Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 1
Uddhava Meets the Gopīs: Bhramara-gītā and Kṛṣṇa’s Message of Separation
श्रीशुक उवाच तं वीक्ष्य कृष्णानुचरं व्रजस्त्रिय: प्रलम्बबाहुं नवकञ्जलोचनम् । पीताम्बरं पुष्करमालिनं लस- न्मुखारविन्दं परिमृष्टकुण्डलम् ॥ १ ॥ सुविस्मिता: कोऽयमपीव्यदर्शन: कुतश्च कस्याच्युतवेषभूषण: । इति स्म सर्वा: परिवव्रुरुत्सुका- स्तमुत्तम:श्लोकपदाम्बुजाश्रयम् ॥ २ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca taṁ vīkṣya kṛṣānucaraṁ vraja-striyaḥ pralamba-bāhuṁ nava-kañja-locanam pītāmbaraṁ puṣkara-mālinaṁ lasan- mukhāravindaṁ parimṛṣṭa-kuṇḍalam
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Seeing Kṛṣṇa’s attendant, the young women of Vraja were struck with wonder—his arms were long, his eyes like newly blossomed lotuses; he wore a yellow pītāmbara and a garland of lotuses, and his lotuslike face shone with brightly polished earrings. “Who is this handsome man? Where has he come from, and whom does he serve? He is wearing Acyuta’s very clothes and ornaments!” they said. Thus the gopīs, eager with longing, crowded around Uddhava, who had taken shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Uttamaḥśloka, Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
FAQs
He is Kṛṣṇa’s attendant/messenger who comes to Vraja wearing Kṛṣṇa-like dress and ornaments; in the chapter’s narrative context, this refers to Uddhava, sent by Kṛṣṇa to the gopīs.
Because the messenger resembles Kṛṣṇa in appearance and attire, and his Kṛṣṇa-like ornaments immediately awaken their intense remembrance of Acyuta, making them eager to know his identity and purpose.
Even external reminders of the Lord can awaken deep remembrance; cultivating sādhana that increases smaraṇa (remembrance) and taking shelter of Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet turns curiosity and emotion into steady bhakti.