Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 3 · Chapter 4

Vidura Approaches Maitreya

3.4.1

उद्धव उवाच अथ ते तदनुज्ञाता भुक्त्वा पीत्वा च वारुणीम् । तया विभ्रंशितज्ञाना दुरुक्तैर्मर्म पस्पृश: ॥ १ ॥

uddhava uvaca atha te tad-anujnata bhuktva pitva ca varunim taya vibhramsita-jnana duruktair marma pasprsuh

Thereafter, all of them (the descendants of Vrsni and Bhoja), being permitted by the brahmanas, partook of the remnants of prasada and also drank liquor made of rice. By drinking they all became delirious, and, bereft of knowledge, they touched the cores of each other’s hearts with harsh words.

3.4.2

तेषां मैरेयदोषेण विषमीकृतचेतसाम् । निम्‍लोचति रवावासीद्वेणूनामिव मर्दनम् ॥ २ ॥

tesam maireya-dosena visamikrta-cetasam nimlocati ravav asid venunam iva mardanam

As by the friction of bamboos destruction takes place, so also, at sunset, by the interaction of the faults of intoxication, all their minds became unbalanced, and destruction took place.

3.4.3

भगवान् स्वात्ममायाया गतिं तामवलोक्य स: । सरस्वतीमुपस्पृश्य वृक्षमूलमुपाविशत् ॥ ३ ॥

bhagavan svatma-mayaya gatim tam avalokya sah sarasvatim upasprsya vrksa-mulam upavisat

The Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krsna, after foreseeing the end (of His family) by His internal potency, went to the bank of the River Sarasvati, sipped water, and sat down underneath a tree.

3.4.4

अहं चोक्तो भगवता प्रपन्नार्तिहरेण ह । बदरीं त्वं प्रयाहीति स्वकुलं संजिहीर्षुणा ॥ ४ ॥

aham cokto bhagavata prapannarti-harena ha badarim tvam prayahiti sva-kulam sanjihirsuna

The Lord is the vanquisher of the distresses of one who is surrendered unto Him. Thus He who desired to destroy His family told me previously to go to Badarikasrama.

3.4.5

तथापि तदभिप्रेतं जानन्नहमरिन्दम । पृष्ठतोऽन्वगमं भर्तु: पादविश्लेषणाक्षम: ॥ ५ ॥

tathapi tad-abhipretam janann aham arindama prsthato ’nvagamam bhartuh pada-vislesanaksamah

Yet in spite of my knowing His desire (to destroy the dynasty), O Arindama (Vidura), I followed Him because it was impossible for me to bear separation from the lotus feet of the master.

3.4.6

अद्राक्षमेकमासीनं विचिन्वन् दयितं पतिम् । श्रीनिकेतं सरस्वत्यां कृतकेतमकेतनम् ॥ ६ ॥

adraksam ekam asinam vicinvan dayitam patim sri-niketam sarasvatyam krta-ketam aketanam

Thus following, I saw my patron and master (Lord Sri Krsna) sitting alone and deeply thinking, taking shelter on the bank of the River Sarasvati although He is the shelter of the goddess of fortune.

3.4.7

श्यामावदातं विरजं प्रशान्तारुणलोचनम् । दोर्भिश्चतुर्भिर्विदितं पीतकौशाम्बरेण च ॥ ७ ॥

syamavadatam virajam prasantaruna-locanam dorbhis caturbhir viditam pita-kausambarena ca

The Lord’s body is blackish, but is eternal, full of bliss and knowledge, and very, very beautiful. His eyes are always peaceful, and they are reddish like the rising morning sun. I could immediately recognize Him as the Supreme Personality of Godhead by His four hands, different symbolic representations, and yellow silk garments.

3.4.8

वाम ऊरावधिश्रित्य दक्षिणाङ्‌घ्रि सरोरुहम् । अपाश्रितार्भकाश्वत्थमकृशं त्यक्तपिप्पलम् ॥ ८ ॥

vama urav adhisritya daksinanghri-saroruham apasritarbhakasvattham akrsam tyakta-pippalam

The Lord was sitting, taking rest against a young banyan tree, with His right lotus foot on His left thigh, and although He had left all household comforts, He looked quite cheerful in that posture.

