Sri Priti-Sandarbha
BY: SUN STAFF
Srila Jiva Goswami
Sep 07, CANADA (SUN) —
Sri Priti-sandarbha
Volume One
by Srila Jiva Goswami
Anuccheda 217
The joy that comes from directly seeing Lord Krishna is described in these words spoken by Uddhava in Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.29.47):
tatas tam antar hridi sanniveshya
gato maha-bhagavato vishalam
yathopadishtam jagad-eka-bandhuna
tapah samasthaya harer agad gatim
"Thereupon, placing the Lord deeply within his heart, the great devotee Uddhava went to Badarikashrama. By engaging there in austerities, he attained the Lord's personal abode, which had been described to him by the only friend of the universe, Lord Krishna Himself."***
Here the words "yathopadishtam gatim" refer to the Third Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, where Lord Krishna said to Uddhava (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.4.11):
vedaham antar manasipsitam te
dadami yat tad duravapam anyaih
"O Vasu, I know from within your mind what you desired in the days of yore when the Vasus and other demigods responsible for expanding the universal affairs performed sacrifices. You particularly desired to achieve My association. This is very difficult to obtain for others, but I award it unto you."*
Here Lord Krishna says to Uddhava: "You particularly desired to achieve My association. This is very difficult to obtain for others, but I award it unto you." Then Lord Krishna said to Uddhava in Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.4.13):
pura maya proktam ajaya nabhye
"O Uddhava, in the lotus millennium in the days of yore, at the beginning of the creation, I spoke unto Brahma, who is situated on the lotus that grows out of My navel, about My transcendental glories, which the great sages describe as Srimad-Bhagavatam."*
In these words Lord Krishna describes the gist of Srimad-Bhagavatam. Uddhava describes his eagerness to hear Srimad-Bhagavatam by speaking these words (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.4.15):
ko nv isha te pada-saroja-bhajam
sudurlabho 'rtheshu caturshv apiha
tathapi naham pravrinomi bh uman
bhavat-padambhoja-nisevanotsukah
"O my Lord, devotees who engage in the transcendental loving service of Your lotus feet have no difficulty in achieving anything within the realm of the four principles of religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and liberation. But, O great one, as far as I am concerned, I have preferred only to engage in the loving service of Your lotus feet."*
Uddhava then suddenly expresses his bewilderment. He tells Lord Krishna in Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.4.16-17):
karmany anihasya bhavo 'bhavasya. . .
"My Lord, even the learned sages become disturbed in their intelligence when they see that Your Greatness engages in fruitive work although You are free from all desires, that You take birth although You are unborn, that You flee out of fear of the enemy and take shelter in a fort although You are the controller of invincible time, and that You enjoy householder life surrounded by many women although You enjoy in Your Self.*
"O my Lord, Your eternal self is never divided by the influence of time, and there is no limitation to Your perfect knowledge. Thus You were sufficiently able to consult with Yourself, yet You called upon me for consultation, as if bewildered, although You are never bewildered. And this act of Yours bewilders me."*
Later Lord Krishna would reassure Uddhava with these words of Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.4.31):
noddhavo 'nv api man-nyunah. . .
"Uddhava is not inferior to Me in any way because he is never affected by the modes of material nature. Therefore he may remain in this world in order to disseminate specific knowledge of the Personality of Godhead."*
Wishing to hear Lord Krishna's explanation of many topics, Uddhava spoke to Him these words of Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.4.18):
jnanam param svatma-rahah-prakasham provaca kasmai. . .
"My Lord, kindly explain to us, if You think us competent to receive it, the transcendental knowledge which gives enlightenment about Yourself and which You explained before to Brahmaji."*
In the phrase "yad vrijinam tarema" (may cross over all difficulties) the word "vrijinam" may mean “the unhappiness of being separated from My direct service" or it may mean "the distress and bewilderment of residing in the material world". It is by confidential transcendental knowledge that once crosses over this difficulty. Then Uddhava said: "Lord Krishna then fulfilled my desire." Uddhava said to Sri Vidura (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.4.19):
ity avedita-hardaya
mahyam sa bhagavan parah
adidesharavindaksha
atmanah paramam sthitim
"When I thus expressed my heartfelt desires unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the lotus-eyed Lord instructed me about His transcendental situation."*
In this verse the words "transcendental situation" refers to the spiritual world of Vaikuntha, which the Lord revealed to the demigod Brahma in the Second Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam. These words also refer ot the transcendental realm of Dvaraka, as has been described in Sri Bhagavat-sandarbha, Anuccheda 7. This spiritual world is described in the four nutshell verses of Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.9.33-36). In wonderful pastimes like these, the Supreme Personality of Godhead reveals the truth that He is controlled by His devotees' love. By understanding these truths, Uddhava became again peaceful and composed. Then he himself entered that spiritual abode the Lord had described to him. Lord Krishna gives this same instruction in these words of Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.29.33):
jnane karmani yoge ca
vartayam danda-dharane
yavan artho nrinam tata
tavams te 'ham catur-vidhah
"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."***
For Uddhava Lord Krishna was the supreme goal of life. This Srila Sukadeva Gosvami had previously explained in Srimad-Bhagavatam. Lord Krishna kept Uddhava on the earth so he could preach the science of devotional service. Later, when Srila Sukadeva Gosvami was preaching the glories of the Lord's pastimes, there was no longer any need for Uddhava to stay on the earth. Then, in his original spiritual form, Uddhava attained the glorious spiritual land of Vraja. This was Uddhava's earnest desire, as he himself had said in Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.47.61):
asam aho carana-renu-jusham aham syam. . .
"The gopis of Vrindavana have given up the association of their husbands, sons, and other family members, who are very difficult to give up, and if they have forsaken the path of chastity to take shelter of the lotus feet of Mukunda, Krishna, which one should search for by Vedic knowledge. Oh, let me be fortunate enough to be one of the bushes, creepers, or herbs in Vrindavana, because the gopis trample them and bless them with the dust of their feet."*
Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.29.47 quoted in this anuccheda was spoken by Srila Sukadeva Gosvami.
Return to Anuccheda 215-216
