Uddhva loses his pride of knowledge
Uddhavji realised the power of devotional love. His own devotion became divine in the holy company of the Gopis. Knowledge is useless without devotion and love. Uddhavji realised this fact with the practical knowledge that love is better than knowledge.
Uddhavji did not like to leave Gokul. He had come there to stay for five days but stayed there for six months! He prays with a humble salute to them:
(Uddhava saltues them politely and praises their spiritual wisdom. The Gopis’ love is true and unshakable. They are the body and the organs of Shree Krishna. Uddhava finds himself most fortunate to have had blissful darshan of the Gopis and believes that it was a result of his punyas that granted him opportunity to be with them.)
Uddhavji is a well-read scholar of eternal knowledge, but his mind was now coloured in the colour of devotion and love. Uddhavji prayed to them with folded hands, “O Gopis! You are great and great is your devotion. Our devotion is nothing in comparison to your devotional love. I find myself most fortunate to have had your blissful darshan. O Gopis! You are released souls of Goloka.”
(I am most fortunate. Shree Krishna has favoured me by sending me here to you. I am amazed with your nectar like discourse.)
Uddhavji said, “O Mothers! I am really very lucky that Shree Krishna chose me to convey his message to you. My heart is coloured in the colour of devotion by your nectar like speech. O Devout Ladies! The dust of your feet is sacred like the dust of the feet of Shree Krishna.” Uddhava bowed to their lotus like feet to receive earth particles on his forehead:
(I am tempted to pray for your charanraj. O Great ladies! Please bless me with similar affection that you have to do service of Shree Krishna.)
Uddhavji was fulfilled by placing the charanraj upon himself. He said, “O God! Please give me birth as a human being in the sacred region of Vrindavan. If my punyas are not enough to be born as a human being, then please send me here as a creeper, a plant or a tree to receive the earth particles of this holy place. This would be enough for my ultimate benediction.”
Shreeji Maharaj remembers Uddhava in his Vachanamrit (G.L.28) while explaining the majesty of devotion with knowledge. Shreeji Maharaj says, “Uddhava was wise and intelligent. He was the spokesman of Lord Shree Hari. He knew the greatness and majesty of God and therefore he prayed for birth as a creeper or a plant in Vraj to receive holy charanraj (earth particles from the feet of the Gopis – single-minded devotees of Shree Krishna).
Uddhavji said, “O Gopis! In my childish way, I have spoken much more than what was needed. Please don’t take offense. I am your humble servant. You are like my mother. Please forgive me, as I am your child. Please bless me with your single-minded devotion. Uddhavji prayed:
(Please be kind to me. Please order me to serve you. Please permit me to return to Shree Hari, Lord of Sadguru Nishkulanand Muni.)
“O Mothers! Please allow me to go back to Shree Krishna. I will narrate to Him your devotional love.”