Shloka 4
तथोद्धव: साधु तयाभिपूजितो न्यषीददुर्व्यामभिमृश्य चासनम् । कृष्णोऽपि तूर्णं शयनं महाधनं विवेश लोकाचरितान्यनुव्रत: ॥ ४ ॥
tathoddhavaḥ sādhutayābhipūjito nyaṣīdad urvyām abhimṛśya cāsanam kṛṣṇo ’pi tūrṇaṁ śayanaṁ mahā-dhanaṁ viveśa lokācaritāny anuvrataḥ
She likewise honored saintly Uddhava with a seat, but Uddhava merely touched it and sat on the floor. Then Lord Kṛṣṇa, conforming to worldly etiquette, quickly made Himself comfortable upon an opulent bed.
According to the ācāryas, Uddhava felt reverence for his Lord and thus declined to sit on an opulent seat in His presence; rather, he touched the seat with his hand and sat on the floor. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī adds that Lord Kṛṣṇa made Himself comfortable on a bed located in the inner chambers of Trivakrā’s home.
FAQs
This verse shows Uddhava’s humility—he honors the offered seat yet sits on the ground—and Kṛṣṇa’s willingness to follow refined social conduct (loka-ācāra), teaching that devotion includes respectful behavior.
Touching the seat is a gesture of reverence toward what has been respectfully offered; Uddhava acknowledges the honor given to him, yet chooses humility by sitting on the ground.
Even while spiritually advanced, one can practice courtesy, gratitude, and respect in daily interactions—showing that bhakti is expressed through gentle, dignified behavior.