SB 10.47.63 · Srimad Bhagavatam

Devanagari

वन्दे नन्दव्रजस्‍त्रीणां पादरेणुमभीक्ष्णश: । यासां हरिकथोद्गीतं पुनाति भुवनत्रयम् ॥ ६३ ॥

Verse text

vande nanda-vraja-strīṇāṁ pāda-reṇum abhīkṣṇaśaḥ yāsāṁ hari-kathodgītaṁ punāti bhuvana-trayam

Synonyms

vande — I offer my respects ; nanda — vraja — of the cowherd village of Nanda Mahārāja ; strīṇām — of the women ; pāda — of the feet ; reṇum — to the dust ; abhīkṣṇaśaḥ — perpetually ; yāsām — whose ; hari — of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; kathā — about the topics ; udgītam — loud chanting ; punāti — purifies ; bhuvana — trayam — the three worlds .

Translation

I repeatedly offer my respects to the dust from the feet of the women of Nanda Mahārāja’s cowherd village. When these gopīs loudly chant the glories of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the vibration purifies the three worlds.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

I repeatedly offer my respects to the dust from the feet of the women of Nanda Mahārāja's cowherd village. When these gopīs loudly chant the glories of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the vibration purifies the three worlds. KB 10.47.63 Thus Uddhava prayed to be constantly honored by the dust from the lotus feet of the gopīs, whose chanting of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s transcendental pastimes has become celebrated all over the three worlds.

Purport

Śrī Uddhava, having established the glories of the gopīs in the previous verses, now directly offers his obeisances to them. According to the Śrī Vaiṣṇava-toṣaṇī, Śrī Uddhava did not offer such respect even to Lord Kṛṣṇa’s queens in Dvārakā.

Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

After glorifying the gopis, Uddhava offers his respects in this verse. "I offer my respects to the foot dust of the cowherd women of Vraja continuously. Not three or five times, but at every moment--as long as I do not get birth as a blade of grass, which would make it easy to get their foot dust. Their loud songs about the form, qualities and pastimes of Krsna purify the three worlds, removing the contamination of ignorance." In relation to this section, Vyasa and other great commentators have concluded as follows. Among all the devotees, those who worship Krsna are the best, since Krsna is svayam bhagavan. Among those devotees, those who are his immediate assistants in his pastimes are more intimate, because of their loyalty in following him. Among these intimate associates Uddhava is the best, for it is said about Uddhava: "Among the devotees I am Uddhava" "Uddhava is not less than myself." Uddhava, however, desired the gopis' mahabhava, and had the greatest regard for those gopis. He did not give higher regard to the queens of Krsna, otherwise he would have desired to follow their lotus feet. Among the gopis Sri Radha is the highest. Thus following her is the highest achievement. This is the opinion of Vaisnava Tosani.

Purport (Jiva Goswami)

So much for being so bold as to offer respects directly to the gopīs, since I am so insignificant! But I should offer respects the foot dust of other women of Vraja also, since they are of similar type. I will not approach them directly however. He then spoke with choked voice and trembling body some graceful words. The activities of Kṛṣṇa, sung by these gopīs, purify the three worlds. udgāyatīnām aravinda-locanaṁ vrajāṅganānāṁ divam aspṛśad dhvaniḥ dadhnaś ca nirmanthana-śabda-miśrito nirasyate yena diśām amaṅgalam As the ladies of Vraja loudly sang the glories of lotus-eyed Kṛṣṇa, their songs blended with the sound of their churning, ascended to the sky and dissipated all inauspiciousness in every direction. SB 10.46.46 Or, the loud singing of topics about Kṛṣṇa related to the gopīs out of great bhāva purifies the three worlds. It purifies the worlds after removing all indifferent or opposing bhāvas. Mad-bhakti-yukto bhuvanaṁ punāti: a devotee thus fixed in loving service to me purifies the entire universe. (SB 11.14.24) On this subject Vyāsa and others have given the conclusion. Among all the devotees the devotees of Kṛṣṇa are the best since Kṛṣṇa is Svayam Bhagavān. Among these devotees, the associates in his pastimes are the best and among them the intimate associates are the best, since others follow them. Among these Uddhava is the best. Tvaṁ tu bhāgavateṣv aham: you, Uddhava, represent me among the devotees. (SB 11.16.29) Ahaṁ bhartū rahas-karaḥ: I am the confidential servant of my master. (SB 10.47.28) Tam āha bhagavān preṣṭhaṁ bhaktam ekāntinaṁ kvacit: the Lord took the hand of his fully devoted, dearest friend Uddhava. (SB 10.42) Noddhavo ’ṇv api man-nyūnaḥ: Uddhava is not less than me. (SB 3.4.31) When Uddhava expresses a desire for the gopīs’ bhāva he does so to show them respect and show humility. He never said this to the queens in Dvārakā. Who then would not follow their lotus feet, or the lotus feet of Rādhā?

Purport (Sanatana Goswami)

I am completely unqualified for such direct service to the Lord. I will simply offer respects to the gopīs to attain such a bhāva. Or what qualification do I have to sing the glories of such persons? I offer respects to one particle of their foot dust which has fallen somewhere. I offer respects to the feet of the women of Vraja, what to speak of those women who are dearest to him. Because all the Vraja women are related to these gopīs I offer respects to all of them. By their loud singing (udgītam) with topics of the lord who is all attractive (hari) the universe is purified of all contaminations up to liberation. It was previously said: udgāyatīnām aravinda-locanaṁ vrajāṅganānāṁ divam aspṛśad dhvaniḥ dadhnaś ca nirmanthana-śabda-miśrito nirasyate yena diśām amaṅgalam As the ladies of Vraja loudly sang the glories of lotus-eyed Kṛṣṇa, their songs blended with the sound of their churning, ascended to the sky and dissipated all inauspiciousness in every direction. SB 10.46.46 Or they sang loudly as if was topics of the Lord. They sang loudly with glorification of the Lord. Or their singing was hari-kathā. I should sing their glorification. I do not have fear of committing offense to the Yadus by staying a long time here. I associate with them, directly glorifying them and offering them respects. Though he is directly meeting the gopīs he expresses himself indirectly with nanda-vraja-strīnām to indicate their great position. Or he speaks indirectly out of respect. Or he speaks indirectly because the gopīs would be ashamed of their direct glofication and would not tolerate it. Words like etā and āsām in other verses are used to indicate proximity to them or to indicate that they are always present in his heart and he can perceive them directly.