Shreemad Bhagavat Mahapuran- Canto: 10, Chapters: 47- 49
Shukdevji tells Parikshit that upon hearing the message of their beloved Shree Krishna, the gopis felt great joy. That message awakened within them the remembrance of Shree Krishna’s divine form and His pastimes. Filled with love, they spoke to Uddhavji.
The gopis said, “Uddhavji! It is a matter of great happiness that Kans has been killed along with his companions and that now Shree Krishna is living peacefully with His relatives. But please tell us this: just as He loved us in Braj, does He love the women of Mathura in the same way?”
One Gopi said, “Sakhi! Our Shyamsundar is very skilled in the art of love. When the women of the city speak sweetly to Him and look at Him with affection, why would He not become attracted to them?”
Another Gopi said, “Uddhavji! When He sits among the women in Mathura and talks with them, does He ever remember us, cowherd girls?”
Some gopis said, “Does He remember those nights of Sharad Purnima, when the Raas took place in Vrindavan?”
Others said, “We are burning in the pain of separation from Him. Will He ever come here and revive us again with His touch?”
One Gopi said, “Now He has attained a kingdom and will marry the daughters of great kings. Why would He come back to us, simple cowherd girls?”
Another said, “Sakhi! He is Lakshmipati Himself; He needs nothing from anyone. Yet we are unable to give up hope. The hope of His return alone sustains our lives.”
Then the gopis said, “Uddhavji! This is the same river, the same mountains, the same forests, and the same cows among which Shree Krishna lived with us. Every particle of dust here has been sanctified by His lotus feet. The very sight of these reminds us of Shyamsundar. How can we ever forget Him? His graceful walk, His smile, His loving glances, and His sweet words have completely stolen our hearts. Now our minds are no longer under our control.
“O Shyamsundar! You alone are the Lord of our lives. You may be the Lord of Lakshmi, but for us, You are the Lord of Braj. You have protected us again and again. All of Gokul, its cowherd boys, parents, cows, and all of us are suffering in separation from You. O Govind! Please come and protect us.”
Shukdevji says that after hearing the loving message of Shree Krishna, the pain of separation in the hearts of the gopis became somewhat pacified. They understood that Bhagwan Shree Krishna is beyond the senses and is present everywhere as the Supreme Self of all. Filled with love and reverence, they began to honour Uddhavji with great respect.
Uddhavji stayed in Braj for many months. Sometimes he went to the banks of the Yamuna, sometimes he wandered through the forests, and sometimes he roamed in the valleys of Giriraj. Moving among the flower-laden trees, he would ask the residents of Braj, “Which pastime of Shree Krishna took place here?” In this way, he constantly inspired everyone to remember the divine pastimes of Shree Krishna.
While living in Braj, Uddhavji witnessed the deep love and longing of the gopis. Seeing their condition, he became filled with divine love and joy. Bowing down to the gopis, he said, “On this earth, to be born as a gopi is the highest and most successful fortune, because they are established in supreme love for Bhagwan Shree Krishna, who is the soul of all. Such a state of love is still aspired for by great sages, liberated souls, and devotees, yet even for them it is not easily attained.
“For one who has tasted the nectar of Shree Krishna’s pastimes, what importance remains in lineage, rituals, or grand sacrifices? And if one has no taste for the glories of Bhagwan, what is the use even of attaining high positions?
“Look at these simple cowherd girls. They have neither scriptural knowledge nor great rituals, yet they possess such exclusive love for Shree Krishna. This proves that even if one does not fully understand the nature of Bhagwan, but loves Him with a sincere heart, Bhagwan, by His grace, grants the highest welfare, just as even unknowingly drinking nectar makes one immortal.
“During the Raas Leela, the love and grace that Bhagwan Shree Krishna bestowed upon these gopis was not received even by Lakshmiji, who resides upon His chest. Nor was it attained by the celestial damsels, what then to speak of other women?”
aasaam aho charana renu jusham aham syaam
vrindaavane kim api gulma lata aushadheenaam
yaa dustyajam svajana maarya patham cha hitvaa
bhejur mukunda padaveem shrutibhir vimrigaam
The gopis of Vrindavan, in their intense love and devotion for Shree Krishna, gave up the association of their husbands, children, and other family members- relationships that are extremely difficult to renounce. They even set aside their social norms and the duties of chastity, and took exclusive shelter at the lotus feet of Shree Krishna, which can be truly understood only through profound Vedic knowledge. I deeply desire to be born as a plant, shrub, or creeper in Vrindavan, for they are so fortunate that when the gopis walk upon them, they receive the dust of their feet. (Bhagavat 10.47.61)
Those very lotus feet of Bhagwan Shree Krishna, which Bhagwati Lakshmiji constantly worships, which powerful devatas like Brahma and Shiv contemplate in their hearts, and which even self-realised sages and great yogeshwars meditate upon, those same lotus feet were placed by the gopis upon their bosoms during the Raas Leela. By embracing them, they soothed the burning anguish of separation within their hearts.
