Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 50
Devas in Dvārakā, Brahmā’s Petition, and Uddhava’s Appeal
Prabhāsa Departure Set-Up
श्रीशुक उवाच एवं विज्ञापितो राजन् भगवान् देवकीसुत: । एकान्तिनं प्रियं भृत्यमुद्धवं समभाषत ॥ ५० ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca evaṁ vijñāpito rājan bhagavān devakī-sutaḥ ekāntinaṁ priyaṁ bhṛtyam uddhavaṁ samabhāṣata
Śukadeva Gosvāmī dit : Ô roi Parīkṣit, ainsi sollicité, le Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa, fils de Devakī, commença à répondre en confidence à Son cher serviteur sans mélange, Uddhava.
According to Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī, the conditioned living entities, by their movements, laughter, activities and words, simply bind themselves more and more in material existence. But if they engage in hearing and chanting about the pastimes of the Personality of Godhead, the conditioned souls will achieve liberation from the bondage of repeated birth and death. This process of supreme liberation will now be elaborately described by Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa to His dearmost devotee Śrī Uddhava.
FAQs
In this verse, 'ekāntin' describes Uddhava as a devotee whose heart is exclusively fixed on Lord Kṛṣṇa—serving Him with undivided loyalty and single-minded devotion.
Śukadeva indicates that after being duly informed, Kṛṣṇa chose His dear servant Uddhava—an intimate and exclusive devotee—as the recipient of His words, setting the stage for Kṛṣṇa’s confidential instructions.
Keep spiritual priorities centered on Kṛṣṇa through consistent sādhana (hearing, chanting, remembrance), simplify competing distractions, and adopt a servant-hearted mindset like Uddhava—steady, loyal, and focused.