The Vision of Uddhava near Govardhana

Verse 1 (skanda.2.152.1)

।। श्रीऋषय ऊचुः ।। ।। शांडिल्ये तौ समादिश्य परावृत्ते स्वमाश्रमम् ।। किं कथं चक्रतुस्तौ तु राजानौ सूत तद्वद

śrīṛṣaya ūcuḥ śāṁḍilye tau samādiśya parāvṛtte svamāśramam kiṁ kathaṁ cakratustau tu rājānau sūta tadvada

The sages said: When Shandilya, having instructed those two, returned to his own hermitage, what then did those two kings do, and how, O Suta — tell us that.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.152.2)

।। श्रीसूत उवाच ।। ।। ततस्तु विष्णुरातेन श्रेणीमुख्वाः सहस्रशः ।। इन्द्रप्रस्थात्समानाय्य मथुरास्थानमापिताः

śrīsūta uvāca tatastu viṣṇurātena śreṇīmukhvāḥ sahasraśaḥ indraprasthātsamānāyya mathurāsthānamāpitāḥ

Suta said: Then Vishnurata brought the chiefs of the guilds by the thousand from Indraprastha and settled them in the region of Mathura.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.152.3)

माथुरान्ब्राह्मणांस्तत्र वानरांश्च पुरातनान् ।। विज्ञाय माननीयत्वं तेषु स्थापितवान्स्वरादट्

māthurānbrāhmaṇāṁstatra vānarāṁśca purātanān vijñāya mānanīyatvaṁ teṣu sthāpitavānsvarādaṭ

Recognising the honour due to the Mathura brahmins and to the ancient monkey-folk of that place, that sovereign lord established them there fittingly.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.152.4)

वज्रस्तु तत्सहायेन शाण्डिल्यस्याऽप्यनुग्रहात् ।। गोविन्दगोपगोपीनां लीलास्थानान्यनुक्रमात्

vajrastu tatsahāyena śāṇḍilyasyā'pyanugrahāt govindagopagopīnāṁ līlāsthānānyanukramāt

Vajra, with his help and by the grace of Shandilya, in due order came to know the places of the pastimes of Govinda, the cowherds and the cowherd-maidens —

Verse 5 (skanda.2.152.5)

विज्ञायाऽभिधयाऽऽस्थाप्य ग्रामानावासयद्बहून् ।। कुण्डकूपादिपूर्तेन शिवादिस्थापनेन च

vijñāyā'bhidhayā''sthāpya grāmānāvāsayadbahūn kuṇḍakūpādipūrtena śivādisthāpanena ca

— and having established names for them, he settled many villages there, with the construction of sacred pools, wells and the like, and the installation of Shiva-images and other deities.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.152.6)

गोविन्दहरिदेवादिस्वरूपाऽऽरोपणेन च ।। कृष्णैकभक्तिं स्वे राज्यं ततान च मुमोद ह

govindaharidevādisvarūpā''ropaṇena ca kṛṣṇaikabhaktiṁ sve rājyaṁ tatāna ca mumoda ha

— and by installing the forms of Govinda, Hari and other deities, he spread devotion to Krishna alone throughout his kingdom, and rejoiced.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.152.7)

प्रजास्तु मुदितास्तस्य कृष्णकीर्तनतत्पराः ।। परमानन्दसम्पन्ना राज्यं तस्यैव तुष्टुवुः

prajāstu muditāstasya kṛṣṇakīrtanatatparāḥ paramānandasampannā rājyaṁ tasyaiva tuṣṭuvuḥ

His subjects, joyful and devoted to the chanting of Krishna's name, filled with supreme bliss, praised his very kingdom.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.152.8)

एकदा कृष्णपत्न्यस्तु श्रीकृष्णविरहातुराः ।। कालिन्दीं मुदिता वीक्ष्य पप्रच्छुर्गतमत्सराः

ekadā kṛṣṇapatnyastu śrīkṛṣṇavirahāturāḥ kālindīṁ muditā vīkṣya papracchurgatamatsarāḥ

One day the wives of Krishna, tormented by separation from him, seeing the river Kalindi joyful, freed of all envy, questioned her.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.152.9)

।। श्रीकृष्णपत्न्य ऊचुः ।। ।। यथा वयं कृष्णपत्न्यस्तथा त्वमपि शोभने ।। वयं विरहदुःखार्तास्त्वं न कालिन्दि तद्वद

śrīkṛṣṇapatnya ūcuḥ yathā vayaṁ kṛṣṇapatnyastathā tvamapi śobhane vayaṁ virahaduḥkhārtāstvaṁ na kālindi tadvada