3.4.9

तस्मिन्महाभागवतो द्वैपायनसुहृत्सखा । लोकाननुचरन् सिद्ध आससाद यद‍ृच्छया ॥ ९ ॥

tasmin maha-bhagavato dvaipayana-suhrt-sakha lokan anucaran siddha asasada yadrcchaya

At that time, after traveling in many parts of the world, Maitreya, a great devotee of the Lord and a friend and well-wisher of the great sage Krsna-dvaipayana Vyasa, reached that spot out of his own perfect accord.

3.4.10

तस्यानुरक्तस्य मुनेर्मुकुन्द: प्रमोदभावानतकन्धरस्य । आश‍ृण्वतो मामनुरागहास- समीक्षया विश्रमयन्नुवाच ॥ १० ॥

tasyanuraktasya muner mukundah pramoda-bhavanata-kandharasya asrnvato mam anuraga-hasa- samiksaya visramayann uvaca

Maitreya Muni was greatly attached to Him (the Lord), and he was listening in a pleasing attitude, with his shoulder lowered. With a smile and a particular glance upon me, having allowed me to rest, the Lord spoke as follows.

3.4.11

श्री भगवानुवाच वेदाहमन्तर्मनसीप्सितं ते ददामि यत्तद् दुरवापमन्यै: । सत्रे पुरा विश्वसृजां वसूनां मत्सिद्धिकामेन वसो त्वयेष्ट: ॥ ११ ॥

sri-bhagavan uvaca vedaham antar manasipsitam te dadami yat tad duravapam anyaih satre pura visva-srjam vasunam mat-siddhi-kamena vaso tvayestah

O Vasu, I know from within your mind what you desired in the days of yore when the Vasus and other demigods responsible for expanding the universal affairs performed sacrifices. You particularly desired to achieve My association. This is very difficult to obtain for others, but I award it unto you.

3.4.12

स एष साधो चरमो भवाना- मासादितस्ते मदनुग्रहो यत् । यन्मां नृलोकान् रह उत्सृजन्तं दिष्टय‍ा दद‍ृश्वान् विशदानुवृत्त्या ॥ १२ ॥

sa esa sadho caramo bhavanam asaditas te mad-anugraho yat yan mam nrlokan raha utsrjantam distya dadrsvan visadanuvrttya

O honest one, your present life is the last and the supermost because in this term of life you have been awarded My ultimate favor. Now you can go to My transcendental abode, Vaikuntha, by leaving this universe of conditioned living entities. Your visit to Me in this lonely place because of your pure and unflinching devotional service is a great boon for you.

3.4.13

पुरा मया प्रोक्तमजाय नाभ्ये पद्मे निषण्णाय ममादिसर्गे । ज्ञानं परं मन्महिमावभासं यत्सूरयो भागवतं वदन्ति ॥ १३ ॥

pura maya proktam ajaya nabhye padme nisannaya mamadi-sarge jnanam param man-mahimavabhasam yat surayo bhagavatam vadanti

O Uddhava, in the lotus millennium in the days of yore, at the beginning of the creation, I spoke unto Brahma, who is situated on the lotus that grows out of My navel, about My transcendental glories, which the great sages describe as Srimad-Bhagavatam.

3.4.14

इत्याद‍ृतोक्त: परमस्य पुंस: प्रतिक्षणानुग्रहभाजनोऽहम् । स्‍नेहोत्थरोमा स्खलिताक्षरस्तं मुञ्चञ्छुच: प्राञ्जलिराबभाषे ॥ १४ ॥

ity adrtoktah paramasya pumsah pratiksananugraha-bhajano ’ham snehottha-roma skhalitaksaras tam muncan chucah pranjalir ababhase

Uddhava said: O Vidura, when I was thus favored at every moment by the Supreme Personality of Godhead and addressed by Him with great affection, my words failed in tears, and the hairs on my body erupted. After smearing my tears, I, with folded hands, spoke like this.

