The Union of Radha and Krishna at Kurukshetra

Maharaja Parikshit said, "Are you listening, O King?"

Then at once he checked himself and said with humility, "Forgive me, Acharyadev. I did not hear your call."

Shukadeva Goswami looked at him gently and asked, "What are you thinking so deeply about, Maharaj? Tell me."

Parikshit lowered his head. His voice became heavy with sorrow.

"My heart has become very sad, Lord. As I was listening to you tell the story of Krishna meeting his old friend Sudama, I began to remember the land of Braj very strongly, Acharyadev. I remembered the love of the gopis, their pain of separation, all of it once again. Did they, did they commit such a great sin that in this life they could not meet Krishna again?"

Shukadeva said, "King, how could the gopis commit sin? There are no pure souls like them anywhere in the world. Understand this, O King."

Parikshit quickly asked, "Then, then why did they not meet their dear friend again, Lord? Or did they? God had given them his word. Would he not keep that promise?"

Shukadeva smiled.

"Yes, they did meet. Shri Krishna met the friends of Vrindavan."

Parikshit leaned forward eagerly. "Then where did they meet, Lord? Please tell me that."

"They met at Kurukshetra," said Shukadeva. "You know, O King, that Kurukshetra is famous as a holy land. Now let me tell you about Krishna meeting the cowherds and gopis of Vrindavan."

Shukadeva began, "At that time there was a full solar eclipse, and such a sacred day does not come often in the world. To bathe in the Saraswati River on that holy day, people came to Kurukshetra from many lands. This day is observed through bathing, charity, fasting, and spiritual practice, O King."

Parikshit asked, "Who all came, O sage?"

Shukadeva replied, "King Nanda and mother Yashoda came, along with all the cowherds and gopis of Vrindavan. Kunti, Dhritarashtra, and Gandhari came. From Dwaraka came Ugrasena, Vasudeva, and almost all the Yadavas. Krishna and Balaram also came, bringing mother Devaki and their many wives. Many holy men, monks, sages, and ascetics also came there, O King. The kings of Matsya, Ushinara, Kaushal, Gandhar, