Shloka 57
Uddhava Meets the Gopīs: Bhramara-gītā and Kṛṣṇa’s Message of Separation
दृष्ट्वैवमादि गोपीनां कृष्णावेशात्मविक्लवम् । उद्धव: परमप्रीतस्ता नमस्यन्निदं जगौ ॥ ५७ ॥
dṛṣṭvaivam-ādi gopīnāṁ kṛṣṇāveśātma-viklavam uddhavaḥ parama-prītas tā namasyann idaṁ jagau
เมื่อเห็นเหล่าโคปีหวั่นไหวเพราะจิตทั้งดวงจมอยู่ในพระกฤษณะ อุทธวะก็ยินดีอย่างยิ่ง แล้วก้มกราบเพื่อถวายความเคารพ และขับร้องดังนี้
Viklava, “mental disturbance,” should not be confused here with ordinary material distress. It is clearly stated that Uddhava was supremely pleased, and he felt this way because he saw that the gopīs had attained the highest state of loving ecstasy. Uddhava was an exalted member of the court in Dvārakā, an important minister in world political affairs, and yet he felt the spiritual urge to offer his obeisances to the glorious gopīs, although externally they were mere cowherd girls in an insignificant village called Vṛndāvana. Thus, to explain his feelings he sang the following verses. Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī states that Uddhava sang these verses daily while he was in Vṛndāvana.
FAQs
This verse shows that the gopīs are so completely absorbed in Kṛṣṇa—even to the point of being overwhelmed—that Uddhava, a foremost devotee, becomes joyful and offers them obeisances, implying their devotion is supremely exalted.
After witnessing their intense Kṛṣṇa-absorption and the depth of their love in separation, Uddhava recognizes their unparalleled bhakti and respectfully offers obeisances before speaking to them.
Cultivate steady remembrance of Kṛṣṇa through hearing, chanting, and sincere prayer—letting devotion become the center of the heart—so that worldly agitation gradually gives way to loving focus on the Lord.