3.4.15

को न्वीश ते पादसरोजभाजां सुदुर्लभोऽर्थेषु चतुर्ष्वपीह । तथापि नाहं प्रवृणोमि भूमन् भवत्पदाम्भोजनिषेवणोत्सुक: ॥ १५ ॥

ko nv isa te pada-saroja-bhajam sudurlabho ’rthesu catursv apiha tathapi naham pravrnomi bhuman bhavat-padambhoja-nisevanotsukah

O my Lord, devotees who engage in the transcendental loving service of Your lotus feet have no difficulty in achieving anything within the realm of the four principles of religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and liberation. But, O great one, as far as I am concerned, I have preferred only to engage in the loving service of Your lotus feet.

3.4.16

कर्माण्यनीहस्य भवोऽभवस्य ते दुर्गाश्रयोऽथारिभयात्पलायनम् । कालात्मनो यत्प्रमदायुताश्रम: स्वात्मन्रते: खिद्यति धीर्विदामिह ॥ १६ ॥

karmany anihasya bhavo ’bhavasya te durgasrayo ’thari-bhayat palayanam kalatmano yat pramada-yutasramah svatman-rateh khidyati dhir vidam iha

My Lord, even the learned sages become disturbed in their intelligence when they see that Your Greatness engages in fruitive work although You are free from all desires, that You take birth although You are unborn, that You flee out of fear of the enemy and take shelter in a fort although You are the controller of invincible time, and that You enjoy householder life surrounded by many women although You enjoy in Your Self.

3.4.17

मन्त्रेषु मां वा उपहूय यत्त्व- मकुण्ठिताखण्डसदात्मबोध: । पृच्छे: प्रभो मुग्ध इवाप्रमत्त- स्तन्नो मनो मोहयतीव देव ॥ १७ ॥

mantresu mam va upahuya yat tvam akunthitakhanda-sadatma-bodhah prccheh prabho mugdha ivapramattas tan no mano mohayativa deva

O my Lord, Your eternal Self is never divided by the influence of time, and there is no limitation to Your perfect knowledge. Thus You were sufficiently able to consult with Yourself, yet You called upon me for consultation, as if bewildered, although You are never bewildered. And this act of Yours bewilders me.

3.4.18

ज्ञानं परं स्वात्मरह:प्रकाशं प्रोवाच कस्मै भगवान् समग्रम् । अपि क्षमं नो ग्रहणाय भर्त- र्वदाञ्जसा यद् वृजिनं तरेम ॥ १८ ॥

jnanam param svatma-rahah-prakasam provaca kasmai bhagavan samagram api ksamam no grahanaya bhartar vadanjasa yad vrjinam tarema

My Lord, kindly explain to us, if You think us competent to receive it, that transcendental knowledge which gives enlightenment about Yourself and which You explained before to Brahmaji.

3.4.19

इत्यावेदितहार्दाय मह्यं स भगवान् पर: । आदिदेशारविन्दाक्ष आत्मन: परमां स्थितिम् ॥ १९ ॥

ity avedita-hardaya mahyam sa bhagavan parah adidesaravindaksa atmanah paramam sthitim

When I thus expressed my heartfelt desires unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the lotus-eyed Lord instructed me about His transcendental situation.

3.4.20

स एवमाराधितपादतीर्था- दधीततत्त्वात्मविबोधमार्ग: प्रणम्य पादौ परिवृत्य देव- मिहागतोऽहं विरहातुरात्मा ॥ २० ॥

sa evam aradhita-pada-tirthad adhita-tattvatma-vibodha-margah pranamya padau parivrtya devam ihagato ’ham virahaturatma

I have studied the path of understanding self-knowledge from my spiritual master, the Personality of Godhead, and thus after circumambulating Him I have come to this place, very much aggrieved due to separation.

3.4.21

सोऽहं तद्दर्शनाह्लादवियोगार्तियुत: प्रभो । गमिष्ये दयितं तस्य बदर्याश्रममण्डलम् ॥ २१ ॥

so ’ham tad-darsanahlada- viyogarti-yutah prabho gamisye dayitam tasya badaryasrama-mandalam

My dear Vidura, now I am mad for want of the pleasure of seeing Him, and just to mitigate this I am now proceeding to Badarikasrama in the Himalayas for association, as I have been instructed by Him.