vande nanda vraja streenaam paada renum abheekshnashah
yaasaam hari katha udgeetam punaati bhuvana trayam
“I repeatedly offer my obeisance to the sacred dust of the feet of those gopis of Nand Maharaj’s Gokul. When their hearts, filled with love, loudly sing the glories of Shree Krishna, the divine vibrations of their bhajans sanctify all the three worlds.” (Bhagavat 10.47.63)
After staying in Braj for many months, when Uddhavji prepared to return to Mathura, Nandbaba and the other gopas came to him with many gifts. Filled with love, they said, “May our mind, speech, and body always remain engaged in the service and remembrance of Shree Krishna. We do not even desire moksha; no matter in which birth we may take, may our love for Shree Krishna continue to increase forever.”
Uddhavji then returned to Mathura, offered his obeisance to Bhagwan Shree Krishna, and narrated to Him the deep love and devotion of the residents of Braj.
maadho! dhanya dhanya braj naar
O Madhav, blessed, truly blessed are the women of Braj.
jinke rom rom mahan urajhaano, sagun brahm saakaar
In every pore of their being, the embodied Sagun Brahm (God with form) is lovingly entangled.
saattvik bhaav aathahun inke, prakatat nit iksaar
All eight sattvik emotions (pure ecstatic spiritual symptoms) manifest in them constantly and equally.
sahaj samaadhi sada in sab ki, gayo dekhi balihaar
They remain naturally absorbed in divine trance at all times; seeing this, one feels like offering oneself completely.
inheen chetanaa achetan sab jag, deekhat nandakumaar
To them, in all conscious and unconscious existence, only Nandkumar (Krishna) is visible everywhere.
Kavi ‘Kripalu’ ham lata bitap bani, charan dhoori sir dhaar
Poet Kripaluji Maharaj says, ‘May I become a creeper or tree there, so I can place the dust of their feet upon my head’.
Shree Krishna Visits Kubja’s Home
After some time, Bhagwan Shree Krishna, accompanied by Uddhavji, went to Kubja’s house to please her. Kubja welcomed Him with great respect and devotion and worshipped Him with love. As a result of her small act of service in the past, when she had offered sandal paste (angraag) to Bhagwan, she now received this rare opportunity to touch His lotus feet and receive His grace.
However, even after attaining Bhagwan, Kubja did not ask for selfless loving service like the gopis of Braj. She simply requested that Bhagwan stay with her for some time and grant her His company. Shree Krishna honoured her request, accepted her devotional sentiment, and then returned to His residence along with Uddhavji.
Shree Krishna Sends Akrurji to Hastinapur to Inquire About the Pandavas
One day, Bhagwan Shree Krishna, along with Balramji and Uddhavji, went to Akrurji's house to fulfil his desire for darshan and to entrust him with an important task. Akrurji welcomed Bhagwan with great devotion and proper hospitality, and in the end humbly prayed, “Please cut this bondage of attachment and grant me liberation.”
Shree Krishna smiled and said, “You are our elder, well-wisher, and uncle; we are like your children. One who desires true welfare should serve great souls like you, for saints are even greater than the devatas, and by their mere darshan, a person becomes purified.”
Then Bhagwan Shree Krishna said to him, “You are our trusted friend, so please go to Hastinapur and learn about the welfare of the Pandavas. After Pandu's death, Kunti and her sons are suffering greatly. Living under Dhritarashtra, they are not being treated properly because of Duryodhan. Therefore, go and understand their situation. After receiving news from you, I will take steps to ensure their well-being.” Giving this instruction, Bhagwan returned home with Balramji and Uddhavji.
Following Bhagwan’s command, Akrurji went to Hastinapur. There he met Dhritarashtra, Bhishma, Vidur, Kunti, Dronacharya, Kripacharya, Karn, Duryodhan, and the five Pandavas. He inquired about everyone’s welfare and stayed there for some time to observe how Dhritarashtra was treating the Pandavas. He came to understand that Duryodhan and others were envious of the Pandavas and had treated them unjustly on many occasions.
When Kunti saw Akrurji, she remembered her parental home and Bhagwan Shree Krishna. Filled with sorrow, she prayed that Bhagwan come and protect and console her and her helpless children. Akrurji and Vidurji consoled her, telling her to remain patient, for her sons had taken birth to destroy Adharma.
Before returning to Mathura, Akrurji advised Dhritarashtra in the Kaurav assembly to rule with Dharma and treat both his own sons and the Pandavas equally, because everything in this world is temporary, and partiality ultimately leads to destruction.
Dhritarashtra admitted that Akrurji’s words were true, but due to attachment to his sons, his mind could not remain steady. Finally, Akrurji returned to Mathura and informed Bhagwan Shree Krishna and Balramji about the entire situation in Hastinapur.
Summary: JKYog India Online Class- Shreemad Bhagavat Katha [Hindi]- 16.03.2026