Krishna's wives said: As we are Krishna's wives, so, O lovely one, are you too; yet we are tormented by the pain of separation, while you, O Kalindi, are not — tell us why.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.152.10)

तच्छ्रुत्वा स्मयमाना सा कालिन्दी वाक्यमब्रवीत् ।। सापत्न्यं वीक्ष्य तत्तासां करुणापरमानसा

tacchrutvā smayamānā sā kālindī vākyamabravīt sāpatnyaṁ vīkṣya tattāsāṁ karuṇāparamānasā

Hearing this, Kalindi, smiling, and seeing their state of rivalrous sorrow, her mind filled with supreme compassion, spoke these words.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.152.11)

।। श्रीकालिन्द्युवाच ।। ।। आत्मारामस्य कृष्णस्य ध्रुवमात्मास्ति राधिका ।। तस्या दास्यप्रभावेण विरहोऽस्मान्न संस्पृशेत्

śrīkālindyuvāca ātmārāmasya kṛṣṇasya dhruvamātmāsti rādhikā tasyā dāsyaprabhāveṇa viraho'smānna saṁspṛśet

Kalindi said: Radhika alone, verily, is the very Self of Krishna, the self-delighting one. By the power of my being her handmaiden, separation cannot touch me.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.152.12)

तस्या एवांशविस्ताराः सर्वाः श्रीकृष्णनायिकाः ।। नित्यसंभोग एवास्ति तस्याः साम्मुख्ययोगतः

tasyā evāṁśavistārāḥ sarvāḥ śrīkṛṣṇanāyikāḥ nityasaṁbhoga evāsti tasyāḥ sāmmukhyayogataḥ

All the beloveds of Krishna are but expansions of her very portion; through union with her presence there is eternal enjoyment of him for them.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.152.13)

स एव सा स सैवास्ति वंशी तत्प्रेमरूपिका ।। श्रीकृष्णनखचन्द्रालिसंगाच्चन्द्रावली स्मृता

sa eva sā sa saivāsti vaṁśī tatpremarūpikā śrīkṛṣṇanakhacandrālisaṁgāccandrāvalī smṛtā

He is she, and she is he — the flute itself is the very embodiment of her love. Through contact with the row of moon-like nails of Krishna, she is remembered as Chandravali.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.152.14)

रूपान्तरं च गृह्णाना तयोः सेवातिलालसा ।। रुक्मिण्यादिसमावेशो मयात्रैव विलोकितः

rūpāntaraṁ ca gṛhṇānā tayoḥ sevātilālasā rukmiṇyādisamāveśo mayātraiva vilokitaḥ

Taking on another form, intensely eager for the service of that pair, her entry into the forms of Rukmini and the rest has been witnessed by me right here.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.152.15)

युष्माकमपि कृष्णेन विरहो नैव सर्वतः ।। किन्तु एवं न जानीथ तस्माद्व्याकुलतामिताः

yuṣmākamapi kṛṣṇena viraho naiva sarvataḥ kintu evaṁ na jānītha tasmādvyākulatāmitāḥ

For you too, then, there is truly no separation whatsoever from Krishna; but you do not know this, and that is why you have become distressed.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.152.16)

एवमेवात्र गोपीनामक्रूरावसरे पुरा ।। विरहाभास एवासीदुद्धवेन समाहितः

evamevātra gopīnāmakrūrāvasare purā virahābhāsa evāsīduddhavena samāhitaḥ

In just this way, formerly, at the time of Akrura's mission, the gopis' experience was merely the appearance of separation, and it was set right by Uddhava.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.152.17)

तेनैव भवतीनां चेद्भवेदत्र समागमः ।। तर्हि नित्यं स्वकान्तेन विहारमपि लप्स्यथ

tenaiva bhavatīnāṁ cedbhavedatra samāgamaḥ tarhi nityaṁ svakāntena vihāramapi lapsyatha

If you too should obtain a meeting with that very Uddhava here, then you shall obtain eternal sport with your own beloved as well.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.152.18)

।। श्रीसूत उवाच ।। ।। एवमुक्तास्तु ताः पत्न्यः प्रसन्नां पुनरब्रुवन् ।। उद्धवालोकनेनात्मप्रेष्ठसंगमलालसाः

śrīsūta uvāca evamuktāstu tāḥ patnyaḥ prasannāṁ punarabruvan uddhavālokanenātmapreṣṭhasaṁgamalālasāḥ

