Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.47.63
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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vande
—
I offer my respects
Present indicative of √vand (to praise, bow). The standard maṅgala-verb. Uddhava performs vandana to the gopīs — the seventh limb of bhakti directed not at the Lord but at His most beloved devotees.
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nanda-vraja-strīṇām pāda-reṇum
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the dust of the feet of the women of Nanda's village
Compound (contiguous chain): nanda-vraja-strīṇām (of the women of Nanda's Vraja) + pāda (feet) + reṇum (dust). The exact object of Uddhava's prayer. The pāda-reṇu of these women is the most coveted substance in the Bhāgavatam.
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hari-kathā-udgītam
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loud chanting of the topics of Lord Hari
Compound: hari + kathā + udgītam (loud singing). The gopīs' kīrtana is loud — not whispered. Gauḍīyas note that udgīta-saṅkīrtana is the form Caitanya restored and is foretold in this verse.
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punāti bhuvana-trayam
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purifies the three worlds
Verb + compound accusative: punāti (purifies) + bhuvana-trayam (the three worlds). The gopīs' singing cleans the cosmos. Gauḍīyas note: this is the doctrinal warrant for mass nāma-saṅkīrtana's world-purifying power.
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.
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.
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?
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.
'I bow again and again to the dust of the gopīs' feet — their loud chanting of Kṛṣṇa-kathā purifies the three worlds.' Uddhava ends his song where Brahmā ended his earlier prayer: at the gopīs' feet. The Bhāgavatam's apex devotee for this chapter is established.
My note
Source: vedabase.io