so far away, they are overwhelmed by the anxiety master? Does He remember the cows, Vrindavana
of separation. Simply because I have promised to forest and Govardhana Hill? Will Govinda return
return to them, My fully devoted cowherd girl- even once to see His family? If He ever does, we
friends struggle to maintain their lives somehow may then glance upon His beautiful face, with
or other. its beautiful eyes, nose and smile. We were saved
Shukadeva Gosvami said: Thus addressed, O from the forest fire, the wind and rain, the bull and
King, Uddhava respectfully accepted his master’s serpent demonsfrom all such insurmountable,
message, mounted his chariot and set off for deadly dangersby that very great soul, Krishna.
Nanda-gokula. The fortunate Uddhava reached As we remember the wonderful deeds Krishna
Nanda Maharaja’s pastures just as the sun was performed, His playful sidelong glances, His
setting, and since the returning cows and other smiles and His words, O Uddhava, we forget
animals were raising dust with their hooves, his all our material engagements. When we see the
chariot passed unnoticed. Gokula resounded on places where Mukunda enjoyed His sporting
all sides with the sounds of bulls in rut fighting pastimesthe rivers, hills and forests He decorated
with one another for fertile cows; with the moo- with His feetour minds become totally absorbed
ing of cows, burdened by their udders, chasing in Him. In my opinion, Krishna and Balarama
after their calves; with the noise of milking and must be two exalted demigods who have come
of the white calves jumping here and there; with to this planet to fulfill some great mission of the
the loud reverberation of flute-playing; and with demigods. Such was foretold by Garga åñi. After
the singing of the all-auspicious deeds of Krishna all, Krishna and Balarama killed Kamsa, who was
and Balarama by the cowherd men and women, as strong as ten thousand elephants, as well as the
who made the village resplendent with their wrestlers Chanura and Mushtika and the elephant

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nityaà bhägavata-sevayä Issue no 233, Page—3
Kuvalayapida. They killed them all sportingly, as no one is especially dear or despicable, superior or
easily as a lion disposes of small animals. With the inferior, and yet He is not indifferent to anyone.
ease of a royal elephant breaking a stick, Krishna He is free from all desire for respect and yet gives
broke a powerful, giant bow three talas long. He respect to all others. He has no mother, no father,
also held a mountain aloft for seven days with no wife, children or other relatives. No one is re-
just one hand. Here in Vrindavana, Krishna and lated to Him, and yet no one is a stranger to Him.
Balarama easily destroyed demons like Pralamba, He has no material body and no birth. He has no
Dhenuka, Arista, Trinavarta and Baka, who had work to do in this world that would oblige Him
themselves defeated both demigods and other to take birth in pure, impure or mixed species
demons. of life. Yet to enjoy His pastimes and deliver His
Shukadeva Gosvami said: Thus intensely re- saintly devotees, He manifests Himself. Although
membering Krishna again and again, Nanda Ma- beyond the three modes of material naturegood-
haraja, his mind completely attached to the Lord, ness, passion and ignorance the transcendental
felt extreme anxiety and fell silent, overcome by Lord accepts association with them as His play.
the strength of his love. As mother Yashoda heard Thus the unborn Supreme Lord utilizes the ma-
the descriptions of her son’s activities, she poured terial modes to create, maintain and destroy. Just
out her tears, and milk flowed from her breasts out as a person who is whirling around perceives the
of love. Uddhava then joyfully addressed Nanda ground to be turning, one who is affected by false
Maharaja, having clearly seen the supreme loving ego thinks himself the doer, when actually only his
attraction he and Yashoda felt for Krishna, the mind is acting. The Supreme Lord Hari is certainly
Supreme Personality of Godhead. not your son alone. Rather, being the Lord, He
[Sri Uddhava said:] O respectful Nanda, cer- is the son, Soul, father and mother of everyone.
tainly you and mother Yashoda are the most
praiseworthy persons in the entire world, since you Nothing can be said to exist independent of Lord
have developed such a loving attitude toward Lord Achyuta nothing heard or seen, nothing in the past,
Narayana, the spiritual master of all living beings. present or future, nothing moving or unmoving,
These two Lords, Mukunda and Balarama, are each great or small. He indeed is everything, for He is
the seed and womb of the universe, the creator and the Supreme Soul.
