Source
Texts:
Bhakti
Yoga
Text
1
S'rî
Uddhava said: This process of yoga is, I think, most difficult
to execute for someone not spiritual; please o Acyuta, tell me
in easy terms how a person may be perfect in that [see also
B.G. 6:
33-34].
S'rî
Uddhava said - My dear Lord Acyuta, I fear that the method
of yoga described by You is very difficult for one who
cannot control his mind. Therefore please explain to me in
simple terms how someone can more easily execute it.
Text
2
Generally, o
Lotus-eyed One, become yogîs frustrated exercising the
mind and do they, unable as they are to find absorption, get
tired in the attempt to subdue the mind.
O
lotus-eyed Lord, generally those yogîs who try to
steady the mind experience frustration because of their
inability to perfect the state of trance. Thus they weary in
their attempt to bring the mind under control.
Text
3
Therefore,
o Lotus eyed One, are the swanlike then indeed happy to take to
the source of all ecstasy, the shelter of Your lotus feet, o
Lord of the Universe; but those who take pride in the results
of their yoga, do not, as these are defeated by Your material
energy.
Therefore,
O lotus-eyed Lord of the universe, swanlike men happily take
shelter of Your lotus feet, the source of all transcendental
ecstasy. But those who take pride in their accomplishments
in yoga and karma fail to take shelter of You and are
defeated by Your illusory energy.
Text
4
It raises no
wonder Acyuta, that You are a friend to all servants who with
no other shelter are joined in intimacy with You, You who were
affectionate with the animal-like [vânaras]
while the edges of Your footstool were covered by the effulgent
helmets of the great controllers [like
Brahmâ].
My
dear infallible Lord, it is not very astonishing that You
intimately approach Your servants who have taken exclusive
shelter of You. After all, during Your appearance as Lord
Râmacandra, even while great demigods like
Brahmâ were vying to place the effulgent tips of their
helmets upon the cushion where Your lotus feet rested, You
displayed special affection for monkeys such as
Hanumân because they had taken exclusive shelter of
You.
Text
5
Knowing the
benefit offered by You, the Supreme Soul, Bestower of All
Perfections and dearest Lord to those seeking shelter, who
would reject You or ever be devoted to anything just to feel
good and consequently forget; what actually is there not for us
serving the dust of Your feet? [see also
10.44:
15,
10.47:
46]
Who,
then, could dare reject You, the very Soul, the most dear
object of worship, and the Supreme Lord of all - You who
give all possible perfections to the devotees who take
shelter of You? Who could be so ungrateful, knowing the
benefits You bestow? Who would reject You and accept
something for the sake of material enjoyment, which simply
leads to forgetfulness of You? And what lack is there for us
who are engaged in the service of the dust of Your lotus
feet?
Text
6
Not even with a
lifetime prolonged to that of Brahmâ would the learned,
despite of all their work, be capable of expressing the
gratitude o Lord for You, who shows His path in the forms of
the [authority of the Supersoul] being mentally
conceived within in order to remember the joy and the
âcârya
outside to dissipate the misfortune of the being embodied
[the caittya-
and the paramparâ-guru].'
O
my Lord! Transcendental poets and experts in spiritual
science could not fully express their indebtedness to You,
even if they were endowed with the prolonged lifetime of
Brahmâ, for You appear in two features - externally as
the âcârya and internally as the Supersoul - to
deliver the embodied living being by directing him how to
come to You.
Text
7
S'rî
S'uka said: 'He who has the universe as His plaything and by
His own energies has assumed the three different personal forms
of the Controllers [the guna-avatâras],
thus by Uddhava most attached of heart being asked, lovingly
spoke with an attractive smile.
S'ukadeva
Gosvâmî said - Thus questioned by the most
affectionate Uddhava, Lord Krishna, the supreme controller
of all controllers, who takes the entire universe as His
plaything and assumes the three forms of Brahmâ,
Vishnu and S'iva, began to reply, lovingly displaying His
all-attractive smile.
Text
8
The Supreme
Lord said: 'Here then, I'll speak of the dharma relating to Me
that is most auspicious and by which a mortal being, executing
with faith, conquers death so unconquerable.
