तमाह भगवान्प्रेष्ठं भक्तमेकान्तिनं क्वचित्। गृहीत्वा पाणिना पाणिं प्रपन्नार्तिहरो हरिः
To him, the Lord, remover of distress for those who seek refuge, once spoke—taking Uddhava's hand in his own, for he was most dear and devoted.
गच्छोद्धव व्रजं सौम्य पित्रोर्नौ प्रीतिमावह। गोपीनां मद्वियोगाधिं मत्सन्देशैर्विमोचय
Go, O gentle Uddhava, to Vraja; bring joy to my parents, and with my messages, relieve the agony of the gopīs caused by separation from me.
ता मन्मनस्का मत्प्राणा मदर्थे त्यक्तदैहिकाः। मामेव दयितं प्रेष्ठमात्मानं मनसा गताः । ये त्यक्तलोकधर्माश्च मदर्थे तान्बिभर्म्यहम्
Those women, their minds fixed on me, their very life devoted to me, have given up bodily comforts for my sake; they have come to me, their beloved, their very self, in their hearts. Those who have abandoned worldly duties for me—I uphold them.
मयि ताः प्रेयसां प्रेष्ठे दूरस्थे गोकुलस्त्रियः। स्मरन्त्योऽङ्ग विमुह्यन्ति विरहौत्कण्ठ्यविह्वलाः
For me, their dearest beloved, though far away, the women of Gokula, O dear one, are bewildered, constantly remembering me, overwhelmed by the pain and longing of separation.
धारयन्त्यतिकृच्छ्रेण प्रायः प्राणान्कथञ्चन। प्रत्यागमनसन्देशैर्बल्लव्यो मे मदात्मिकाः
My cowherd maidens, whose hearts are united with me, somehow sustain their lives with great difficulty, holding on by the hope of my return and the messages I send.
श्रीशुक उवाच। इत्युक्त उद्धवो राजन्सन्देशं भर्तुरादृतः। आदाय रथमारुह्य प्रययौ नन्दगोकुलम्
Śrī Śuka said: Thus addressed, Uddhava, honoring his master's command, mounted his chariot and departed for Nanda's cowherd village.
प्राप्तो नन्दव्रजं श्रीमान्निम्लोचति विभावसौ। छन्नयानः प्रविशतां पशूनां खुररेणुभिः
Arriving at Nanda's Vraja as the sun was setting, the illustrious Uddhava entered, his chariot concealed by the dust raised from the hooves of the returning cattle.
वासितार्थेऽभियुध्यद्भिर्नादितं शुष्मिभिर्वृषैः। धावन्तीभिश्च वास्राभिरूधोभारैः स्ववत्सकान्
The air resounded with the bellowing of strong bulls vying for the company of cows, and with the cries of calves running to their mothers, heavy with milk.
इतस्ततो विलङ्घद्भिर्गोवत्सैर्मण्डितं सितैः। गोदोहशब्दाभिरवं वेणूनां निःस्वनेन च
The place was adorned here and there by white calves leaping about, filled with the sounds of milking and the melodies of flutes.
गायन्तीभिश्च कर्माणि शुभानि बलकृष्णयोः। स्वलङ्कृताभिर्गोपीभिर्गोपैश्च सुविराजितम्
There, gopīs beautifully adorned, along with the cowherd men, sang the auspicious deeds of Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa, making the village splendid.
अग्न्यर्कातिथिगोविप्र पितृदेवार्चनान्वितैः। धूपदीपैश्च माल्यैश्च गोपावासैर्मनोरमम्
The delightful cowherd settlement was filled with rituals for fire, sun, guests, cows, brāhmaṇas, ancestors, and gods, as well as incense, lamps, and garlands.
सर्वतः पुष्पितवनं द्विजालिकुलनादितम्। हंसकारण्डवाकीर्णैः पद्मषण्डैश्च मण्डितम्
All around bloomed flower-filled groves, echoing with the songs of flocks of birds, and adorned with ponds full of swans, cranes, and lotuses.
तमागतं समागम्य कृष्णस्यानुचरं प्रियम्। नन्दः प्रीतः परिष्वज्य वासुदेवधियार्चयत्
When he arrived, Nanda, meeting Kṛṣṇa's dear companion, joyfully embraced Uddhava and honored him with the devotion he felt for Vāsudeva.
भोजितं परमान्नेन संविष्टं कशिपौ सुखम्। गतश्रमं पर्यपृच्छत्पादसंवाहनादिभिः
After feeding him the finest food and seating him comfortably on a soft couch, Nanda, seeing Uddhava's fatigue gone, inquired after his well-being, offering foot massages and other services.
कच्चिदङ्ग महाभाग सखा नः शूरनन्दनः। आस्ते कुशल्यपत्याद्यैर्युक्तो मुक्तः सुहृद्व्रतः
O fortunate one, is our friend, the son of Śūra, well? Is he surrounded by his family and children, free from troubles, and steadfast in his friendship?