His creative potency. They enter the hearts of living While Krishna’s messenger continued speaking
beings and control their conditioned awareness. with Nanda, the night ended, O King. The women
They are the primeval Supreme. Anyone, even a of the cowherd village rose from bed and, lighting
person in an impure state, who absorbs his mind in lamps, worshiped their household deities. Then
Him for just a moment at the time of death burns they began churning the yogurt into butter. As they
up all traces of sinful reactions and immediately pulled on the churning ropes with their bangled
attains the supreme transcendental destination in a arms, the women of Vraja shone with the splendor
pure, spiritual form as effulgent as the sun. You two of their jewels, which reflected the lamps’ light.
have rendered exceptional loving service to Him, Their hips, breasts and necklaces moved about,
Lord Narayana, the Supersoul of all and the cause and their faces, anointed with reddish kuëkuma,
of all existence, the great soul who, although the glowed radiantly with the luster of their earrings
original cause of everything, has a humanlike form. reflecting from their cheeks. As the ladies of Vraja
What pious deeds could still be required of you? loudly sang the glories of lotus-eyed Krishna, their
Infallible Krishna, the Lord of the devotees, will songs blended with the sound of their churning,
soon return to Vraja to satisfy His parents. Having ascended to the sky and dissipated all inauspicious-
killed Kamsa, the enemy of all the Yadus, in the ness in every direction. When the godly sun had
wrestling arena, Krishna will now surely fulfill His risen, the people of Vraja noticed the golden chariot
promise to you by coming back. O most fortunate in front of Nanda Maharaja’s doorway. “Who does
ones, do not lament. You will see Krishna again this belong to?” they asked. “Perhaps Akrura has
very soon. He is present in the hearts of all living returnedhe who fulfilled Kamsa’s desire by taking
beings, just as fire lies dormant in wood. For Him lotus-eyed Krishna to Mathura. “Is he going to use

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Top left 4
our flesh to offer funeral oblations for his master, lost their son in this material world, what will you
who was so satisfied with his service?” As the say to give them consolation? ‘Don’t cry. This ma-
women were speaking in this way, Uddhava ap- terial son and material relationship is temporary.
peared, having finished his early-morning duties. Why are you crying for temporary relationships
and a temporary material son? That is not real.’
— Srimad-Bhägavatam (Bhägavata Puräëa) » Canto 10: The Summum But how can I tell Nanda Maharaja not to cry? He
Bonum » Chapter 45 » Verses 1–50 » Translations by Disciples of His Divine is crying for Krishna. If someone has to cry, and
Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. that crying is for Krishna, how can I say, ‘Don’t
cry?’ Then it will be açästriya, contrary to çästra.
"These are our wives." All the shastras say, ‘Cry for Krishna.’ I have no
Disciples of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami words. How can I console Nanda Maharaja?”
Prabhupada Uddhava is çästra-jïa. He knows çästra. He is a
pandit and also a bhakta. He knows very well that
According to Srila Vishvanatha Chakravarti, the supreme perfection of life is to get Krishna
although the gopis of Vrindavana were apparently Bhagavan. And how can one get Krishna unless
married, their husbands actually had no contact he cries? He cannot. Those who are crying for
whatsoever with their supremely attractive qual- Krishna are rare personalities. They are very for-
ities of form, taste, fragrance, sound, touch and tunate. In the material world many are crying for
so on. Rather, their husbands merely presumed, material wealth, name, fame, prestige, adoration,
"These are our wives." enjoyment, and opulence. Who is crying for
In other words, by Lord Krishna's spiritual Krishna? Is there anyone? Such a person is very
potency, the gopis existed entirely for His plea- rare. Crying for Krishna is the supreme perfection
sure, and Krishna loved them in the mood of of human birth.
