Uddhava thought that he could control and change the Vrajavasis’ by the power of his own intellect. He thought he would go to Kṛṣṇa and tell Him how the vraja-devis were the highest and most qualified devotees and that their mentality was very superior. However what he didn’t realize was that he should reside in Vraja Bhumi under their guidance and shelter. Instead, Uddhava ran back to Kṛṣṇa saying, “Oh, Kṛṣṇa, I cannot find anyone in this world or all the way to Vaikuntha, that is equal to them. Their love is spotless, it is not tainted with any personal desire.” Kṛṣṇa didn’t respond to Uddhava but He could understand and thought, “Yes, he has understood, but he didn’t accept.” Narada Rsi and Uddhava both understand everything, but they do not accept. This is a problem.
Many people come to Guru and Vaisnavas, they know what the right thing to do is but they cannot follow. They have no taste, but they know that bhakti is great. Uddhava was with Kṛṣṇa for a long time, he almost forgot the vraja-devis, only sometimes would he remember them, but his remembrance was not continuous.
Just before Kṛṣṇa left this world, He sent Uddhava once again to Śrī Vṛndāvana. When he came he moved throughout Śrī Vraja Maṇḍala and developed his relationship with Śrī Vraja Maṇḍala. At that time he severed his relationship with Dvaraka and the queens there. In separation of Kṛṣṇa he came to Śrī Vraja Maṇḍala and, taking shelter of the places where the Vraja Devi’s separation mood is prominent he prayed and wept for a long time to Girīrāja Govardhana. After a long time he understood that without the vraja-devis mercy Kṛṣṇa doesn’t accept anyone. Now Kṛṣṇa was very pleased, “Oh, now Uddhava’s pride has gone.”
Now he prayed,
āsām aho caraṇa-reṇu-juṣām ahaṁ syāṁ vṛndāvane kim api gulma-latauṣadhīnām yā dustyajaṁ sva-janam ārya-pathaṁ ca hitvā bhejur mukunda-padavīṁ śrutibhir vimṛgyām
Aho! The Vraja-devīs have given up everything that is difficult to renounce, such as children, family and the path of chastity, and they have taken shelter of the path of prema-bhakti to Śrī Kṛṣṇa that is eternally searched for by the Śrutis. My prayer is that in a future birth I may acquire a form among the bushes, creepers and herbs of Śrī Vṛndāvana that receive the dust of these gopīs’ lotus feet.
Then he prayed and waited for the foot dust of the vraja-devis. Uddhava then explained the glories of Śrī Vraja Maṇḍala everywhere. Kṛṣṇa sent Uddhava to Śrī Vraja Maṇḍala. Uddhava came to Vraja and met all the Vrajavasis and then he saw firsthand their unparalleled love for Kṛṣṇa. Seeing everything, he had a doubt that, “How did Kṛṣṇa leave Vraja Bhumi? Why did He go to Dvaraka? Why didn’t He take the Vrajavasis with Him when He left? What great offense did they commit? Why did He leave them? The rules of love are such that if someone has a beloved they will never make them suffer. Kṛṣṇa accepted so much love and service from the Vrajavasis, how could He leave and not even send any news to pacify them?” Uddhava met all the Vrajavasis, the sakhas, parents, cows, calves, trees, and vraja-devis, he saw all their hearts. But then he had the doubt, “Why did Kṛṣṇa leave? Why didn’t he at least take them with him? Is this not real love?” Uddhava had a doubt, therefore, he couldn’t stay in Vraja, and he had to leave. When he returned to Dvaraka puri, he stayed there for some time and then when Kṛṣṇa was leaving, Krsna instructed Uddhava to remain in Dwarka. Uddhava wanted to go with Krsna but Krsna insisted that he go and stay with Maitreya Rsi and learn something from him, and then go to Vraja.” Uddhava was amazed. When Kṛṣṇa disappeared Uddhava went to Badri Narayana and met with Maitreya who explained to him who were Kṛṣṇa’s nearest and dearest devotees and also which dhama was most dear to the Lord. Maitreya then told Uddhava to go to Vraja.” Kṛṣṇa can never leave his near and dearest, Kṛṣṇa could never leave Vraja, Kṛṣṇa is not pleased anywhere else. Vraja Bhumi is eternal. If you want to obtain Kṛṣṇa, then wander around Vraja, pray to all the plants, creepers, animals, and rivers. Everything