Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.47.68
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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sabhājitaḥ
—
shown honor
Past participle of sa + √bhāj (to share, honor). Sabhājita — formally honored. Uddhava the prince has been received as a kinsman by the cowherds. The reversal of station is complete.
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gopaiḥ kṛṣṇa-bhaktyā
—
by the cowherds, with devotion for Kṛṣṇa
Instrumental phrase: gopaiḥ (by cowherds) + kṛṣṇa-bhaktyā (with bhakti to Kṛṣṇa). The cowherds honor him by means of their bhakti — their devotion itself is the offering. Gauḍīyas read: pure bhakti is the highest gift one bhakta can give another.
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kṛṣṇa-pālitām
—
which was being protected by Lord Kṛṣṇa
Compound: kṛṣṇa + pālitām (protected). Mathurā as kṛṣṇa-pālitā. Gauḍīyas note: Kṛṣṇa pālayati both Mathurā and Vraja — but His mood differs. Mathurā gets aiśvarya-pālana; Vraja gets mādhurya-pālana.
The word kṛṣṇa-pālitām indicates that even though Uddhava became quite attached to the land of Vṛndāvana, he returned to Mathurā because Śrī Kṛṣṇa was personally displaying His transcendental pastimes there.
Though Uddhava was very attracted to Vraja, being fully devoted to Krsna , he returned to Mathura which was protected by Krsna. Sukadeva intends to criticize Krsna here, for if he is protecting Mathura, why does he not also protect Vraja by coming there?
Two chapters have described the sequence of events. Now Uddhava was worshipped with attachment to Kṛṣṇa (kṛsṇa-bhakyā) and with attachment to Vṛndāvana as expressed by Uddhava in verse 61. Why did he return to Mathurā? Mathurā was protected by Kṛṣṇa. How would it be possible to protect Mathurā without his dearest servant Uddhava?
Honored in this way (evam) and by other means also, asking many times if Kṛṣṇa would return, Uddhava returned to Mathurā. Because they were cowherds, they worshipped him with prema-bhakti for Kṛṣṇa. The cowherds had prayed in this way because of humility arising from prema. O King! You can understand this. Or Uddhava returned to Mathurā because of the cowherds’ bhakti to Kṛṣṇa, to inform others of this (kṛṣṇa-bhaktyā). There was great joy when Uddhava (meaning joy) returned to his house. How were the people of Mathurā stiall happy in Uddhava’s long absence, since he should give advice? Mathurā was protected by Kṛṣṇa at that time. Because of Kṛṣṇa, Mathurā was much wealthier than previously.
- Where do you avoid the 'return-to-base' phase of a mission?
- What report is yours to deliver?
Uddhava returns to Mathurā with the cowherds' devotion in his arms. The city he left was Kṛṣṇa-pālitā — under His protection. He returns to it changed — Vraja has rewritten him. Gauḍīyas note: every devotee who visits Vraja undergoes this re-writing.
My note
Source: vedabase.io