Uddhava at Vraja and the Bhāgavata Kathā

Kṛshṇa’s wives were former queens of Dvārakā, brought to Vraja by Arjuna as Kṛshṇa had instructed. They were deeply pained by missing Kṛshṇa. Kālindī, one of his chief queens, told them the secret of Rādhā and told them where Uddhava was hidden. A great festival of praise at Kusumasaras brought Uddhava out. He taught the greatness of the Śrīmad Bhāgavata to King Parīkshit and then read it for a month at Vṛndāvana. In that kathā (recital) Vajranābha, the queens and the other devotees were freed from the pain of separation from Kṛshṇa.

The distress of Kṛshṇa’s queens

Kṛshṇa’s wives, the former queens of Dvārakā whom Arjuna had brought to Vraja as Kṛshṇa had said at the end, were once restless and in distress at being parted from Kṛshṇa. They saw that Kālindī, the Yamunā in person and one of Kṛshṇa’s chief queens, did not suffer the same pain. They went to her without jealousy or ill will and asked: “We were Kṛshṇa’s wives, and so are you. We are in distress at missing him, and you are not. Tell us why.”

Kālindī reveals the secret of Rādhā

Kālindī heard them and saw their grief, and in her mind she felt pity. She smiled gently and answered:

“Kṛshṇa is ātmārāma, one who delights in his own ātmā. And Rādhikā is certainly his ātmā. Because we serve her, the pain of separation does not touch us. All the heroines of Śrī Kṛshṇa are extensions of parts of Rādhā herself. We have unbroken union with Kṛshṇa because we are always near her.”

She then told them the deepest secret: “She is he himself. He is she herself. The flute is the form of their love. Rukmiṇī and the other chief queens longed to serve both Rādhā and Kṛshṇa. They took another form and merged into Rādhā. I have seen this merging.”

“In your case too there is no separation from Kṛshṇa at all. But you do not see it. That is why you are restless and in distress. Long ago, when Akrūra came, the gopīs also felt a seeming separation. But Uddhava removed it. If you meet Uddhava here, you can play with your beloved without end.”

Uddhava’s hidden presence

The queens asked how they could meet Uddhava. Kālindī remembered Kṛshṇa’s sixteen kalās (parts) and answered:

“When Kṛshṇa left for Vaikuṇṭha, he told Uddhava that Badarikāśrama is the land of preparation, the land of tapas (austerity), for gaining the highest goal. Uddhava stays there in a visible form and teaches knowledge of Kṛshṇa. But the land of Vraja is the land of the fruit, where one enjoys the fruit of that tapas. Kṛshṇa gave Vraja to Uddhava, together with its secrets.”

“The fruit, Kṛshṇa himself, is hidden here now. So Uddhava also stays here hidden. Near Govardhana mountain, in the Sakhīsthala, the place of Kṛshṇa’s companions the gopīs, Uddhava is present as sprouts and creepers. He longs for the dust of the gopīs’ feet.”

She told them how to meet him. All who are deeply attached to Bhagavān Hari should gather at Kusumasaras (the Flower Lake), not far from Govardhana in the forest of Vṛndāvana. They should begin a great festival of praise, with recitation, sweet songs and music from the lute, the flute and the mṛdaṅga drum. When the festival is held in full, Uddhava will appear.

The festival at Kusumasaras

Kṛshṇa’s queens were glad. They bowed to Kālindī, went back to Vajranābha and Parīkshit, and told them everything. Parīkshit was pleased. With the queens and Vajranābha he went to the place she had named and had everything done at once.

The festival of Kṛshṇa’s praise began at the Flower Lake, in the Sakhīsthala in the forest of Vṛndāvana, not far from Govardhana. As the praise went on, the dance and other sports of Rādhā’s Prabhu Kṛshṇa came alive again in power. All kept their eyes on Kṛshṇa alone and turned to nothing else.

Then, while all were watching, Uddhava came out from a thicket of grasses, creepers and hedges. He was dark in colour, with garlands round his neck, and dressed in yellow. He wore garlands of guñjā, the red and black forest berry. Again and again he sang the glory of the beloved of the gopīs.

When he came, the festival grew far more lovely, like crystal terraces when the moon rises. All were lost in an ocean of bliss and forgot everything else. When they saw Uddhava in the very form of Śrī Kṛshṇa, they gained perfect knowledge at once. Their wishes were fulfilled, and they worshipped him.