there is full of love for Kṛṣṇa, even the stones have an unparalleled love for the Lord.” Up to this point Uddhava had thought, “I am Kṛṣṇa’s near and dear friend.” But finally he realized that he didn’t even have a single drop of love when compared to the love possessed by a blade of grass present in Vraja.” So Uddhava came and started rolling on the ground of Vraja dhama and prayed there. Then these moods came into his heart. He stayed near Kṛṣṇa in Dvaraka and Mathura. But by coming to Vraja Bhumi, that transcendental mood started manifesting in his heart. Those people who don’t understand the glories of Vraja can’t please Bhagavan in any other place independent [of the vraja-devis]. Uddhava stayed in Śrī Vṛndāvana near Girīrāja Govardhana and became near and dear to Kṛṣṇa.” How can we obtain the mercy of the Vrajavasis and the vraja-devis? If we can obtain their mercy then we can get the mercy of Bhagavan. Until someone gets the mercy of the Vrajavasis one can’t achieve the highest goal of Kṛṣṇa-prema. By performing one’s own sadhana, for many lifetimes it is not possible to get bhagavat-prema. Uddhava stayed at Uddhava Kunda, opposite Kusuma Sarovara. Uddhava has given so much mercy; he has preached the glories of the Vrajavasis and vraja-devis everywhere. Without his contribution then people would only know the glories of Mathura and Dvaraka, they think of Vraja as inferior. People only think, “Oh, Kṛṣṇa played in Vraja Maṇḍala with the sakhas and grazed the cows and performed rasa-lila etc. But they think that the important part of kṛṣṇa-lila was giving the Śrīmad-Bhagavad-gītā on Kuruksetra and living in Dvaraka. But Kṛṣṇa taught Uddhava and through him distributed the glories of Śrī Vraja Maṇḍala. Those who take this mercy can obtain qualification for eternal service. English Uddhava realized with God’s special mercy the glories of Śrī Vraja Maṇḍala and the vraja-devis and then he distributed these glories. Therefore, Kṛṣṇa likes him. Before, people had the idea that, “This Vraja Bhumi is only for cow grazing, Kṛṣṇa only played there for a few years, and that wasn’t significant. Rather his stay in Dvaraka and giving instruction via Bhagavad Gita was more important. People have this idea. But this idea is not perfect. First Uddhava understood with Kṛṣṇa’s causeless mercy. Kṛṣṇa sent Uddhava once, and then sent him for a second time. After the second time Uddhava understood that Vraja Bhumi is completely Kṛṣṇa’s nearest and dearest. The Vrajavasis didn’t want to take anything from Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa tried to give many things but they didn’t accept, they knew that if they accepted anything from God, then their bhakti would become conditional. If you take a loan from anyone, then it is necessary to repay that loan. The Vrajavasis have so much; they never pray for anything, they don’t want any loan. They have no desires. Kṛṣṇa came and tried to taste and accept their love but Kṛṣṇa said, “I’m unqualified, I want to taste this and stay with them, but I’m not qualified, in this life I’ll practice and after millions of lives I’ll be trained and follow them.” Therefore, in the next Kali Yuga He renounced everything, took sannyasa and practiced for a long time. Is this possible? No guarantee. How are the Vraja devis qualified? Before Uddhava no one had explained these specialties. After Uddhava the sad-goswamis, Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, Śrīla Bhaktivinod Ṭhākura and the Guru Varga they realized and distributed this love. One drop of this love and nectar is priceless! Kṛṣṇa said, “I’m indebted,na pāraye ’haṁ niravadya-saṁyujāṁ sva-sādhu-kṛtyaṁ vibudhāyuṣāpi vaḥ yā mābhajan durjara-geha-śṛṅkhalāḥ saṁvṛścya tad vaḥ pratiyātu sādhunā
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.32.22)
I am not able to repay My debt for your spotless service, even within a lifetime of Brahmā. Your connection with Me is beyond reproach. You have worshiped Me, cutting off all domestic ties, which are difficult to break. Therefore please let your own glorious deeds be your compensation.