The
Supreme Personality of Godhead said - Yes, I shall describe
to you the principles of devotion to Me, by executing which
a mortal human being will conquer unconquerable
death.
Text
9
Having offered
one's mind and intelligence unto Me, should one for My purpose
stepwise [learn to] perform all work, by one's own
loving mind remembering My respect of duties.
Always
remembering Me, one should perform all his duties for Me
without becoming impetuous. With mind and intelligence
offered to Me, one should fix his mind in attraction to My
devotional service.
Text
10
One should take
shelter of the holy places frequented by My saintly devotees
and [follow the example of] the activities of My
devotees among the godly, the demoniac and the human
beings.
One
should take shelter of holy places where My saintly devotees
reside, and one should be guided by the exemplary activities
of My devotees, who appear among the demigods, demons and
human beings.
Text
11
Either alone or
in assembly should one to the moon, at special occasions and at
festivals arrange to perform with singing, dancing and such and
greatly royal proofs of grace.
One
should take shelter of holy places where My saintly devotees
reside, and one should be guided by the exemplary activities
of My devotees, who appear among the demigods, demons and
human beings.
Text
12
Me indeed
should one with a pure heart see as the self-willing Supreme
Soul that like the sky is there inside and outside of all
living beings as well as within oneself [see also B.G.
13:
16 and
1.7:
10].
With
a pure heart one should see Me, the Supreme Soul within all
beings and also within oneself, to be both unblemished by
anything material and also present everywhere, both
externally and internally, just like the omnipresent
sky.
Text
13-14
O great
brightness, with this way to My love of respect for all living
beings, will one considering thus be taking shelter of purely
spiritual knowledge. In this manner in the brahmin and the
outcast, the thief and the man loyal to the brahminical
culture, in the sun and in the spark, in the gentle and in the
cruel one having an equal vision, is one considered a learned
man [a pandit,
see B.G. 5:
18].
O
brilliant Uddhava, one who thus views all living entities
with the idea that I am present within each of them, and who
by taking shelter of this divine knowledge offers due
respect to everyone, is considered actually wise. Such a man
sees equally the brâhmana and the outcaste, the thief
and the charitable promoter of brahminical culture, the sun
and the tiny sparks of fire, the gentle and the
cruel.
Text
15
Of the person
who constantly is meditating upon My presence in all men will
quickly the rivalry, the envy, the disdain along with the false
ego for certain disappear.
For
him who constantly meditates upon My presence within all
persons, the bad tendencies of rivalry, envy and
abusiveness, along with false ego, are very quickly
destroyed.
Text
16
Ignoring the
laughter of one's friends and the embarrassment about outer
looks should one like a rod on the ground offer obeisances to
[all,] even dogs, outcasts, cows and asses [see
also s'ikshâshthaka-3].
Disregarding
the ridicule of one's companions, one should give up the
bodily conception and its accompanying embarrassment. One
should offer obeisances before all - even the dogs,
outcasts, cows and asses - falling flat upon the ground like
a rod.
Text
17
As long as one
has not developed the vision of Me present in all living
beings, will one that long this way have to be of worship in
speech, mind and body [see also tridanda].
Until
one has fully developed the ability to see Me within all
living beings, one must continue to worship Me by this
process with the activities of his speech, mind and
body.
Text
18
For him who by
knowledge and realization sees the Supreme Soul everywhere is
everything based upon the Absolute Truth and is there, freed
from doubts, the duty to bring all his worldly activities to a
stop.
By
such transcendental knowledge of the all-pervading
Personality of Godhead, one is able to see the Absolute
Truth everywhere. Freed thus from all doubts, one gives up
fruitive activities.
Text
19
This with the
functions of one's mind, words and body going for the truth of
Me within all living beings is of all processes indeed by Me
considered the one most appropriate.
Indeed,
I consider this process - using one's mind, words and bodily
functions for realizing Me within all living beings - to be
the best possible method of spiritual enlightenment.
Text
20
My dear,
because it, perfectly established by Me, is free from the modes
and ulterior motives is there, Uddhava, in the attempt to be of
My dutifulness accordingly not even the slightest loss [see
also B.G. 2:
40].
