Verse Text
yathā haṁsadūte (50) –
purastād ābhīrī-gaṇa-bhayada-nāmā sa kaṭhino
maṇi-stambhālambī kuru-kula-kathāṁ saṅkalayitā |
sa jānubhyām aṣṭāpada-bhuvanam avaṣṭabhya bhavitā
guroḥ śiṣyo nūnaṁ pada-kamala-saṁvāhana-rataḥ ||137||
Translation
An example of sthiti, from Haṁsadūta: That cruel person given a fearful name by the gopīs (Akrūra), leaning against a jewel pillar, is discussing with Kṛṣṇa about the Kurus. The disciple of Bṛhaspati, Uddhava, is sitting on the golden floor and is absorbed in massaging the lotus feet of the Lord.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
This is a representative example of sthiti. Guror śiṣyaḥ means Uddhava, the disciple of Bṛhaspati. For the servants in Vraja, there is also constant living with the Lord in union after separation (though it appears that Kṛṣṇa left Vraja and did not return). This will be understood from the last commentaries on the sections describing preyo-rasa and vātsalya-rasa. One can understand these servants in brief by consulting the Gaṇoddeśa-dīpika.
aṅgābhyaṅga-karaṁ subandham upari snāna-pradaṁ vāri-daṁ
vastra-prāpaṇa-śarma-dhāma bakulaṁ gandhārpaṇaṁ puṣpakam
miṣṭa-dravya-samarpakaṁ madhukaraṁ tāmbūla-daṁ jambūlaṁ
nityaṁ goṣṭha-sudhāṁśu-kānti-sudhayā puṣṭaṁ didṛkṣāmahe
We wish to see Subandha doing the massage, Vārida offering water of the Lord’s body as bath, Bakula offering clothing, Puṣpaka offering sandalwood pulp, Madhukara offering sweets, and Jambūla offering tāmbūla, all nourished by the sweet effulgence of Kṛṣṇa, the very life of Vraja.
Purport (Nectar of Devotion)
This steady position in devotional service is explained in the book known as Haṁsadūta. It is described there how Akrūra, who was considered by the gopīs to be terror personified, would talk with Kṛṣṇa about the activities of the Kuru dynasty. A similar steady position was held by Uddhava, the disciple of Bṛhaspati. He would always massage the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa while kneeling down on the ground before Him.