I’m indebted, in millions of lives I can’t repay this loan; their love is unconditional and selfless. Their love is pure and clean, I’m trying to repay them, but they have no desire, they only desire my service and how I will be happy. The vraja-devis only ask, “Tell us how you will be happy?” They wouldn’t accept anything and Kṛṣṇa was indebted to them. Kṛṣṇa told, “How can I repay you?” The gopis replied(?)Only tell us that Vraja Bhumi and the Vrajavasis are yours. No one is ever considered indebted to their family and relatives. If one takes a loan from outside then one becomes indebted. You are saying you are indebted to us, this means that you have no love for us, and that you will leave us! You think, “I will come for some time and then leave. This is not good, please accept us. Accept and embrace us, kiss us, or abuse, reject us and love others in front of us, tell everybody we are bad, and do as you like independently, but we will never be against you. But never say you are indebted, everything is yours. One massages his hand with his other hand, the hand gives food to the mouth, in this way the hand doesn’t become indebted. The eyes are looking, the ears are hearing, they are not indebted. You don’t accept us that’s way you are telling you are indebted to us.” Kṛṣṇa was hopeless, he thought what He could possibly say. Kṛṣṇa said, “If any of your followers come, then they will explain and distribute your glories. With the help of theses sadhus I will repay you. If I tell your glories to everybody, then people will say, “He only likes the Vrajavasis. Therefore, through the sadhus I will explain your glories.” In Śrī Vraja Maṇḍala Kṛṣṇa is very humble, He forgets that He is God. Vrajavasis give Him food, but He steals and takes their remnants. He thought, “If I roll in the dust of Śrī Vraja Maṇḍala, then it will be possible for Me to stay here.” Mother Yasoda gave Him beautiful dresses but He’s throwing and playing in the dust, and eating with sakhas. In other places, God is never taking others remnants, there are food offerings, everything has to be pure, and not remnants. Ghee is given and bells are rung, otherwise big offenses will have been committed. But in Vraja Bhumi Kṛṣṇa is keeping His eye out thinking, “Where are some remnants?” In Rama Lila Ramachandra only took Sabari’s remnants. But in Śrī Vraja Maṇḍala, sakhas are taking half of a pakora and then Kṛṣṇa takes the other half after them. The vraja-devis cook for Krsna and Kṛṣṇa is eating their preparations, then the sakhis come and eat and then again Kṛṣṇa takes their remnants from them. Where have the rules and regulations and the Vedic principles gone? Krsna came to Vraja Bhumi and everything was lost. Therefore, He waited, in other places I am God, but in Śrī Vṛndāvana I’m not God, not Parabrahma Paramesvara, only I am the servant of the servant, smaller than the smallest. Narada Rsi, and Lord Brahma, are surprised witnessing the love and character of the Vrajavasis. Why is it not considered offensive? Why is Kṛṣṇa so thirsty to drink their unlimited love? Śrīla Gurudeva always tells, “Worship like the Vrajavasis, follow like the Vrajavasis.” Kṛṣṇa desires this nectar. If one gives Krsna everything but doesn’t give their love and heart, then Kṛṣṇa won’t be pleased. He has no want for anything but love. He is hungry for love. Giving everything as if in charity without full self-surrender, is improper. This is arrogance, “I have something and I’m giving in charity to God!” Is God waiting for Charity? No! He is self-satisfied. He’s waiting for one drop of love, but love that is first purified through the Vrajavasis and the vraja-devis, they are recommended, and have been given the green light. Vrajavasis, green card, green signal. Śrī Vṛndāvana’s grass, fruits, flowers, and creepers, they all have the green light. Okay, Now Kṛṣṇa is in Śrī Vraja Maṇḍala, He’s waiting for the darshan of Śrīmatī Rādhārānī. All over the world people are running after and waiting for Kṛṣṇa’s darshan. But in Śrī Vraja Maṇḍala Kṛṣṇa prays to the manjaris,yat-kiṅkarīṣu bahuśaḥ khalu kāku-vāṇī, nityaṁ parasya puruṣasya śikhaṇḍa-mauleḥ tasyāḥ kadā rasa-nidheḥ vṛṣabhānu-jāyās tat-keli-kuñja-bhavanāṅgana-mārjanī syām
O daughter of Vṛṣabhānu Mahārāja, ocean of rasa, that beautiful boy who wears a gracefully tilting peacock feather in His hair is actually the original Personality of Godhead. Still, He is always falling at the feet of Your maidservants and pitifully begging them with many humble words to gain entrance into Your kuñja where the two of You engage in Your playful loving pastimes. My life would be successful if I could even be one stick in the broom Your maidservants use to clean Your delightful kuñja. Śrī Rādhā-rasa-sudhā-nidhi (8)
“Oh manjaris, please give me a chance for darshan just once.”“No.”
hari! hari! yāhi mādhava yāhi keśava mā vada kaitava-vādaṁ
“Mādhava, go! Keśava, go away! Do not speak deceptive words!
