Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 46

Bhakti as the Easy and Supreme Yoga: Seeing Kṛṣṇa in All and Uddhava’s Departure to Badarikāśrama

Devanagari script

सुदुस्त्यजस्‍नेहवियोगकातरो न शक्नुवंस्तं परिहातुमातुर: । कृच्छ्रं ययौ मूर्धनि भर्तृपादुके बिभ्रन्नमस्कृत्य ययौ पुन: पुन: ॥ ४६ ॥

Transliteration

su-dustyaja-sneha-viyoga-kātaro na śaknuvaṁs taṁ parihātum āturaḥ kṛcchraṁ yayau mūrdhani bhartṛ-pāduke bibhran namaskṛtya yayau punaḥ punaḥ

Translation

ด้วยความรักอันยากจะละทิ้งและความหวั่นไหวต่อการพรากจาก อุทธวะไม่อาจจากพระองค์ได้ ในที่สุดด้วยความเจ็บปวดอย่างยิ่ง เขากราบนอบน้อมซ้ำแล้วซ้ำเล่า ยกฉลองพระบาทของนายเหนือศีรษะ และออกเดินทางไปทั้งที่ใจระทม

Synonyms

• su-dustyaja-sneha-viyoga-kātaraḥ: distressed by separation from very hard-to-abandon affection
• su-dustyaja-sneha-viyoga-kātaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता) — qualifier of āturaḥ (subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय) + dustyaja (कृदन्त; √tyaj त्यागे, ‘hard to abandon’) + sneha (प्रातिपदिक) + viyoga (प्रातिपदिक) + kātara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; multi-member tatpuruṣa: ‘distressed by separation from affection that is very hard to give up’

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) — negates śaknuvaṁs
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Pratiṣedha-nipāta (negation particle)

• śaknuvaṁs: being able (to)
• śaknuvaṁs: Karta (कर्ता) — participial predicate of subject
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śak (धातु; शक् शक्तौ)
• Form: Śatṛ-pratyaya present active participle (शतृ), Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ‘being able’ (here with na = unable)

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म) — object of parihātum
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• parihātum: to leave
• parihātum: Karma-prayojana (कर्म-प्रयोजन) — infinitival complement
• Type: Verb
• Root: √hā (धातु; हा त्यागे) with pari-
• Form: Tumun infinitive (तुमुन्), ‘to abandon/leave’

• āturaḥ: afflicted
• āturaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) — subject
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ātura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• kṛcchram: with difficulty
• kṛcchram: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kṛcchra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa-avyaya (adverbial accusative) ‘with difficulty’

• yayau: went
• yayau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (धातु; या गतौ)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (perfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• mūrdhani: on (his) head
• mūrdhani: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) — location (‘on the head’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrdhan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• bhartṛ-pāduke: the (Lord’s) sandals
• bhartṛ-pāduke: Karma (कर्म) — object of bibhran
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + pādukā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Dvivacana; tatpuruṣa ‘the master’s sandals’

• bibhran: carrying
• bibhran: Karta (कर्ता) — participial qualifier of subject
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhṛ (धातु; भृ धारणे)
• Form: Śatṛ present active participle (शतृ), Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ‘carrying’

• namaskṛtya: having bowed
• namaskṛtya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: namas (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + √kṛ (धातु; कृ करणे)
• Form: Absolutive (ktvā/ल्यप्) from denom. ‘to make salutation’; ‘having bowed’

• yayau: went
• yayau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (धातु; या गतौ)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (perfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (punar-āvṛtti)

• punaḥ: again and again
• punaḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (repetition for emphasis)

Purport

According to the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.4.5) , while Uddhava was enroute to Badarikāśrama he heard about the Lord’s journey to Prabhāsa. Turning back and following Lord Kṛṣṇa from behind, he saw the Lord alone just after the withdrawal of the Yadu dynasty. After being again mercifully instructed by the Personality of Godhead (along with Maitreya, who had just arrived), Uddhava felt his knowledge of the truth reawaken, and then, by the order of the Lord, he went on his way.

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Uddhava

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about viraha (separation) in bhakti?

This verse shows that separation from the Lord can intensify devotion—Uddhava is so overwhelmed that he can hardly depart, repeatedly bowing and holding the Lord’s sandals as a sacred reminder.

Why did Uddhava carry Krishna’s sandals on his head?

As an act of utmost reverence and surrender, Uddhava treats the Lord’s pādukās as worshipable—keeping the Lord present in his heart while he leaves on Krishna’s instruction.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

Keep tangible and regular reminders of devotion—daily sādhana, prayer, and respectful remembrance—so that even when circumstances force distance, your connection to Bhagavān becomes stronger, not weaker.