3.4.22

यत्र नारायणो देवो नरश्च भगवानृषि: । मृदु तीव्रं तपो दीर्घं तेपाते लोकभावनौ ॥ २२ ॥

yatra narayano devo naras ca bhagavan rsih mrdu tivram tapo dirgham tepate loka-bhavanau

There in Badarikasrama the Personality of Godhead, in His incarnation as the sages Nara and Narayana, has been undergoing great penance since time immemorial for the welfare of all amiable living entities.

3.4.23

श्री शुक उवाच इत्युद्धवादुपाकर्ण्य सुहृदां दु:सहं वधम् । ज्ञानेनाशमयत्क्षत्ता शोकमुत्पतितं बुध: ॥ २३ ॥

sri-suka uvaca ity uddhavad upakarnya suhrdam duhsaham vadham jnanenasamayat ksatta sokam utpatitam budhah

Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: After hearing from Uddhava all about the annihilation of his friends and relatives, the learned Vidura pacified his overwhelming bereavement by dint of his transcendental knowledge.

3.4.24

स तं महाभागवतं व्रजन्तं कौरवर्षभ: । विश्रम्भादभ्यधत्तेदं मुख्यं कृष्णपरिग्रहे ॥ २४ ॥

sa tam maha-bhagavatam vrajantam kauravarsabhah visrambhad abhyadhattedam mukhyam krsna-parigrahe

While Uddhava, the chief and most confidential amongst the devotees of the Lord, was going away, Vidura, in affection and confidence, questioned him.

3.4.25

विदुर उवाच ज्ञानं परं स्वात्मरह:प्रकाशं यदाह योगेश्वर ईश्वरस्ते । वक्तुं भवान्नोऽर्हति यद्धि विष्णो- र्भृत्या: स्वभृत्यार्थकृतश्चरन्ति ॥ २५ ॥

vidura uvaca jnanam param svatma-rahah-prakasam yad aha yogesvara isvaras te vaktum bhavan no ’rhati yad dhi visnor bhrtyah sva-bhrtyartha-krtas caranti

Vidura said: O Uddhava, because the servants of Visnu, the Lord, wander in the interest of serving others, it is quite fit that you kindly describe the self-knowledge with which you have been enlightened by the Lord Himself.

3.4.26

उद्धव उवाच ननु ते तत्त्वसंराध्य ऋषि: कौषारवोऽन्तिके । साक्षाद्भगवतादिष्टो मर्त्यलोकं जिहासता ॥ २६ ॥

uddhava uvaca nanu te tattva-samradhya rsih kausaravo ’ntike saksad bhagavatadisto martya-lokam jihasata

Sri Uddhava said: You may take lessons from the great learned sage Maitreya, who is nearby and who is worshipable for reception of transcendental knowledge. He was directly instructed by the Personality of Godhead while He was about to quit this mortal world.

3.4.27

श्री शुक उवाच इति सह विदुरेण विश्वमूर्ते- र्गुणकथया सुधयाप्लावितोरुताप: । क्षणमिव पुलिने यमस्वसुस्तां समुषित औपगविर्निशां ततोऽगात् ॥ २७ ॥

sri-suka uvaca iti saha vidurena visva-murter guna-kathaya sudhaya plavitorutapah ksanam iva puline yamasvasus tam samusita aupagavir nisam tato ’gat

Sukadeva Gosvami said: O King, after thus discussing with Vidura the transcendental name, fame, qualities, etc., on the bank of the Yamuna, Uddhava was overwhelmed with great affliction. He passed the night as if it were a moment, and thereafter he went away.

3.4.28

राजोवाच निधनमुपगतेषु वृष्णिभोजे- ष्वधिरथयूथपयूथपेषु मुख्य: । स तु कथमवशिष्ट उद्धवो यद्धरि- रपि तत्यज आकृतिं त्र्यधीश: ॥ २८ ॥

rajovaca nidhanam upagatesu vrsni-bhojesv adhiratha-yuthapa-yuthapesu mukhyah sa tu katham avasista uddhavo yad dharir api tatyaja akrtim tryadhisah

The King inquired: At the end of the pastimes of the Lord of the three worlds, Sri Krsna, and after the disappearance of the members of the Vrsni and Bhoja dynasties, who were the best of the great commanders, why did Uddhava alone remain?

