Uddhava in Vrindavana / Akrura in Hastinapura

Chapter 46, 47, 48, 49

Thinking about His beloved devotees in Vrindavana, Krishna asked His intimate friend, Uddhava, to deliver a message to them. He also wanted Uddhava, an advanced spiritualist himself, to witness the unique emotions of love in separation that they embodied - the love of Vrindavana’s residents is unparalleled. Upon arrival, Uddhava was enchanted by the beauty and spirituality of Vrindavana, and was particularly inspired by Nanda and Yasoda, whose absorption in Krishna was profound. He reassured them that the Lord would return soon.

Uddhava then approached the gopis, who were astounded by how much he resembled Krishna. In the pain of separation from their beloved Krishna, the gopis questioned the motives of His friendship with them. When one gopi saw a bee and considered it a messenger of Krishna, she poetically expressed her feelings of transcendental anger in separation. To comfort them, Uddhava read Lord Krishna’s message, wherein He told the gopis “I am the Supreme Soul and Supreme shelter of all, but to increase your attraction and intensify your remembrance of Me I left you.” With heartfelt emotion, they expressed their hopes, confusions, pains and incredible appreciation for Krishna. Uddhava stayed there for several months longer to witness the exalted nature of their love and share more narrations about Krishna. He eventually returned to Mathura and described all that he had witnessed. Uddhava prayed to take birth as a creeper in Vrindavana, just so he would be blessed with the footdust of those exalted associates of Krishna.

After hearing Uddhava’s report, Krishna, as promised, visited Trivakra and satisfied her lusty desires. Krishna then visited Akrura, who welcomed Him graciously. The Lord requested him to visit Hastinapura to ascertain how the Pandavas, now without their father, were coping with the difficult situation.

In Hastinapura, Vidura and Kuntidevi relayed how Dhritarastra’s envious sons were conspiring to destroy the saintly Pandavas. Kunti sincerely prayed that Krishna comes to the rescue. Akrura delivered Krishna’s advice to Dhritarastra, reminding him of the temporary nature of family relationships and the dangers of bodily consciousness, but the blind King expressed his inability to follow. These words of wisdom, he said, were simply like lightning flashes – though illuminating, the darkness of ignorance kept returning. After staying there for several months and analysing the situation, Akrura left for Mathura.