a paramour. In fact, the gopis were manifesta- Even if Uddhava does tapasya or sädhana for
tions of Krishna's internal nature, His supreme crores of lives such crying will never arise in
his heart. Uddhava’s heart is hard because of
pleasure potency, and on the spiritual platform çästra-jïäna. Jïäna is like the light of the sun.
they attracted the Lord by their pure love. When the sun is in the sky, the polestar and the
Nanda Maharaja and Mother Yashoda, saptarishis are not visible. This message is there in
Lord Krishna's parents in Vrindavana, had every page of Bhägavata. Uddhava’s heart is very
also attained a most exalted state of love for hard because of dry çästra-jïäna. It will never be
Krishna, and they too could barely maintain possible for the heart of Uddhava to cry for Krish-
their lives in His absence. Thus Uddhava na. But Uddhava developed the desire, “How can
would also give special attention to them. I get love like Nanda Maharaja has? His heart is
full of such pure, unmixed love. How can I get
— Srimad-Bhägavatam (Bhägavata Puräëa) » Canto 10: The Summum it? I will give up everything and undergo very
Bonum » Chapter 46 » Verse 6 » Purport by Disciples of His Divine Grace A. C. severe austerities to get it." Such a desire arose in
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. the heart of Uddhava.

Cry More!
Uddhava And Nanda Maharaja
Sri Srimad Gaur Govinda Swami Uddhava was thinking, “The love possessed by
Nanda Maharaja cannot be compared in unlim-
On his way from Mathura, Uddhava was ited universes. How can I tell Nanda Maharaja,
thinking of Nanda Maharaja. He had marked ‘Don’t cry?’ If I say this then all of the çästras will
how many times Krishna was shedding tears and come and shut my mouth. The çästras say that
speaking about His beloved father and mother. crying for Krishna is the ultimate goal of life.” Ud-
Uddhava came to give them consolation. Uddha- dhava is the embodiment of çästra. He is thinking
va thought, “If someone is crying due to having

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nityaà bhägavata-sevayä Issue no 233, Page—5
according to çästra. “How can I speak contrary to The bhakta is sädhu. The bhakta is so dear to
çästra? Rather I should say to Nanda Maharaja, ‘Cry Krishna! Krishna’s dharma is to protect sadhus,
more, cry more, cry more! Cry yuga after yuga, sädhu-rakñya. If there is any impediment in
millennium after millennium! Go on crying, go on His bhakta’s bhajana, then Krishna drives away
crying! Shed more and more tears!’ But alas, this is that impediment and makes all arrangement
not consolation. If I give some consolation then it for favorable circumstances. If some bhakta
will be contradictory to çästra. Why have I come wants to get Bhagavan as his son, as his friend,
here? It is quite impossible for me to give him con- or as a husband, then Krishna appears in that
solation. Uddhava understood çästra-jïäna. Çästra form. Actually He is not the son of anyone. In
says, sarva-dharmän parityajya mäm ekaà çaraëaà the mood that one does their bhajana, Krish-
vraja — Abandon all varieties of dharma and just na appears in that particular form with them.
