Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 40
Devas in Dvārakā, Brahmā’s Petition, and Uddhava’s Appeal
Prabhāsa Departure Set-Up
तन्निरीक्ष्योद्धवो राजन् श्रुत्वा भगवतोदितम् । दृष्ट्वारिष्टानि घोराणि नित्यं कृष्णमनुव्रत: ॥ ४० ॥ विविक्त उपसङ्गम्य जगतामीश्वरेश्वरम् । प्रणम्य शिरसा पादौ प्राञ्जलिस्तमभाषत ॥ ४१ ॥
tan nirīkṣyoddhavo rājan śrutvā bhagavatoditam dṛṣṭvāriṣṭāni ghorāṇi nityaṁ kṛṣṇam anuvrataḥ
Wahai Raja, Uddhava—yang senantiasa setia mengikuti Śrī Kṛṣṇa—melihat keberangkatan Yādava yang sudah dekat, mendengar petunjuk Bhagavān, dan menyaksikan pertanda-pertanda mengerikan. Ia pun mendekati Penguasa tertinggi alam semesta di tempat yang sunyi; bersujud dengan kepala pada kaki padma-Nya, lalu dengan tangan terkatup berbicara demikian.
According to Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī there cannot be any actual disturbance in the Lord’s own abode. The great disasters apparently occurring in Dvārakā were an external show created by the Lord to facilitate His pastimes. We can understand the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa only by hearing from the recognized ācāryas. Lord Kṛṣṇa is not a mundane historical figure, and His activities cannot be confined within the tiny limits of material logic. Lord Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes are an exhibition of His acintya-śakti, or inconceivable potency, which functions according to higher, spiritual laws, unknown to the blind conditioned souls and their petty material logic.
FAQs
This verse notes that terrifying portents appeared, and Uddhava recognized their significance while staying fixed in devotion to Kṛṣṇa, indicating that omens can signal turning points in divine pastimes and worldly time.
Because even after hearing Kṛṣṇa’s grave words and seeing fearful signs, Uddhava’s identity is shown as unwavering discipleship and bhakti—his mind remains aligned with Kṛṣṇa rather than shaken by external events.
Like Uddhava, acknowledge warning signs and reality, but keep your core practice steady—remembering God, acting thoughtfully, and not letting anxiety replace devotion and clarity.