Suta said: Thus addressed, those wives, eager for union with their own beloved through the sight of Uddhava, spoke again to the now-cheerful Kalindi.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.152.19)

।। श्रीकृष्णपत्न्य ऊचुः ।। ।। धन्यासि सखि कान्तेन यस्या नैवास्ति विच्युतिः ।। यतस्ते स्वार्थसंसिद्धिस्तस्या दास्यो बभूविम

śrīkṛṣṇapatnya ūcuḥ dhanyāsi sakhi kāntena yasyā naivāsti vicyutiḥ yataste svārthasaṁsiddhistasyā dāsyo babhūvima

Krishna's wives said: Blessed are you, friend, who never falls away from your beloved; and because your own purpose is thus accomplished, we have all become her handmaidens.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.152.20)

परन्तूद्धवलाभे स्यादस्मत्सर्वार्थसाधनम् ।। तथा वदस्व कालिन्दि तल्लाभोऽपि यथा भवेत्

parantūddhavalābhe syādasmatsarvārthasādhanam tathā vadasva kālindi tallābho'pi yathā bhavet

But the attaining of Uddhava would accomplish every purpose of ours; so tell us, O Kalindi, how that meeting too might come about.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.152.21)

।। श्रीसूत उवाच ।। ।। एवमुक्ता तु कालिन्दी प्रत्युवाचाथ तास्तथा ।। स्मरन्ती कृष्णचन्द्रस्य कलाषोडशरूपिणी

śrīsūta uvāca evamuktā tu kālindī pratyuvācātha tāstathā smarantī kṛṣṇacandrasya kalāṣoḍaśarūpiṇī

Suta said: Thus addressed, Kalindi, herself the embodiment of the sixteen digits of Krishna, remembering the moon-like Krishna, replied to them.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.152.22)

साधनभूमिर्बदरी व्रजता कृष्णेन मंत्रिणे प्रोक्ता ।। तत्रास्ते स तु साक्षात्तद्वयुनं ग्राहयँल्लोकान्

sādhanabhūmirbadarī vrajatā kṛṣṇena maṁtriṇe proktā tatrāste sa tu sākṣāttadvayunaṁ grāhayaṁllokān

As he departed, Krishna declared Badari to be the ground of spiritual practice for his minister; there he dwells still, directly making people grasp that knowledge.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.152.23)

फलभूमिर्व्रजभूमिर्दत्ता तस्मै पुरैव सरहस्यम् ।। फलमिह तिरोहितं सत्तदिहेदानीं स उद्धवोऽलक्ष्यः

phalabhūmirvrajabhūmirdattā tasmai puraiva sarahasyam phalamiha tirohitaṁ sattadihedānīṁ sa uddhavo'lakṣyaḥ

The Vraja-land was long ago given to him, together with its secret, as the very ground of fruition; that fruit, though present here, remains hidden — hence that Uddhava is now unseen here.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.152.24)

गोवर्द्धनगिरिनिकटे सखीस्थले तद्रजःकामः ।। तत्रत्याङ्कुरवल्लीरूपेणास्ते स उद्धवो नूनम्

govarddhanagirinikaṭe sakhīsthale tadrajaḥkāmaḥ tatratyāṅkuravallīrūpeṇāste sa uddhavo nūnam

Near Govardhana hill, at the place of the sakhis, longing for the very dust of that place, that Uddhava indeed dwells there in the form of a sprout and creeper.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.152.25)

आत्मोत्सवरूपत्वं हरिणा तस्मै समर्पितं नियतम् ।। तस्मात्तत्र स्थित्वा कुसुमसरःपरिसरे सवज्राभिः

ātmotsavarūpatvaṁ hariṇā tasmai samarpitaṁ niyatam tasmāttatra sthitvā kusumasaraḥparisare savajrābhiḥ

The very nature of being Hari's own festival has surely been bestowed upon him by Hari. Therefore, staying there, at the shore of Kusuma-sarovara, along with Vajra and his party —

Verse 26 (skanda.2.152.26)

वीणावेणुमृदंगैः कीर्तनकाव्यादिसरससंगीतैः ।। उत्सव आरब्धव्यो हरिरतलोकान्समानाय्य

vīṇāveṇumṛdaṁgaiḥ kīrtanakāvyādisarasasaṁgītaiḥ utsava ārabdhavyo hariratalokānsamānāyya

— with vinas, flutes and mridangas, with kirtan, poetry and other delightful music, a festival should be begun, gathering together the people devoted to Hari.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.152.27)