दिष्ट्या कंसो हतः पापः सानुगः स्वेन पाप्मना। साधूनां धर्मशीलानां यदूनां द्वेष्टि यः सदा
By good fortune, the wicked Kaṃsa, always hating the virtuous and righteous Yadus, has been slain along with his followers by his own evil.
अपि स्मरति नः कृष्णो मातरं सुहृदः सखीन्। गोपान्व्रजं चात्मनाथं गावो वृन्दावनं गिरिम्
Does Krishna still remember us—his mother, his friends, the cowherds, the village, his own dear ones, the cows, Vrindavana, and the hill?
अप्यायास्यति गोविन्दः स्वजनान्सकृदीक्षितुम्। तर्हि द्रक्ष्याम तद्वक्त्रं सुनसं सुस्मितेक्षणम्
Will Govinda return, even once, to see his own people? Then we shall behold that face of his, with its fine nose and beautiful, smiling eyes.
दावाग्नेर्वातवर्षाच्च वृषसर्पाच्च रक्षिताः। दुरत्ययेभ्यो मृत्युभ्यः कृष्णेन सुमहात्मना
From forest fires, storms and rains, wild bulls and serpents, and from dangers impossible to cross—even from death itself—we were protected by Krishna, the supremely great soul.
स्मरतां कृष्णवीर्याणि लीलापाङ्गनिरीक्षितम्। हसितं भाषितं चाङ्ग सर्वा नः शिथिलाः क्रियाः
When we remember Krishna’s heroic deeds, his playful glances, his laughter and speech, O dear one, all our activities become slack.
सरिच्छैलवनोद्देशान्मुकुन्दपदभूषितान्। आक्रीडानीक्ष्यमाणानां मनो याति तदात्मताम्
Our minds become absorbed in those places—rivers, mountains, and forests—adorned by Mukunda’s footsteps, where we saw him play.
मन्ये कृष्णं च रामं च प्राप्ताविह सुरोत्तमौ। सुराणां महदर्थाय गर्गस्य वचनं यथा
I think Krishna and Rama, the best among the gods, have come here for some great purpose of the gods, just as Garga said.
कंसं नागायुतप्राणं मल्लौ गजपतिं यथा। अवधिष्टां लीलयैव पशूनिव मृगाधिपः
Kamsa, whose strength was like ten thousand elephants, the wrestlers, and the lord of elephants—he destroyed them all effortlessly, as a lion does beasts.
तालत्रयं महासारं धनुर्यष्टिमिवेभराट्। बभञ्जैकेन हस्तेन सप्ताहमदधाद्गिरिम्
He broke the three mighty palm trees, strong as a great bow, with one hand, and for seven days he held up the mountain.
प्रलम्बो धेनुकोऽरिष्टस्तृणावर्तो बकादयः। दैत्याः सुरासुरजितो हता येनेह लीलया
Pralamba, Dhenuka, Arishta, Trinavarta, Baka, and others—these demons, conquerors of gods and demons, were slain by him here in play.
श्रीशुक उवाच। इति संस्मृत्य संस्मृत्य नन्दः कृष्णानुरक्तधीः। अत्युत्कण्ठोऽभवत्तूष्णीं प्रेमप्रसरविह्वलः
Śuka said: Thus, remembering again and again, Nanda, whose mind was devoted to Krishna, became overwhelmed with longing and sat silent, overcome by the surge of love.
यशोदा वर्ण्यमानानि पुत्रस्य चरितानि च। शृण्वन्त्यश्रूण्यवास्राक्षीत्स्नेहस्नुतपयोधरा
Yaśodā, as she listened to the stories of her son’s deeds, her eyes filled with tears, and her breasts, flowing with affection, became wet.
तयोरित्थं भगवति कृष्णे नन्दयशोदयोः। वीक्ष्यानुरागं परमं नन्दमाहोद्धवो मुदा
Seeing such supreme love for Krishna in Nanda and Yaśodā, Uddhava, filled with joy, spoke to Nanda.
श्रीउद्धव उवाच। युवां श्लाघ्यतमौ नूनं देहिनामिह मानद। नारायणेऽखिलगुरौ यत्कृता मतिरीदृशी
Uddhava said: You two are surely the most praiseworthy among all embodied beings, O bestowers of honor, for your minds are fixed in this way upon Nārāyaṇa, the teacher of all.
एतौ हि विश्वस्य च बीजयोनी रामो मुकुन्दः पुरुषः प्रधानम्। अन्वीय भूतेषु विलक्षणस्य ज्ञानस्य चेशात इमौ पुराणौ
For these two—Rāma and Mukunda—are the seed and womb of the universe: the Person and the Primal Matter. In all beings, they are the ancient lords of knowledge and mastery, distinct from all else.