Shloka 5

Uddhava’s Departure to Badarikāśrama and Vidura’s Turn Toward Maitreya

Devanagari script

तथापि तदभिप्रेतं जानन्नहमरिन्दम । पृष्ठतोऽन्वगमं भर्तु: पादविश्लेषणाक्षम: ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

tathāpi tad-abhipretaṁ jānann aham arindama pṛṣṭhato ’nvagamaṁ bhartuḥ pāda-viśleṣaṇākṣamaḥ

Translation

Yet, O Arindama, though I knew His intention, I followed behind Him, for I could not bear separation from the lotus feet of my Lord.

Synonyms

• तथापि: nevertheless
• तथापि: Vākyopapatti (वाक्योपपत्ति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा + अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय-समुच्चय (concessive adverb: ‘even so/however’)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अभिप्रेतम्: the intended wish
• अभिप्रेतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभि + प्र + इ (धातु) → अभिप्रेत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle used as noun/adjective), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘intended/desired (thing)’

• जानन्: knowing
• जानन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) → जानत् (शतृ-प्रत्यय)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘knowing’

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अरिन्दम: O subduer of foes
• अरिन्दम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरि + दम (प्रातिपदिक); अरिन्दम (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; समासः—उपपद-तत्पुरुष (subduer of enemies)

• पृष्ठतः: from behind
• पृष्ठतः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृष्ठतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place: ‘from behind/behind’)

• अन्वगमम्: I followed
• अन्वगमम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + गम् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; ‘I followed’

• भर्तुः: of the master/lord
• भर्तुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• पादविश्लेषणाक्षमः: unable to be separated from (his) feet
• पादविश्लेषणाक्षमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाद + विश्लेषण + अक्षम (प्रातिपदिक); पादविश्लेषणाक्षम (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (incapable of separation from (his) feet)

Characters & Entities

• Uddhava
• Vidura
• Krishna

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about attachment to Krishna’s lotus feet?

This verse shows Uddhava’s intense devotion: even knowing Krishna’s intention, he cannot tolerate separation from the Lord’s feet, highlighting that a devotee’s refuge is always the Lord’s lotus feet.

Why did Uddhava follow Krishna from behind in Canto 3 Chapter 4?

Uddhava understood Krishna’s purpose, yet he followed behind because his love made him unable to endure the pain of being separated from Krishna—especially from the shelter of His feet.

Practical application of viraha-bhakti (devotion in separation) in modern life?

When you feel distance from the Divine, turn that longing into steady practice—remembering Krishna, chanting, and serving—so the sense of separation deepens sincerity rather than discouragement.