surrender unto Krishna. Always think of Krishna Uddhava told Nanda Maharaja:
and cry for Krishna. So how can I tell Nanda Maha-
raja not to cry for Krishna? That would be a sinful yuvayor eva naiväyam ätmajo bhagavän hariù
activity on my part. How can I commit such a sin? sarveñäm ätmajo hy ätmä pitä mätä sa éçvaraù
Even after coming to Vrajabhumi, shall I commit
such a sin?“ Uddhava understood, “It is quite im- The Supreme Lord Hari is certainly not your
possible for me to console Nanda Maharaja.” son alone. Rather, being the Lord, He is the son,
After speaking many things, Nanda Maharaja soul, father and mother of everyone. “O Nanda
became humble. He said, “Uddhava, I have no Maharaja, it is true from one angle of vision that
qualification to be the father of Krishna. Krishna is Krishna is your son. However, from another angle
not an ordinary boy. When Gargamuni came here of vision it is not true.” Uddhava is a pandit philos-
for the näma-karaëa-saàskära, the name-giving opher, speaking philosophy. “Because your heart
ceremony, he said, ‘Nanda Maharaja, your Krish- is filled with very deep vätsalya-rasa, therefore
na is like Narayan, the Supreme Lord. All of the He is your son. Ye yathä mäà prapadyante, täàs
great sages and munis are meditating on these two tathaiva bhajämy aham — By this logic He is your
boys Krishna and Balaram.’ Sometimes it comes son. Krishna has promised, ‘In whatever mood
to my mind and I think, ‘Yes, what Gargamuni one does My bhajana I will appear in that form to
said is true.’ O Uddhava, you saw with your own reciprocate with him.’ Your heart is filled with very
eyes. Kamsa was such a powerful demon, and his deep vätsalya-rasa, therefore in that vision Krishna
strength was equal to ten thousand elephants, yet is your son. But if you think of Krishna as other
Krishna killed him very quickly. With just one kick general people think of their sons and daughters, in
from Krishna he fell down to the ground and died.” a father and son relationship — janya-janaka-sam-
bandha, that is not true at all. Krishna is the soul
“Not Your Son” of all souls. He is dear to everyone. He is the father
and mother of everyone. He Himself has said,
Conditioned souls must reap their karma-phala, pitäham asya jagato mätä dhätä pitämahaù — ‘I am
the result of their karma. Therefore there is birth the father, mother, and creator of this jagat, this
and death. But Krishna has no karma-phala, no world. I am the grandfather of everyone.’ This is
birth and death. Hearing this, one may question, tattva, kåñëa-tattva. According to your vätsalya-ra-
“Then why did Krishna come here?” kréòärthaà sa, Krishna is your son — that is your abhimäna,
so ’pi sädhünäà pariträëäya kalpate — He came your conception. However, in all of the unlimited
here to play, kréòärtha, and to deliver the sadhus, universes there is nothing but Krishna. Whatever
pariträëäya sädhünäà. Krishna has described this you hear, whatever you see, everything in the
in the Gétä, and it’s also said in the tenth canto of past, everything in the present, and whatever will
Bhägavata. Bhakta-gaëa-rakñaëa — Krishna comes be in the future, moving, non-moving, great, or
here to protect His dear devotees and to manifest minute is not different from Krishna, because He is
His pastimes. paramätmä, the Supersoul. He is param-äçraya, the

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shelter of everything and everyone, sarva-svarüpa. haraja is crying for Krishna. Uddhava knows that
Uddhava told Nanda: one cries because of delusion, moha. “Oh, my son
has gone away.” Everyone in this world cries due
dåñöaà çrutaà bhüta-bhavad-bhaviñyat to delusion. Delusion comes because of ignorance.
sthäsnuç cariñëur mahad alpakaà ca If someone gets tattva-jïäna then their delusion is
vinäcyutäd vastu taräà na väcyaà dispelled. When ignorance is dispelled, delusion is
sa eva sarvaà paramätma-bhütaù gone, and then you will never cry again. Uddhava
tried to present the sunlight of çästra-jïäna before
Nothing can be said to exist independent of Nanda Maharaja. Uddhava is a jïäna-sädhaka,
Lord Achyuta — nothing heard or seen, nothing jïäné-bhakta. He is the embodiment of çästra. He
in the past, present or future, nothing moving or knew very well that with the help of jïänäloka, the
unmoving, great or small. He indeed is everything, enlightenment of jïäna, one can see the real truth.
for He is the Supreme Soul. Nanda’s Blindness But there are some things that are only visible in
By saying all of these things Uddhava painted the darkness. Only when the sun sets and darkness
a nice picture of kåñëa-tattva and held it before comes are the innumerable stars visible. If some-
Nanda Maharaja. one has made a lifelong vow to only look at the
However, Uddhava doesn’t know that Nanda polestar with unblinking eyes, then the sunshine
Maharaja is blind. What sort of blind man is he? will be a great obstruction. It will be detrimental
Kåñëa-premändha, blind in kåñëa-prema. Every- for upholding his vow. This is not an easy thing
one in this material world is blind for material to understand. This message is revealed in every
enjoyment, bhogändha. But Nanda Maharaja is page of Çrémad-Bhägavatam.
