Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 4
Bhakti as the Easy and Supreme Yoga: Seeing Kṛṣṇa in All and Uddhava’s Departure to Badarikāśrama
किं चित्रमच्युत तवैतदशेषबन्धोदासेष्वनन्यशरणेषु यदात्मसात्त्वम् । योऽरोचयत् सह मृगै: स्वयमीश्वराणांश्रीमत्किरीटतटपीडितपादपीठ: ॥ ४ ॥
kiṁ citram acyuta tavaitad aśeṣa-bandho dāseṣv ananya-śaraṇesu yad ātma-sāttvam yo ’rocayat saha mṛgaiḥ svayam īśvarāṇāṁ śrīmat-kirīṭa-taṭa-pīḍita-pāda-pīṭhaḥ
Ô Acyuta, qu’y a-t-il d’étonnant à ce que Tu t’approches intimement de Tes serviteurs qui n’ont pris refuge qu’en Toi seul ? Lors de Ta venue comme Śrī Rāmacandra, tandis que Brahmā et les grands devas rivalisaient pour poser l’extrémité de leurs couronnes éclatantes sur le coussin où reposaient Tes pieds de lotus, Tu manifestas une affection particulière pour des singes tels qu’Hanumān, car ils s’étaient exclusivement abandonnés à Toi.
The devotees of the Lord become completely successful by the Lord’s causeless mercy. Sometimes Lord Kṛṣṇa accepts a position of subservience to His great devotees, as with Nanda Mahārāja, the gopīs, Bali Mahārāja and others. Although demigods like Lord Brahmā were standing in line to touch their helmets to the Lord’s foot cushion, still Lord Rāmacandra awarded His most intimate friendship to subhumans, such as the monkeys headed by Hanumān. Similarly Lord Kṛṣṇa’s affection for the deer and cows, and even for the trees of Vṛndāvana, is well known. Further, the Lord gladly drove the chariot of Arjuna and acted as the messenger and faithful subordinate of King Yudhiṣṭhira. Such devotees have no need for the elaborate jñāna-yoga systems or the process for achieving mystic powers. All these devotees are represented here by Śrī Uddhava, who frankly informs the Lord that the sophisticated systems of philosophical speculation and mystic yoga are not appealing for one who has developed a taste for direct loving service to the Lord.
FAQs
This verse praises Krishna for fully accepting as His own those devotees who have no other refuge, highlighting that exclusive surrender draws the Lord’s intimate protection and affection.
Uddhava contrasts Krishna’s supreme position—served by rulers whose crowns touch His footstool—with His sweet accessibility, showing that the Lord willingly comes close to the simple-hearted and humble devotees.
Practice single-pointed devotion: rely on Krishna as your primary shelter through prayer, remembrance, and ethical living, and cultivate humility—knowing the Supreme is most responsive to sincere, dependent hearts.