तत्रोद्धवावलोको भविता नियतं महोत्सवे वितते ।। यौष्माकीणामभिमतसिद्धिं सविता स एव सवितानाम्

tatroddhavāvaloko bhavitā niyataṁ mahotsave vitate yauṣmākīṇāmabhimatasiddhiṁ savitā sa eva savitānām

There, in that great festival once spread out, the sight of Uddhava will surely occur; and he alone will bring about the fulfilment of your wishes, as the very sun among suns.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.152.28)

।। श्रीसूत उवाच ।। ।। इति श्रुत्वा प्रसन्नास्ताः कालिन्दीमभिवन्द्य तत् ।। कथयामासुरागत्य वज्रं प्रति परीक्षितम्

śrīsūta uvāca iti śrutvā prasannāstāḥ kālindīmabhivandya tat kathayāmāsurāgatya vajraṁ prati parīkṣitam

Suta said: Hearing this, delighted, they bowed to Kalindi, and then came and related it all to Vajra and Parikshit.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.152.29)

विष्णुरातस्तु तच्छ्रुत्वा प्रसन्नस्तद्युतस्तदा ।। तत्रैवागत्य तत्सर्वं कारयामास सत्वरम्

viṣṇurātastu tacchrutvā prasannastadyutastadā tatraivāgatya tatsarvaṁ kārayāmāsa satvaram

Vishnurata, hearing this, was delighted, and joined by them, came there himself and quickly had all of it arranged.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.152.30)

गोवर्धनाददूरेण वृन्दारण्ये सखीस्थले ।। प्रवृत्तः कुसुमाम्भोधौ कृष्णसंकीर्तनोत्सवः

govardhanādadūreṇa vṛndāraṇye sakhīsthale pravṛttaḥ kusumāmbhodhau kṛṣṇasaṁkīrtanotsavaḥ

Not far from Govardhana, in the Vrinda-forest, at the place of the sakhis, by the flower-filled lake, the festival of Krishna-sankirtana began.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.152.31)

वृषभानुसुताकान्तविहारे कीर्तनश्रिया ।। साक्षादिव समावृत्ते सर्वेऽनन्यदृशोऽभवन्

vṛṣabhānusutākāntavihāre kīrtanaśriyā sākṣādiva samāvṛtte sarve'nanyadṛśo'bhavan

As the beauty of the kirtan seemed to encircle them, as though the sporting of the beloved of Vrishabhanu's daughter had become directly present, all became fixed in single-minded vision.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.152.32)

ततः पश्यत्सु सर्वेषु तृणगुल्मलताचयात् ।। आजगामोद्धवः स्रग्वी श्यामः पीताम्बरावृतः

tataḥ paśyatsu sarveṣu tṛṇagulmalatācayāt ājagāmoddhavaḥ sragvī śyāmaḥ pītāmbarāvṛtaḥ

Then, while all were watching, from a cluster of grass, shrubs and creepers, Uddhava came forth — garlanded, dark-hued, clothed in yellow garments.

Verse 33 (skanda.2.152.33)

गुञ्जामालाधरो गायन्बल्लवीवल्लभं मुहुः ।। तदागमनतो रेजे भृशं संकीर्तनोत्सवः

guñjāmālādharo gāyanballavīvallabhaṁ muhuḥ tadāgamanato reje bhṛśaṁ saṁkīrtanotsavaḥ

Wearing a garland of gunja-berries, singing again and again of the beloved of the cowherd-women, by his arrival the festival of sankirtana shone forth exceedingly.

Verse 34 (skanda.2.152.34)

चन्द्रिकागमतो यद्वत्स्फाटिकाट्टालभूमणिः ।। अथ सर्वे सुखाम्भोधौ मग्नाः सर्वं विसस्मरुः

candrikāgamato yadvatsphāṭikāṭṭālabhūmaṇiḥ atha sarve sukhāmbhodhau magnāḥ sarvaṁ visasmaruḥ

Just as a crystal-terraced mansion shines forth with the arrival of moonlight, so then all, immersed in an ocean of bliss, forgot everything else.

Verse 35 (skanda.2.152.35)

क्षणेनागतविज्ञाना दृष्ट्वा श्रीकृष्णरूपिणम् ।। उद्धवं पूजयांचक्रुः प्रतिलब्धमनोरथाः

kṣaṇenāgatavijñānā dṛṣṭvā śrīkṛṣṇarūpiṇam uddhavaṁ pūjayāṁcakruḥ pratilabdhamanorathāḥ

In a moment, understanding dawning upon them, seeing him as the very embodiment of Krishna, they worshipped Uddhava, their heart's desire now fulfilled.