kåñëa-premändha. So although Uddhava painted “Krishna is my son.” Goparaj, Nanda Mahara-
a nice picture of kåñëa-tattva and held it before ja, is always looking with unblinking eyes in the
Nanda Maharaja, because Nanda Maharaja is blind northern direction to the polestar in the form of
he could not see it. Here in this world we see all kåñëa-rüpé dhruva-nakñatra — the polestar in the
objects by the help of sunshine. We cannot see in form of Krishna. So for him çästra-jïäna, the en-
deep darkness. Çästra and jïäna are like sunshine. lightenment of çästra, çästra-sürya, the sunlight of
In that sunshine everything is clear. All truth is çästra, is an obstruction. Uddhava is a çästra-sädha-
revealed. At that time bhrama, the tendency to ka, a strict follower of the rules and regulations of
commit mistakes, and pramäda, the tendency to be çästra, whatever he says before Nanda Maharaja
illusioned, are dispelled like darkness. Nanda Ma- about çästra-jïäna and kåñëa-tattva is very, very
difficult for Nanda Maharaja to understand. For

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Nanda Maharaja it is aväntara-kathä — irrele- “Oh Uddhava, you have discussed bhägavata-tat-
vant talk. tva before me. I don’t know çästra, but I have heard
Nanda Maharaja’s abhimäna is, “I am the fa- from sadhus and I have this faith that there is one
ther of Krishna.” This is the inner feeling in the Bhagavan and He is the guru and controller of
heart of Nanda Maharaja. Where is the scope the universe. He is the müla-käraëa, the original
for any other thought to enter into the heart of cause of puruña and prakåti, the living entities and
Nanda Maharaja? “You are a Boy, Uddhava” material nature. He is anädi, beginningless. That
Uddhava gave a very long speech on kåñëa-tattva. Bhagavan is sarveçvara, the supreme controller.
Uddhava is the embodiment of çästra, and that I know that Bhagavan is Narayan. He is present
speech was anavadya, faultless, but it was not in our house in the form of çälagräma. Uddhava,
understandable for Nanda Maharaja. Hearing because you are a mere boy you have said that
all this tattva-kathä, Nanda Maharaja said, “Ud- Narayan is our Gopal Krishna. I excuse you. I have
dhava, in age you are a boy. In my heart I had not read çästra, but I have heard from the mouths
some faith you were very old in intelligence. of mahatmas that Narayan is God, the Supreme
But now I see you are not only a boy in age, but Lord. I know to some extent what symptoms are
in intelligence you are also a boy. You spoke so there in Narayan. But those symptoms are not
many things, but you don’t know who you are even a single drop with Krishna. How can you
speaking to. You told my wife and I that we are say my Gopal Krishna is Narayan? I excuse you
very, very bhägyavän, fortunate. If you have any because you are a boy. You don’t know what you
intelligence how can you utter this with your speak. You have said that Narayan is the cause of
mouth? We are the most unfortunate persons in all causes, the cause of the whole universe. But
this world! One who loses his son is unfortunate. my Krishna is a simple, milk-fed child. Narayan is
But one who loses a son like Krishna is most un- pure. Narayan is peaceful, Narayan is apäpa-vidha,
fortunate! Most unfortunate! Most unfortunate! sinless. But my Krishna is very fickle, greedy, and
We are most unfortunate and you tell us we are angry. Where is the symptom of Narayan in Krish-
very, very fortunate! You have no intelligence na? Narayan is pure and free from contamination,
what to speak to whom. Many people get a son, çuddha-sattva-guëa-maya. My Krishna is a thief
but does anyone get a son like Krishna? In the and a liar, abhimäné. Narayan is the shelter of the
past has anyone gotten a son like Krishna? In whole world, but my Krishna is dependent on us.
the future will anyone get a son like Krishna? Where is the symptom of Narayan in my Krishna?