Uddhava teaches the greatness of the Bhāgavata

Uddhava saw them all eager in praising Kṛshṇa. He welcomed them warmly, embraced Parīkshit, and said:

“O king, your devotion is for Kṛshṇa alone. You are always absorbed in the festival of his praise. You are truly blessed. The strength of your limbs was given to you by Kṛshṇa himself, who gave you back your life. You were fortunate to show love for Kṛshṇa’s wives and for Vajra.”

He also spoke of the blessing of those people of Dvārakā whom Kṛshṇa had told, through Arjuna, to move to Vraja.

Then Uddhava gave his main teaching on Kṛshṇa’s Yoga-māyā. The light of Kṛshṇa that would clear away forgetfulness of the self is always hidden by māyā in the case of living beings. Long ago, while Kṛshṇa was visible, at the end of the twenty-eighth Dvāpara, he himself removed his own māyā and that light could show itself. That time has now passed.

“But hear of another way. That light can come out of the Śrīmad Bhāgavata. Śrī Kṛshṇa is surely present at that place and at that time where and when devotees speak and listen to the Śrīmad Bhāgavata. Bhagavān Kṛshṇa blesses even a place where one verse of the Śrīmad Bhāgavata, or even half a verse, is present. Those who are born as human beings in Bhārata and have not heard the Bhāgavata have killed themselves. The family lines of father, mother and wife are saved by those who have always turned to the Bhāgavata. From the Śrīmad Bhāgavata brāhmaṇas gain the light of learning, kings gain victory over enemies, vaiśyas gain plenty of wealth, śūdras gain good health, and women and others gain what they wish. A person can gain the Śrīmad Bhāgavata only when the puṇya (merit) of many births has ripened. From it come knowledge and devotion to Bhagavān Kṛshṇa.”

How the Bhāgavata was passed on: Bṛhaspati’s account

Uddhava told how he himself came to have the Bhāgavata.

“Long ago Bṛhaspati received the Śrīmad Bhāgavata through the grace of Sāṃkhyāyana. Bṛhaspati gave it to me. That is why I am a lover of Kṛshṇa.”

He then told what Bṛhaspati had told him, the first handing down of the Bhāgavata.

Kṛshṇa, in the form of the Māyā-purusha (the Primordial Being), looked on creation. He brought forth three Purushas, Brahmā (rajas, creation), Vishṇu (sattva, upkeep) and Śiva (tamas, dissolution), and set each to his work in the world.

Brahmā’s request. Brahmā was born from the lotus at Nārāyaṇa’s navel. He said: “O Primordial Being, you have set me to the work of creation. Take pity on me, so that the evil rajas guṇa does not block me as I remember you.” Bhagavān Nārāyaṇa gave the Śrīmad Bhāgavata to Brahmā and said: “Turn to this for your success.” Brahmā was greatly pleased. To reach Kṛshṇa for good, and to break through the seven āvaraṇas (coverings), two of good and bad karma and five of avidyā (ignorance), he spent seven days with the Śrīmad Bhāgavata. He goes on creating again and again, each time turning to this saptāha, the reading in seven days.

Vishṇu’s request. Vishṇu was charged with protecting living beings. He asked the Primordial Being: “I will protect by means of pravṛtti and nivṛtti (the paths of action and of turning away), and by avatāras such as the divine Fish and Tortoise. I will give the fruit of yajñas and the five kinds of moksha to those who seek them. But how shall I protect those who want neither moksha nor the pleasures of the world? How shall I protect myself and Śrī?” Bhagavān Nārāyaṇa gave the Śrīmad Bhāgavata to him too: “Read this to gain all your aims.” Vishṇu remembered the Bhāgavata every month, reading it fully once a month, and so became able to truly protect living beings. When Vishṇu himself explains it and Lakshmī listens, it takes one month. When Lakshmī explains it and Vishṇu listens, it takes two months. Vishṇu is busy with his duties, while Lakshmī is free of care in her mind, so her explaining is better.

Rudra’s request. Śiva was charged with dissolution. He confessed: “I have full power in the nitya (daily), naimittika (occasional) and prākṛta dissolutions. But I have no power over the ātyantika (final, ultimate) dissolution. This makes me very unhappy.” Bhagavān Nārāyaṇa gave the Śrīmad Bhāgavata to him too. By turning to it for one year, Sadāśiva gained the power to manage the final dissolution as well.

