Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 11 Chapter 29:39-49

Book 11: Chapter 29

Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 11: Chapter 29: Verses 39-49 Nay, the most tough snare of myaffection for the Dasarhas, the Vrsnis, the Andhakas and the Satvatas, that had been spread by You through Your deluding potency for the propagation of species, has actually been torn asunder by You with the sword of Self-Realization. (My) salutation be to You, 0 Supreme Master of Yoga ! (Pray,) instruct me, who have come to You for protection, so that unceasing love for Your lotus-feet may abide in my heart. The glorious Lord replied : Enjoined by Me, 0 Uddhava ! proceed to My hermitage, called by the name of Badarikasrama. Hallowed there by bathing in and drinking the water of the (holy) Garga (which has washed My feet and acquired sanctity thereby), nay, purged of all impurities by the (very) sight of the Alakananda (a tributary of the Ganga), wearing the bark of trees, 0 dear one! living on wild fruits and free from (all) hankering for pleasure, enduring all experiences in the form of pairs of opposites (such as cold and heat), amiable of disposition, with your senses fully controlled, calm and possessed of a collected mind, endowed with wisdom and Self-Realization, ruminating most thoughtfully upon whatever you have learnt from Me and devoting your speech and mind to Me, remain assiduously engaged in duties pleasing to Me. Transcending the three courses of destiny, (viz., ascent to heaven in a celestial form, rebirth as a human being and being cast into the womb of any subkluman creature, according to the predominance of Sattva, Rajas and Tamas respectively), you will then attain to Me. Sri Suka resumed : Instructed thus by Sri Krsna (devotion to whom puts an end to metempsychosis), Uddhava went round the Lord keeping Him always to his right (so as to ensure His constant goodwill) and, placing his head on His feet while departing, bathed them with drops of tears, his mind (too) being moistened with emotion, even though he had transcended the pairs of opposites (in the form of joy and sorrow etc., as a result of the Lord's teaching). Alarmed at his (impending) separation from Sri Krsna- whose affection was most difficult to turn one's back upon-and unable to leave Him, Uddhava felt ill at ease and suffered (great) agony. (Then) bearing on his head the pair of wooden sandals belonging to his Master (and gifted by Himself as a token of His pleasure) and bowing to Him again and again, he departed. Having firmly installed the Lord in the inmost of his heart, the great votary of the Lord then reached Visala (another name of Badarikasrama); and, practising austerities according to rules, attained to the state of Sri Hari as taught by Sri Krsna* (the sole Befriender of the universe). He who tastes ever so little with real reverence this nectar of wisdom, churned out of the ocean of bliss (in the shape of the Upanisads, so-called because they reveal the nature of Brahma, which is all bliss) and taught to Uddhava (a great devotee of the Lord) by (no less a personage than) Sri Krsna, whose (lotus) feet are resorted to (even) by masters of Yoga (like Lord Siva), is not only liberated himself but the world (at large) gets liberated (through his fellowship). I bow to the Supreme Person known by the name of Sri Krsna, the First Cause, the Author of the Vedas, who in order to put an end to rebirth (in the case of devotees that have turned their face from the world) and the fear of old age and disease etc., (in the case of those following the ways of the world) extracted like a bee (the twofold) nectar, viz., 1-the quintessence of the Vedas in the form of Maria (Self-Knowledge) and Vijnana (God-Realization)-which are the only valuable things (in life)-and 2-the immortalizing beverage of the gods (churned) out of the ocean, and gave the (twofold) nectar to the (aforementioned two) classes of His devotees to drink. Thus ends the twenty-ninth discourse in Book Eleven of the great and glorious Bhagavata-Purana, otherwise known as the Paramahamsa-Samhita.