Has anyone gotten a son who is so beautiful, so Uddhava, what shall I say? There is no sädåçya,
sweet, with such a smile, who is so loving, and similarity of Narayan to my son Gopal. Narayan
so fickle? Has anyone gotten a son who plays is satya-saìkalpa, truthful, but my Krishna is very
such nice flute and has such loving words? In expert in speaking lies. I have heard that Narayan is
the whole universe, is there or will there ever äpta-käma, self-satisfied. He never needs anything.
be someone who has lost such an invaluable He is beyond hunger and thirst. But I have seen
treasure? You are telling those who are crying with my own eyes how my Gopal Krishna cries
due to having lost such an invaluable treasure, when He becomes hungry. He becomes restless
“You are very fortunate.” You are ridiculing us, when He is hungry and thirsty. Uddhava, Narayan
Uddhava. If you had said that there is no one in is worshipable by everyone, but I have seen my
the world as unfortunate as us, then I would have Gopal carrying my wooden sandals on His head.
been very pleased and happy with you. Then my Where is the similarity with Narayan? I may
distress due to this fire of separation would have commit a mistake, but Bhagavan never commits
been extinguished to some extent. But you have a mistake. If Krishna is Bhagavan, how can He
made this fire more ablaze by telling us we are commit a mistake? If Krishna is Bhagavan, why
most fortunate. will He call us baba and ma, father and mother?
You say He has no baba, and ma. Krishna is always
“Krishna Is Not God” dependent on us. He feels completely asahäya,
helpless, when He cannot get our help. Where

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is the symptom of Narayan in Krishna, in my have been burning in has become more and more
Gopal? You are a boy, Uddhava. You are a boy. ablaze. You are a boy, you are a boy. Therefore you
You have no intelligence at all. In your intelli- cannot extinguish this fire. Are you trying to ex-
gence you are also a boy. Therefore I excuse you. tinguish this fire by pouring ghee into it? Uddhava
I have never seen such symptoms in Krishna. It you are a boy. Therefore I excuse you.”
is a fact that by the unlimited mercy of Narayan Saying this Nanda Maharaja’s voice became
we have gotten a son like Krishna. I know very choked up and tears rolled down from his eyes
well that Krishna is our son. This is the very, like torrential rain.
very deep-rooted feeling in my heart, Uddhava.
Uddhava, how can you say it is not true? Impenetrable Love
“You listen, Uddhava. There is another thing.
Suppose your words are true and Krishna is When Krishna showed the universal form to
not an ordinary person, that He is Bhagavan. If Arjuna, Arjuna’s sakhya-rasa became slackened.
you say that Krishna is Bhagavan, and that He Therefore Arjuna begged excuse, tat-kñamasva,
is not an ordinary person, how can such words “You are so great!” When Devaki and Vasudev saw
soothe our hearts? By hearing your kåñëa-tat- that the four-handed form of Vishnu, appearing as
tva the blazing fire of separation from Krishna their son, had become two-handed, they offered
that is burning my afflicted heart has increased prayers. Their vätsalya-rasa became slackened.
thousands and thousands of times. Uddhava, After the killing of Kamsa, when Krishna and
you cannot extinguish it. Rather you only Balaram went to offer obeisances to Vasudev and
make it more ablaze. We only thought that we Devaki, they became afraid to accept obeisances
had lost a son, but then hearing from you that from Krishna. Even after meeting their son after
Krishna is müla-bhagavän, then I understand such a long separation, still they couldn’t have such
we have not lost an ordinary son, we have lost vätsalya-préti. Rather, they were afraid of accepting
Bhagavan! I thought I had lost a piece of cop- obeisances, pranamas, from Krishna. Uddhava
per. Now hearing from you I realize I have lost had thought, “If I speak kåñëa-tattva into the heart
a piece of diamond! Uddhava, by hearing from of Nanda Maharaja then he will become weak like
you, the blazing, acute fire of separation that we Vasudev and Devaki.” But Uddhava saw that he

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nityaà bhägavata-sevayä Issue no 233, Page—9
couldn’t get the result he had expected by speaking according to çästra-vidhi. But Nanda Maharaja’s
çästra-jïäna to Nanda Maharaja. kåñëa-préti is far beyond çästra-vidhi. The hetu,
Hearing the bhagavattä, the glories of Krishna, cause, for Uddhava’s kåñëa-préti, is that he knows
Nanda Maharaja’s vätsalya-préti never slack- Krishna is Bhagavan. But Nanda Maharaja’s
ened. Rather, his vätsalya-sneha, parental love, kåñëa-préti is ahaituké, causeless, without cause. It is
became much, much deeper. Nanda Maharaja’s svayam-siddha, perfect in itself. Can you touch the
kåñëa-vätsalya is far, far beyond the ordinary vätsa- far-distant horizon by stretching out your hand?
