Uddhava's Stotra to Rādhā

This is the Rādhā Stotra sung by Uddhava at Rādhā’s āśrama in Vṛndāvana. It has sixty-four verses (shashṭicatushṭayaṃ). Uddhava sang it to bring Rādhā back from the swoon of viraha (pain of separation from Bhagavān Kṛshṇa). The stotra names her as the highest Śakti. It is found in the Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Śrī Kṛshṇa Janana Khaṇḍa, Chapter 92.

The setting

Uddhava found Rādhā at her āśrama almost lifeless from viraha. Her body was thin and her breath was hardly to be felt. He broke into tears. To bring her back, he sang this stotra and called to her divine nature while her body lay almost without consciousness.

The stotra

The stotra speaks to Rādhā in a series of names, each showing who she is.

Source of all devīs

Sarvalakshmī: all the Lakshmīs of all the worlds are in her.
From her left side Mahālakshmī is born, and so Rukmiṇī and all the devīs of wealth.
She is the Durgā who destroys all darkness.
She is the Sarasvatī who is all speech (vāk) and knowledge.
She is the Gāyatrī who is the mother of the Vedas.

The home of Bhagavān Kṛshṇa

Nityā Vakshaḥsthala-vāsinī: she who lives always on the chest of Bhagavān Kṛshṇa.
Prāṇādhidevī: the mistress and source of the five prāṇas (life breaths). Without her no living being could keep itself alive.

The mother of all

All the gopikās are born from her womb. They are parts of her teja (radiance).
Without her the rāsamaṇḍala (circle of the rāsa dance) cannot be. Without her even Goloka is not whole.

The highest reality

She is held to be beyond even the greatest male devas. Brahmā, Bhagavān Śiva and Bhagavān Vishṇu all bow to her as their source.
She is the highest form of the ānanda (bliss) that Bhagavān Kṛshṇa feels, the fullest showing of his own śakti returning to him.

The phalaśruti

One who recites this Rādhā Stotra with devotion receives:

removal of all sorrow;
sons, for those who have none;
wealth, for those who have none;
the return of her husband, for a woman whose husband is away or has turned from her;
the clearing away of all distress, grief and suffering.

Sources

Brahma Vaivarta Mahā Purāṇa, Śrī Kṛshṇa Janana Khaṇḍa, Chapter 92

Uddhava’s Stotra to Rādhā