My
dear Uddhava, because I have personally established it, this
process of devotional service unto Me is transcendental and
free from any material motivation. Certainly a devotee never
suffers even the slightest loss by adopting this
process.
Text
21
O best of the
saintly, whatever fear and likewise etcetera of endeavoring
there may be, is futile if that [endeavor], which tends
towards fruitlessness, is religiousness unto Me, the Supreme
[see also B.G. 18:
6].
O
Uddhava, greatest of saints, in a dangerous situation an
ordinary person cries, becomes fearful and laments, although
such useless emotions do not change the situation. But
activities offered to Me without personal motivation, even
if they are externally useless, amount to the actual process
of religion.
Text
22
This by which
one by the false and mortal in this life obtains the real, the
immortal, of Me, is the cleverness of the clever and
intelligence of the intelligent.
This
process is the supreme intelligence of the intelligent and
the cleverness of the most clever, for by following it one
can in this very life make use of the temporary and unreal
to achieve Me, the eternal reality.
Text
23
With this has
both in brief and in detail been described to you the complete
survey of the science of the Absolute Truth that even for the
gods is difficult to pass.
Thus
have I related to you - both in brief and in detail - a
complete survey of the science of the Absolute Truth. Even
for the demigods, this science is very difficult to
comprehend.
Text
24
Having properly
understood this knowledge, repeatedly explained to you with
clear logical arguments, will a person with his doubts
destroyed be liberated.
I
have repeatedly spoken this knowledge to you with clear
reasoning. Anyone who properly understands it will become
free from all doubts and attain liberation.
Text
25
He who but
concentrates on this question of yours properly cleared up by
Me, attains to the eternal secret of the Vedas, the Supreme
Absolute of the Truth.
Anyone
who fixes his attention on these clear answers to your
questions will attain to the eternal, confidential goal of
the Vedas - the Supreme Absolute Truth.
Text
26
The one who as
the bestower of the Spiritual Supreme liberally disseminates
this among My devotees will I by Myself give
Myself.
One
who liberally disseminates this knowledge among My devotees
is the bestower of the Absolute Truth, and to him I give My
very own self.
Text
27
He who loudly
recites this Supreme so sanctifying and clear, will, with the
lamp of knowledge forming My presence, day after day be
purified.
He
who loudly recites this supreme knowledge, which is the most
lucid and purifying, becomes purified day by day, for he
reveals Me to others with the lamp of transcendental
knowledge.
Text
28
The person who
free from distraction with faith regularly listens to this
will, performing transcendental devotional service
[bhakti], not be bound by karmic reactions [see
also B.G. 3:
9].
Anyone
who regularly listens to this knowledge with faith and
attention, all the while engaging in My pure devotional
service, will never become bound by the reactions of
material work.
Text
29
Uddhava, o
friend, have you well enough understood the spiritual and has
this lamentation and illusion born from your mind been removed
[see 11.6:
42-49 and also
B.G. 18:
72]?
My
dear friend Uddhava, have you now completely understood this
transcendental knowledge? Are the confusion and lamentation
that arose in your mind now dispelled?
Text
30
Do
not share this with a hypocrite, an atheist or a cheat, nor
with one not listening with faith or an obstinate non-devotee
[compare to B.G.
18:
67].
You
should not share this instruction with anyone who is
hypocritical, atheistic or dishonest, or with anyone who
will not listen faithfully, who is not a devotee, or who is
simply not humble.
Text
31
Share it with
the person free from these bad qualities, the one saintly and
pure, kindly disposed in dedication to the welfare of the
brahmins, as well as with the laborers and with women if they
are of bhakti [compare B.G. 9:
32].
This
knowledge should be taught to one who is free from these bad
qualities, who is dedicated to the welfare of the
brâhmanas, and who is kindly disposed, saintly and
pure. And if common workers and women are found to have
devotion for the Supreme Lord, they are also to be accepted
as qualified hearers.
Text
32
For the
inquisitive one fully understanding this is there nothing left
to imbibe; having drunk the palatable nectarean beverage is
there nothing left to drink.