lya of ordinary persons. So Uddhava’s tattva-kathä Nanda Maharaja’s kåñëa-anuräga is like that. Ud-
could not check it. If anuräga [deep attachment] dhava could not understand it. Uddhava stretched
becomes melted, then you will be able to thrust out his çästra-like hand to touch it, but failed. He
aiçvarya-préti, jïäna or aiçvarya into it. But if it be- could not touch it. This is very deep philosophy.
comes much deeper, more and more condensed, Uddhava said, “O Nanda Maharaja, don’t lament.
then how can you thrust jïäna and aiçvarya into Your love will drag Him here. All your desires will
it? Water is liquid, therefore you can thrust your be fulfilled.”
hand into it. But can you thrust your hand into a
log of wood? You cannot because it is not liquid. ägamiñyaty adérgheëa kälena vrajam acyutaù
With the help of a hammer you can thrust a nail priyaà vidhäsyate pitror bhagavän sätvatäà patiù
into it. Nanda Maharaja’s kåñëa-préti is harder than
a log of wood. Even an iron nail cannot enter it. Infallible Krishna, the Lord of the devotees,
will soon return to Vraja to satisfy His parents.
“Have Patience” He uttered this verse, saying, “Nanda Maharaja,
please don’t be so duùkhare-kätara, broken-heart-
Jïäna and aiçvarya simply cause pain in the ed, because of your deep distress. Have patience.
heart of Nanda Maharaja. They were completely Consider this from all sides. You are the leader
unsuccessful and unable to penetrate the heart of of Vrajabhumi. If you become so impatient, who
Nanda. Jïäna and aiçvarya were able to penetrate will console the others? This is my request to
in the sakhya-préti of Arjuna and the vätsalya-préti you. Your Gopal is a milk-fed boy. But He is also
of Vasudev and Devaki. But it is not possible in the shelter of all the jivas of the whole universe.”
the heart of Nanda Maharaja. Only the thought of
Krishna is there in his heart, nothing else. — Mathura Meets Vrindavana » From the lectures of Sri Srimad Gour Govinda
Therefore, Uddhava was not able to touch the Swami Maharaja » Translations and purports preceding each lecture are by His
vätsalya-préti, the anuräga that Nanda Maharaja Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Edited by Madhavananda
had in his heart. Nanda’s realization is not with Dasa.
Uddhava. How can he understand? Uddhava de-
velops bhakti towards Krishna by knowing Him
to be Bhagavan. This is a general thing. Of course, !! Sri Sri Nitai Gaurchandra Jayati !!
it is very good, it is wonderful — knowing Him to ISKCON
be the Supreme Lord one should develop bhakti Bhägavata Mahävidyalaya
for Bhagavan. But the vätsalya-rati, vätsalya-prema is a branch of
International Society for Krishna Consciousness
of Nanda Maharaja is very deep. There is no tinge Founder-Acarya: His Divine Grace
of jïäna or aiçvarya there at all. He only knows A.C. BhaktiVedanta Swami Prabhupada
Krishna as his son. Now he is hearing from Uddha- Quotations from the books, letters, and lectures of
va that his son is Bhagavan. Hearing this, Nanda His Divine Grace
Maharaja’s anuräga does not become slackened. A.C. Bhakti Vedanta Swami Prabhupada
Rather, it becomes much, much harder and more
and more condensed. ©Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.
Çästra-vidhi, scriptural injunction, teaches that ©All the paintings are copyrights of their respective
one should develop bhakti towards Bhagavan. artists.
Uddhava’s kåñëa-préti, affection for Krishna, is

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