Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 42
Bhakti as the Easy and Supreme Yoga: Seeing Kṛṣṇa in All and Uddhava’s Departure to Badarikāśrama
श्रीभगवानुवाच गच्छोद्धव मयादिष्टो बदर्याख्यं ममाश्रमम् । तत्र मत्पादतीर्थोदे स्नानोपस्पर्शनै: शुचि: ॥ ४१ ॥ ईक्षयालकनन्दाया विधूताशेषकल्मष: । वसानो वल्कलान्यङ्ग वन्यभुक् सुखनि:स्पृह: ॥ ४२ ॥ तितिक्षुर्द्वन्द्वमात्राणां सुशील: संयतेन्द्रिय: । शान्त: समाहितधिया ज्ञानविज्ञानसंयुत: ॥ ४३ ॥ मत्तोऽनुशिक्षितं यत्ते विविक्तमनुभावयन् । मय्यावेशितवाक्चित्तो मद्धर्मनिरतो भव । अतिव्रज्य गतीस्तिस्रो मामेष्यसि तत: परम् ॥ ४४ ॥
śrī-bhagavān uvāca gacchoddhava mayādiṣṭo badary-ākhyaṁ mamāśramam tatra mat-pāda-tīrthode snānopasparśanaiḥ śuciḥ
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Uddhava, take My order and go to My āśrama called Badarikā. Purify yourself by both touching and also bathing in the holy waters there, which have emanated from My lotus feet. Rid yourself of all sinful reactions with the sight of the sacred Alakanandā River. Dress yourself in bark and eat whatever is naturally available in the forest. Thus you should remain content and free from desire, tolerant of all dualities, good-natured, self-controlled, peaceful and endowed with transcendental knowledge and realization. With fixed attention, meditate constantly upon these instructions I have imparted to you and assimilate their essence. Fix your words and thoughts upon Me, and always endeavor to increase your realization of My transcendental qualities. In this way you will cross beyond the destinations of the three modes of nature and finally come back to Me.
FAQs
In this verse, Lord Kṛṣṇa says that merely seeing the Alakanandā (Gaṅgā) washes away remaining impurities, supporting tīrtha-darśana as a purifying aid for a devotee’s life of practice.
Kṛṣṇa is directing Uddhava toward a life of simplicity and renunciation at the Lord’s āśrama, so that detachment from comfort supports steady remembrance and devotion.
Adopt voluntary simplicity—reduce luxury-dependence, choose sattvic habits, and make sacred remembrance the “comfort” you prioritize.