Don’t speak, don’t disturb us, don’t cry here! Get out, GET OUT, GET OUT, NO MORE, NO MORE, NO MORE! Don’t come here anymore!” But Kṛṣṇa entreats them, “Please don’t kick me away. I’m suffering for just one moments of darshan, nothing more, anyhow give me darshan? I’m in great distress.” Is this puja? Who can understand? Śrīla Gurudeva tells about this love of Vraja Bhumi and the Vrajavasis. By force, by trick Kṛṣṇa called the Vrajavasis to give their darshan to the Dvarakavasis. They are very proud, and hard. The Vrajavasis went and met Kṛṣṇa and the Dvarakavasis. But the Dvarakavasis didn’t take shelter or pray to the Vrajavasis. The Vrajavasis told Kṛṣṇa, “You came to Mother Yasoda’s lap, you came to the sakhis and sakhas, but no one is happy here and You are also not happy here, if you want to be happy then come to Vraja Bhumi, there You’ll have everything, but nothing is Yours and you are not happy.” Therefore, Kṛṣṇa sank Dvaraka inside the ocean and came back to Vraja. Thus, who can understand the glories of Vraja?Śrīla Gurudeva went over the whole world to distribute the nectar of the Vrajavasis. But without the rasik-vrajavasis, without loving relation with the Vrajavasis then will only go there and make politics. You are my group. You are my followers. The Vrajavasis don’t have this business. Anyone is serving Kṛṣṇa and they are happy.
kṛṣṇa-nāma gāne bhai, rādhikā-caraṇa pāi rādhā-nāma gāne kṛṣṇacandra saṅkṣepe kahinu kathā, ghucāo manera byathā duḥkhamaya anya kathā dvandva (4)
O brother, by chanting Kṛṣṇa’s name you will attain Rādhā, and by chanting Rādhā’s name you will attain Kṛṣṇacandra. Now I have briefly told you how to find relief from all the sufferings in your heart. Whatever contradicts these words will bring only pain and conflict. Speaking and glorifying the glories of Śrīmatī Rādhārānī than Kṛṣṇa is pleased and singing the gloresi if Kṛṣṇa then Śrīmatī Rādhārānī is happy.
In Śrī Vraja Maṇḍala from A-Z everybody is under the guidance of Śrīmatī Rādhārānī. In other places everyone is guided by their own selfishness, “Who am I? And what are my glories?” The Vrajavasis never tell like this. Srimatiji never tells, they are all only very busy and engaged in loving service, they have no time. People only want to hear their own glories everywhere, their own name and fame. But the Vrajavasis never say, “I’m great, I’m the best and, follow me.” The Vrajavasis don’t have this mood or any pride. They don’t say, “I did this, this is good and tasteful.” They are only absorbed in service and bhagavat-prema. They have no time for anything else. Other people do something for someone else and then wait for glorification, “Oh, you did so much!” But the Vrajavasis are so absorbed that they have no time or desire to hear these things. If we take their shelter, then our time and life will have been worthwhile and a success. Otherwise only eating and passing everything like pakora and chutney then we won’t get any benefit. If accepting the mood of the Vrajavasis, then you will no longer understand or care, “where am I, who am I.” Even if the world is destroyed you will not care you will be completely and continuously absorbed in Vraja Rasa. Otherwise Maha Kala will come and take us away and our human life will be spoiled. Śrīla Gurudeva would tell this story, “Once there was a very old woman who was collecting wood in the forest and she called out repeatedly to Yamaraja, “You took my son, my daughter, my husband, nephew, sister, brother, but you don’t come to (for) me Yama? Why?” She could no longer carry the wood to sell and put it down and cried repeatedly to Yamaraja. Yamaraja appeared with red eyes, riding on his bull, he said, “I’m Yamaraja, you called me?” The old woman said, “This wood is very heavy, please lift it for me so I can take it to the market to sell.” “But you were just yelling for me to come and take you away.” “No, no, I wanted you to help me with the wood!” Similarly we are in illusion and attachment to this body. Some people do service, but they only desire to hear their own glories. The vraja-devis and Vrajavasis service is very confidential, their names are gopi, gopa, gokula, completely peaceful and secret. Even if their chest was broken, they wouldn’t open their mouth, they don’t know, “What is good, bad, what is suffering, what is happiness.” Kṛṣṇa is always greatly anxious for the love of the Vrajavasis. Who will understand the glories of the Vrajavasis and of Śrī Vraja Maṇḍala? Those who do understand, their lives are successful. If one has no relationship with Śrī Vraja Maṇḍala then his life is useless. Only singing and dancing and passing our time uselessly. We must pray, “May our faith and love increase and, may we gain entrance and qualification to enter into the pastimes of Vraja and obtain our eternal service and form there.” Hari-katha spoken by Sripada Premananda Prabhu; rendition by Rasik Mohan Das This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.