Uddhava’s own history with the Bhāgavata

Uddhava went on: “I heard this account of the greatness of the Śrīmad Bhāgavata from my teacher Bṛhaspati and received the text of the Bhāgavata. I rejoiced greatly and bowed down to him. Then I took up the Vaishṇava way, and for one full month I turned to the Śrīmad Bhāgavata with deep love. By that alone I became Kṛshṇa’s dear companion.”

Then Kṛshṇa sent him on an errand to Vraja, to the group of his beloved ones. He carried the message of the Śrīmad Bhāgavata to the gopīs, who were in agony at the separation. They took in the message as far as their understanding allowed, and they were freed from the pain of separation. Uddhava himself could not fathom how this happened, but it was before his eyes.

“Brahmā and the others asked Kṛshṇa to stay in svarga and then went away. Then Kṛshṇa himself gave me that secret of the Bhāgavata. At the foot of the Aśvattha (Pippala) tree he fixed it firmly in me. So I went to Badarī and stay there, and here too I stay, in the creepers of Vraja at Nārada Kuṇḍa. Devotees will gain knowledge of Kṛshṇa from the Śrīmad Bhāgavata. For the sake of these devotees I shall explain it, and in this you should help me.”

Parīkshit’s part and Uddhava’s charge

Parīkshit bowed to Uddhava and said: “You must explain the Śrīmad Bhāgavata. Tell me what task I can do.”

Uddhava replied: “You need have no worry. The most important person with authority in the scripture of Bhagavān Kṛshṇa is you yourself. Until now men devoted to karma have not even heard of the Bhāgavata. By your favour, in the land of Bhārata many people will gain lasting happiness after hearing the Śrīmad Bhāgavata. The great muni Śrī Śuka, who is the form of Kṛshṇa himself, will without doubt tell you the Śrīmad Bhāgavata. Through it you will reach the eternal abode of Bhagavān Kṛshṇa of Vraja. After that the Śrīmad Bhāgavata will begin to spread on earth.”

“But when Kṛshṇa has left the earth, the mighty Kali will put great obstacles in the way whenever any good work is begun. So go out on a march to conquer the directions. Hold back Kali and bring him down. Meanwhile I shall take up the Vaishṇava way and, in the course of a month, spread the message of the Śrīmad Bhāgavata with your help. In that way I shall enable these devotees to reach the lasting abode of Kṛshṇa, the slayer of Madhu.”

Parīkshit was glad, but a little worried at missing the kathā. He took Uddhava’s assurance, walked round him in respect, and left to conquer the directions. Vajranābha made Pratibāhu the lord of his kingdom and stayed in Vraja, hoping to receive the Bhāgavata.

The month-long kathā and the liberation

Uddhava began the joyful month-long reading of the Śrīmad Bhāgavata at Vṛndāvana near Govardhana. As the message was being enjoyed, Kṛshṇa’s līlā (divine play), in the form of being, knowledge and bliss, showed itself everywhere. Kṛshṇa himself became visible. All the people saw themselves standing within him.

Vajranābha’s liberation. Vajranābha saw himself standing at Kṛshṇa’s lotus-like right foot, the very foot that bore the vajra mark, which matched his own name. He was completely freed from the pain of separation from Kṛshṇa. He shone on the sacred ground, bright in the knowledge of his eternal bond with Bhagavān Kṛshṇa.

The queens’ ascent. The mothers, Kṛshṇa’s wives, were amazed to see themselves as the rays of the digits of Kṛshṇa, the moon, shining on the night of the Rāsa dance. They were freed from the sickness of parting from their most beloved, and they went to their own eternal region.

The others enter the eternal līlā. The others who were at the kathā entered the eternal līlā at once and became unseen by the ordinary world. They now rejoice always with Kṛshṇa in the bowers of Govardhana, among the cows, and in Vṛndāvana and the forests around. Only those who love them and are devoted to them can see them.

Sources

• Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Vaishṇava Khaṇḍa, Bhāgavata Purāṇa Māhātmya, Chapter 2
• Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Vaishṇava Khaṇḍa, Bhāgavata Purāṇa Māhātmya, Chapter 3