When
an inquisitive person comes to understand this knowledge, he
has nothing further to know. After all, one who has drunk
the most palatable nectar cannot remain thirsty.
Text
33
Whatever man,
of accomplishment to the fourfold goals
[catuh-vidah],
finds in spiritual knowledge, in fruitive labor, in mystic
yoga, in ordinary activities or in political ruling, am I as
much to you.
Through
analytic knowledge, ritualistic work, mystic yoga, mundane
business and political rule, people seek to advance in
religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and
liberation. But because you are My devotee, whatever men can
accomplish in these multifarious ways you will very easily
find within Me.
Text
34
When a mortal
offering himself has given up all his fruitive labor in desire
for the special of Me, becomes he in the process of attaining
immortality with Me at that time verily also eligible for an
opulence that is equal.'
A
person who gives up all fruitive activities and offers
himself entirely unto Me, eagerly desiring to render service
unto Me, achieves liberation from birth and death and is
promoted to the status of sharing My own opulences.
Text
35
S'uka said: 'He
thus shown the path of yoga, having heard the words of
Uttamas'loka
then with folded hands said nothing as his throat was choked of
love and his eyes overflowed with tears.
S'ukadeva
Gosvâmî said - Hearing these words spoken by
Lord Krishna, and having thus been shown the entire path of
yoga, Uddhava folded his hands to offer obeisances. But his
throat choked up with love and his eyes overflowed with
tears; so he could say nothing.
Text
36
Completely
agitated with love restraining himself to steady his mind, o
King spoke he, feeling grateful, with his hands folded to the
Greatest Hero of the Yadus, touching His lotus feet with his
head.
Steadying
his mind, which had become overwhelmed with love, Uddhava
felt extremely grateful to Lord Krishna, the greatest hero
of the Yadu dynasty. My dear King Parîkshit, Uddhava
bowed down to touch the Lord's lotus feet with his head and
then spoke with folded hands.
Text
37
S'rî
Uddhava said: 'The great darkness of my delusion to which I, in
the presence of the Sun of You, did take, has been dispelled;
what cold, darkness and fear could hold sway over the one who
came into the proximity, o Unborn Primeval One?
S'rî
Uddhava said - O unborn, primeval Lord, although I had
fallen into the great darkness of illusion, my ignorance has
now been dispelled by Your merciful association. Indeed, how
can cold, darkness and fear exert their power over one who
has approached the brilliant sun?
Text
38
In return was
by Your good Self so merciful offered to me, Your servant, the
torchlight consisting of Your wisdom; whoever grateful could
abandon the base of Your feet and go for another
shelter?
In
return for my insignificant surrender, You have mercifully
bestowed upon me, Your servant, the torchlight of
transcendental knowledge. Therefore, what devotee of Yours
who has any gratitude could ever give up Your lotus feet and
take shelter of another master?
Text
39
The
through Your mâyâ, for the increase of Your
creation [Your family], by You being cast, firmly
binding rope of my affection for the Dâs'ârhas,
Vrishnis, Andhakas and Sâtvatas has been cut by the sword
of proper knowledge about the soul.
The
firmly binding rope of my affection for the families of the
Dâs'ârhas, Vrishnis, Andhakas and Sâtvatas
- a rope You originally cast over me by Your illusory energy
for the purpose of developing Your creation - is now cut off
by the weapon of transcendental knowledge of the
self.
Text
40
Let there be my
obeisances unto You, o Greatest of Mystics, please instruct me
on how to remain constant with the transcendental attraction at
Your lotus feet.
Obeisances
unto You, O greatest of yogîs. Please instruct me, who
am surrendered unto You, how I may have undeviating
attachment to Your lotus feet.
Text
41-44
The Supreme
Lord said: 'Please, o Uddhava, go on My order to My hermitage
called Badârika;
be there, at the riverbanks, purified by the touching of and
bathing in the water emanating from My feet [see
5.17].