3.4.29

श्री शुक उवाच ब्रह्मशापापदेशेन कालेनामोघवाञ्छित: । संहृत्य स्वकुलं स्फीतं त्यक्ष्यन्देहमचिन्तयत् ॥ २९ ॥

sri-suka uvaca brahma-sapapadesena kalenamogha-vanchitah samhrtya sva-kulam sphitam tyaksyan deham acintayat

Sukadeva Gosvami replied: My dear King, the cursing of the brahmanas was only a plea, but the actual fact was the supreme desire of the Lord. He wanted to disappear from the face of the earth after dispatching His excessively numerous family members. He thought to Himself as follows.

3.4.30

अस्माल्लोकादुपरते मयि ज्ञानं मदाश्रयम् । अर्हत्युद्धव एवाद्धा सम्प्रत्यात्मवतां वर: ॥ ३० ॥

asmal lokad uparate mayi jnanam mad-asrayam arhaty uddhava evaddha sampraty atmavatam varah

Now I shall leave the vision of this mundane world, and I see that Uddhava, the foremost of My devotees, is the only one who can be directly entrusted with knowledge about Me.

3.4.31

नोद्धवोऽण्वपि मन्न्यूनो यद्गुणैर्नार्दित: प्रभु: । अतो मद्वयुनं लोकं ग्राहयन्निह तिष्ठतु ॥ ३१ ॥

noddhavo ’nv api man-nyuno yad gunair narditah prabhuh ato mad-vayunam lokam grahayann iha tisthatu

Uddhava is not inferior to Me in any way because he is never affected by the modes of material nature. Therefore he may remain in this world in order to disseminate specific knowledge of the Personality of Godhead.

3.4.32

एवं त्रिलोकगुरुणा सन्दिष्ट: शब्दयोनिना । बदर्याश्रममासाद्य हरिमीजे समाधिना ॥ ३२ ॥

evam tri-loka-guruna sandistah sabda-yonina badaryasramam asadya harim ije samadhina

Sukadeva Gosvami informed the King that Uddhava, being thus instructed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the source of all Vedic knowledge and the spiritual master of the three worlds, reached the pilgrimage site of Badarikasrama and engaged himself there in trance to satisfy the Lord.

3.4.33

विदुरोऽप्युद्धवाच्छ्रुत्वा कृष्णस्य परमात्मन: । क्रीडयोपात्तदेहस्य कर्माणि श्लाघितानि च ॥ ३३ ॥

viduro ’py uddhavac chrutva krsnasya paramatmanah kridayopatta-dehasya karmani slaghitani ca

Vidura also heard from Uddhava about the appearance and disappearance of Lord Krsna, the Supersoul, in the mortal world, which is a subject matter sought after with great perseverance by the great sages.

3.4.34

देहन्यासं च तस्यैवं धीराणां धैर्यवर्धनम् । अन्येषां दुष्करतरं पशूनां विक्लवात्मनाम् ॥ ३४ ॥

deha-nyasam ca tasyaivam dhiranam dhairya-vardhanam anyesam duskarataram pasunam viklavatmanam

The Lord’s glorious acts and His acceptance of various transcendental forms for the performance of extraordinary pastimes in the mortal world are very difficult for anyone other than His devotees to understand, and for the beasts they are simply a mental disturbance.

3.4.35

आत्मानं च कुरुश्रेष्ठ कृष्णेन मनसेक्षितम् । ध्यायन् गते भागवते रुरोद प्रेमविह्वल: ॥ ३५ ॥

atmanam ca kuru-srestha krsnena manaseksitam dhyayan gate bhagavate ruroda prema-vihvalah

Understanding that he was remembered by Lord Krsna (while quitting this world), Vidura began to cry loudly, overwhelmed by the ecstasy of love.

3.4.36

कालिन्द्या: कतिभि: सिद्ध अहोभिर्भरतर्षभ । प्रापद्यत स्व:सरितं यत्र मित्रासुतो मुनि: ॥ ३६ ॥

kalindyah katibhih siddha ahobhir bharatarsabha prapadyata svah-saritam yatra mitra-suto munih

After passing a few days on the bank of the River Yamuna, Vidura, the self-realized soul, reached the bank of the Ganges, where the great sage Maitreya was situated.