FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.4.26

उद्धव उवाच ननु ते तत्त्वसंराध्य ऋषि: कौषारवोऽन्तिके । साक्षाद्भगवतादिष्टो मर्त्यलोकं जिहासता ॥ २६ ॥
uddhava uvāca
[uddhava uvaacha]
nanu te tattva-saṁrādhya
[nanu te tattva-samraadhya]
ṛṣiḥ kauṣāravo ’ntike
[rishih kaushaaravo ’ntike]
sākṣād bhagavatādiṣṭo
[saakshaad bhagavataadishto]
martya-lokaṁ jihāsatā
[martya-lokam jihaasataa]
uddhavaḥ uvāca — Uddhava said nanu — however te — of yourself tattva-saṁrādhyaḥ — one who is worshipable for reception of transcendental knowledge ṛṣiḥ — learned scholar kauṣāravaḥ — unto the son of Kuṣāru (Maitreya) antike — staying nearby sākṣāt — directly bhagavatā — by the Personality of Godhead ādiṣṭaḥ — instructed martya-lokam — mortal world jihāsatā — while quitting.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
uddhava uvāca
uddhavaḥ uvāca
Uddhava said
nanu te tattva-saṁrādhya
nanu
however
te
of yourself
tattva-saṁrādhyaḥ
one who is worshipable for reception of transcendental knowledge
ṛṣiḥ kauṣāravo ’ntike
ṛṣiḥ
learned scholar
kauṣāravaḥ
unto the son of Kuṣāru (Maitreya)
antike
staying nearby
sākṣād bhagavatādiṣṭo
sākṣāt
directly
bhagavatā
by the Personality of Godhead
ādiṣṭaḥ
instructed
martya-lokaṁ jihāsatā
martya-lokam
mortal world
jihāsatā
while quitting.
Śrī Uddhava said: You may take lessons from the great learned sage Maitreya, who is nearby and who is worshipable for reception of transcendental knowledge. He was directly instructed by the Personality of Godhead while He was about to quit this mortal world.

Although one may be well versed in the transcendental science, one should be careful about the offense of maryādā-vyatikrama, or impertinently surpassing a greater personality. According to scriptural injunction one should be very careful of transgressing the law of maryādā-vyatikrama because by so doing one loses his duration of life, his opulence, fame and piety and the blessings of all the world. To be well versed in the transcendental science necessitates awareness of the techniques of spiritual science. Uddhava, being well aware of all these technicalities of transcendental science, advised Vidura to approach Maitreya Ṛṣi to receive transcendental knowledge. Vidura wanted to accept Uddhava as his spiritual master, but Uddhava did not accept the post because Vidura was as old as Uddhava’s father and therefore Uddhava could not accept him as his disciple, especially when Maitreya was present nearby. The rule is that in the presence of a higher personality one should not be very eager to impart instructions, even if one is competent and well versed. So Uddhava decided to send an elderly person like Vidura to Maitreya, another elderly person, but he was well versed also because he was directly instructed by the Lord while He was about to quit this mortal world. Since both Uddhava and Maitreya were directly instructed by the Lord, both had the authority to become the spiritual master of Vidura or anyone else, but Maitreya, being elderly, had the first claim to becoming the spiritual master, especially for Vidura, who was much older than Uddhava. One should not be eager to become a spiritual master cheaply for the sake of profit and fame, but should become a spiritual master only for the service of the Lord. The Lord never tolerates the impertinence of maryādā-vyatikrama. One should never pass over the honor due to an elderly spiritual master in the interests of one’s own personal gain and fame. Impertinence on the part of the pseudo spiritual master is very risky to progressive spiritual realization.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Uddhava said: Definitely you should worship Maitreya for this knowledge because he was directly taught in front of me by the Lord who desired to leave this world Thinking within himself, “How can I make Vidura, my elder worthy of respect, my disciple?” Uddhava speaks. “Fortunate one! What I have heard from the mouth of the Lord, as I have explained, is that all of the Lord’s dear Yadus are situated in their respective abodes without giving up their bodies. But if you are asking about the nature of the Lord’s birth and pastimes, then Maitreya should be your guru.” Certainly (nanu) Maitreya should be worshipped (saṁrādhyaḥ) as guru concerning the nature of the Lord (tattva), acting to make people into devotees (sva-bhṛtyārtha-kṛtaḥ), not I, because he was directly taught by the Lord for teaching this, in front of me (antike).
Uddhava refused the disciple's offer because Maitreya was nearby and senior. Do not accept service or status that should go to another. Direct the seeker to the right teacher; this is itself a high act of humility.
Reflection Questions
  • Whose recognition or role have you accepted that should have gone to someone more suitable?
  • Where could you redirect a seeker toward a better teacher rather than keeping them with you?
📝 My note

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