With your eyes at the Alakanandâ [a tributary of the
Ganges] being cleansed of all impurity, wearing bark my
dear, eat from the forest and be happy free from desire. With
intelligence, spiritual knowledge and wisdom endowed be of
forbearance with all dualities, of a saintly character, of
sense control, of peace and absorption. Be consequent with that
which you with discrimination learned from Me; with your words
and mind absorbed in Me devoted to realize My dharma will you,
thus situated crossing beyond the three destinations [the
gunas], thereafter come to Me.'
The
Supreme Personality of Godhead said - My dear Uddhava, take
My order and go to My âs'rama called Badarikâ.
Purify yourself by both touching and also bathing in the
holy waters there, which have emanated from My lotus feet.
Rid yourself of all sinful reactions with the sight of the
sacred Alakanandâ River. Dress yourself in bark and
eat whatever is naturally available in the forest. Thus you
should remain content and free from desire, tolerant of all
dualities, good-natured, self-controlled, peaceful and
endowed with transcendental knowledge and realization. With
fixed attention, meditate constantly upon these instructions
I have imparted to you and assimilate their essence. Fix
your words and thoughts upon Me, and always endeavor to
increase your realization of My transcendental qualities. In
this way you will cross beyond the destinations of the three
modes of nature and finally come back to Me.
Text
45
S'rî
S'uka said: 'Thus addressed by the Lord of Recollection,
circumambulated Uddhava Him keeping Him to the right and
drenched he, with a breaking heart, with his head placed down,
His feet with his teardrops, despite of the fact that he at the
time of departure wasn't involved in material
dualities.
S'ukadeva
Gosvâmî said - Thus addressed by Lord Krishna,
whose intelligence destroys all the suffering of material
life, S'rî Uddhava circumambulated the Lord and then
fell down, placing his head upon the Lord's feet. Although
Uddhava was free from the influence of all material
dualities, his heart was breaking, and at this time of
departure he drenched the Lord's lotus feet with his
tears.
Text
46
With the
attachment most difficult to give up was he, not capable of
abandoning Him upon the separation, overwhelmed in great pain
beside himself, and went he, again and again offering his
obeisances, away carrying his Maintainers slippers on his head
[*].
Greatly
fearing separation from Him for whom he felt such
indestructible affection, Uddhava was distraught, and he
could not give up the Lord's company. Finally, feeling great
pain, he bowed down to the Lord again and again, placed the
slippers of his master upon his head, and departed.
Text
47
Then installing
Him in his heart, went the great devotee, as was told by the
only Friend in the Universe, to the illustrious place of
pilgrimage [as such also called Vis'âlâ]
and attained he, properly executing the austerities, the Lord
His destination [vaikunthha].
Thereupon,
placing the Lord deeply within his heart, the great devotee
Uddhava went to Badarikâs'rama. By engaging there in
austerities, he attained to the Lord's personal abode, which
had been described to him by the only friend of the
universe, Lord Krishna Himself.
Text
48
Anyone in the
world who true in faith renders service to this ocean of
ecstasy, this nectar of knowledge that collected by Krishna, by
Him whose feet are served by the masters of yoga, was spoken to
His devotee, will be liberated.
Thus
Lord Krishna, whose lotus feet are served by all great yoga
masters, spoke to His devotee this nectarean knowledge,
which comprises the entire ocean of spiritual bliss. Anyone
within this universe who receives this narration with great
faith is assured of liberation.
Text
49
I am bowed down
to the Greatest and First Personality named Krishna, who makes
His many devotees drink from the ocean the nectar, de essence
of the Vedas, the essence of the spiritual knowledge and wisdom
that He, as the author of the Vedas, like a bee delivers in
order to take away the fear of a material
existence.
I
offer my obeisances to that Supreme Personality of Godhead,
the original and greatest of all beings, Lord S'rî
Krishna. He is the author of the Vedas, and just to destroy
His devotees' fear of material existence, like a bee He has
collected this nectarean essence of all knowledge and
self-realization. Thus He has awarded to His many devotees
this nectar from the ocean of bliss, and by His mercy they
have drunk it.
*:
The paramparâ adds here: 'According to the
S'rîmad-Bhâgavatam [3.4:
5],
while Uddhava was enroute to Badarikâs'rama he heard
about the Lord's journey to Prabhâsa. Turning back and
following Lord Krishna 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.'
