98 - Arrival of Uddhava in Mathura and meeting with Krishna 

Narayana said- Uddhava then went to the abode of Yashoda where he bowed in reverence to her delightfully. Thereafter getting leave from her, he moved on. Leaving the palm grove to the left, he reached the bank of Yamuna. He took his bath and food there and than left for Mathura. He found Krishna seated under the shade of the banyan tree. The lord also delightfully looked at Uddhava and smilingly spoke. At that point of time feeling grieved, Uddhava was sobbing and the tears were flowing from his eyes. He felt panicky. 

Sri Krishna said- О Uddhava, come on, is everything all right? "Is Radha alive?" The cowherdesses who are suffering from the pain of separation are still alive? Are the cowherds, the calves and the cows getting on well? What is the condition of my mother Yashoda with the condition of my mother Yashoda with the separation from her son?

О brother, what did they speak on meeting you? You tell me truthfully the words of my mother. And what was the message conveyed by her me. Did you visit the bank of Yamuna, the auspicious Vrundavana the Rasamandala with deserted orchards, the pleasant Kunja cottage and pool of water sport, the flower, orchards surrounded by the black-wasps, the cool shadow of the Bhandira-vana and the banyan tree surrounded by the cowherd boy, the abode of cows and the cows of Gokula. 

In case Radha is alive, then what did she speak about me on finding you there? О brother, you tell me all this because my mind is getting anxious. 

What did all the cowherdesses speak? What did the cowherd boys speak? What did the grown up cowherds, my father and friends speak to you? 

О brother, what did Rohini the mother of Baladeva spoke to you and what did the wives of my other relatives speak to you.

What food did you take there? what was the astonishing gifts given to you by my mother Yashoda and Radha? How did they talk to you and were their words quite sweet?

О Uddhava, how are the cowherdesses, the cowherds, the children, the mother and Radhika, disposed towards me, do they have same old affection for me or not. 

Does my mother ever remember me? Does Rohini remember me? Does Radhika remember me? Getting infested with the pain of separation from my love, do the cowherdesses, the cowherd boy remember me? Do the cowherd boys engage themselves in sport in my absence in the Bhandira forest? 

Did you visit the place where I consumed the nectar-like food offered to me by the Brahmana damsels, with the boys?

Did you visit the place of yajna of Indra, Govardhana, the best of the mountains and the place where Brahma had stolen away the cows?

On listening to the grief-stricken and-sweet words of Krishna, Uddhava spoke to the eternal lord. 

Uddhava said- О lord, whatever have you spoken, I have visited all these places and I have made my life in the land of Bharata as success. I have visited the auspicious Vrundavana which is the best place in the land of Bharata besides the land of Vraja which is the essence of the same and the charming Rasamandala. The cowherdesses happens to be the essence of the Rasamandala and Radha the foremost of the performers of the divine dance was also seen by me. 

She was lying in the forest of banana trees on the bed of lotus petals which was soaked with the sandal-paste. She had discarded all the gem studded ornaments and was lying there in gloom. She looked quite dirty, lean and thin and was clad in the white garments. 

The female friends of Radha were serving her continuously moving the white fly-whisks, she had discarded taking food and her belly had shrunk, she used to breath moment after moment.

Thus would it be possible for Radha to survive from the fever of separation even for a moment? О lord Hari, she has lost consciousness about the water or the earth, the day or the night, the human or the animals and the relatives and stranger. She is devoid of all the outward knowledge and is solely devoted at your feet.

Her glory is spread in the universe and as such her death also would be glorious. Even the robbers who are devoid of knowledge do not intend to kill a woman then why would you so desire? Therefore, О lord of the universe, you visit the desired forest of banana trees at once. Radha who is extremely devoted to you is not out of the universe. О lord, Radha is protected by you who is a great devotee of yours. There is no devotee comparable to her in the world nor would one ever be. 

The god of love is afraid of Shiva and you happen to be the foremost of Shiva, after achieving a husband like you, Radhika is still burning with passion. 

Therefore, the deeds are the foremost and no one can stop the same. The spring season and the moon with its rays are actually burning her. The blowing of cool breeze is regularly burning her, therefore she is lying there suffering from pain like an orphan. She is having the complexion of the lustre of molten gold but presently the same has turned black. 

The complexion of the hair of her head has become golden and she is lying without garments in spite of the face that she is adored like you and Brahma. 

Shiva the teacher of the yogis also adores here Sanatkumara, Ganesha and the best of intellectuals are also her devotees. 

Various types of ascetics and sages are also devoted to her but the type of devotion displayed by Radha is difficult to get anywhere. 

The way in which Radhika adored you even Laksmi can not do so. 1 have admitted before her that you would reach her. Therefore, О virtuous one, "You move immediately and display the truthfulness of my words." On hearing the words of Uddhava, Madhava smiled and he started speaking words according to the Vedas which were quite truthful. 

Sri Krishna said- It is not a sin to resort to falsehood while cutting jokes with the damsels, in the marriages, for the sake of livelihood, when life is in danger and for the sake of the cows and the Brahmanas. 

Therefore, even if you don’t make your words truthful, there is no harm in the same nor would you have to face the hell. My devotee actually goes to the Goloka and not to the hell. 

In spite of that I shall honour your words, I shall go to Radhika, the cowherdesses and my mother Yashoda in dream.

On hearing this the glorious Uddhava went back to his abode. Then lord Krishna reached Gokula which was suffering from separation. In the dream he assured Radhika and bestowed the divine knowledge on her and satisfied the cowherdesses with various types of sports. He sucked the breast of Yashoda who was enjoying the deep sleep and assuring the cowherds and the cowherd boys variously, he returned to Mathura.