Lord Shree Krishna listened to the hearty prayers of the Gopis and desired to send a message to them. Shree Krishna sat often in the balcony of the palace at Mathura and stared in the direction of Gokul. He cried profusely in the memory of the selfless love of the Gopis. Love dominates in Gokul and majesty dominates in Mathura. God remembered the hearty love of the residents of Vraj.
The tastes such as butter enjoyed there in Vraj were not available to him in the sumptuous royal feasts at the palace. He recalled his crying mother – Yashodaji and concluded that he had left her crying there, “What would she be doing? My Gopis must be starving in my absence. I have left my cows weeping. All must be convulsing in the pain of separation. My Gokul is the land of love and affection. The people here extend due honour and respect but the real love is left in Gokul. I am not hungry for respect or power. I am hungry for love.”
Lord Shree Krishna cried in the memory of Gokul. Uddhavji arrived here and found Shree Krishna crying in seclusion. Uddhavji prayed, “O Lord! Why are you lamenting here at this lonely place when all the pleasures and power is at your disposal? Is there any shortcoming in our service? O God! Please feel free to draw our attention to such disservice.”
Lord Shree Krishna said nothing to him. He was choked with inner grief. He wiped his eyes and said, “O Uddhava! What can I say about the love of my people in Vraj? Even a little remembrance of their love, makes me cry in separation. Everything is here, but not the love! Uddhava! The people here respect me, but I am not hungry for respect and honour. I am hungry for love.”
“Uddhava! You must visit Gokul”
Uddhavji prayed, “O Krishna! Forget the love and affection of your parents. Forget those cows, those meadows and that forestland. Forget your occasions with the Gopis; forget everything about Gokul. You will have to forget them all, only then will you be able to enjoy this royal life in Mathura.”
Bhagwan Krishna said, “O Uddhava! It is better instead if you visit the Gopis and Gokul and try to make them forget me. Unless they forgot me, I will not be able to forget them.”
Uddhava prayed, “O Maharaj! It will be very easy to handle those illiterate, ignorant and innocent Gopis. I will handle them easily.” Shree Krishna was astonished and upset with the remarks passed by Uddhava about the Gopis. He smelt the ego of knowledge in the remarks of Uddhava. Shree Krishna thought that the Gopis would teach him a good lesson when Uddhav goes to teach them.
Shree Krishna said, “O Uddhava! My Gopis are not educated, but they are flags of victory when it comes to devotional affection. They know how to love God. O Uddhava! I would suggest that you live there with them for a few days at Gokul. Spend some time with them for the five nights you are there. Help and support them with your wise counsel. My Gopis do not pass a glance at other men. To ensure a personal dialogue with them, wear my pitamber. My pitamber will convince them that you are there in front of them to convey my message; otherwise they will pay no attention to you.”