Shloka 22

Uddhava Sent to Vraja: Consolation to Nanda-Yaśodā and the Gopīs’ Separation

Devanagari script

सरिच्छैलवनोद्देशान् मुकुन्दपदभूषितान् । आक्रीडानीक्ष्यमाणानां मनो याति तदात्मताम् ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

saric-chaila-vanoddeśān mukunda-pada-bhūṣitān ākrīḍān īkṣyamāṇānāṁ mano yāti tad-ātmatām

Translation

Khi chúng ta nhìn thấy những nơi Mukunda từng vui chơi—sông ngòi, đồi núi và rừng thẳm được trang điểm bởi dấu chân Ngài—tâm trí chúng ta hoàn toàn chìm đắm, trở nên đồng nhất với Ngài.

Synonyms

• सरित्-शैल-वन-उद्देशान्: river-banks, hills, forests, and regions
• सरित्-शैल-वन-उद्देशान्: Karma (कर्म/object of seeing/remembering implied)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरित् (प्रातिपदिक) + शैल (प्रातिपदिक) + वन (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार-द्वन्द्व/बहु-समास (copulative listing) ‘सरितः, शैलाः, वनानि, उद्देशाः’; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• मुकुन्द-पद-भूषितान्: adorned by Mukunda’s footprints
• मुकुन्द-पद-भूषितान्: Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुकुन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषित (भूष् धातु, क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष ‘मुकुन्दस्य पदैः भूषिताः’; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) as adjective; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; उद्देशान्-विशेषण

• आक्रीडान्: playgrounds/sporting places
• आक्रीडान्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आक्रीड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• ईक्ष्यमाणानाम्: while being seen/when we behold (them)
• ईक्ष्यमाणानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: शानच् (present passive participle) ‘ईक्ष्यमाण’; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; ‘of (them) being seen’

• मनः: the mind
• मनः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• याति: goes/turns
• याति: Kriya (क्रिया/verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान/Present), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तत्-आत्मताम्: identity with that (becomes one with it)
• तत्-आत्मताम्: Karma (कर्म/object/complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष ‘तस्य आत्मता’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Mukunda (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about remembering Krishna through His pastime places in Vraja?

This verse says that seeing the rivers, hills, forests, and play-grounds marked by Krishna’s footprints naturally pulls the mind into deep absorption in Him, as if becoming one in consciousness with Mukunda.

Why is Krishna called Mukunda in this verse?

Mukunda means “the giver of liberation.” By stating that His footprints adorn Vraja, the verse implies that contact with Krishna’s presence—especially through remembrance and sacred places—elevates the heart toward spiritual freedom and devotion.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life if I cannot visit Vrindavan?

Practice smaraṇa (remembrance) by contemplating Krishna’s pastimes, hearing Bhagavatam regularly, and keeping sacred reminders (names, images, descriptions of Vraja) so the mind becomes naturally drawn toward Him, just as it does upon seeing His līlā-sthalīs.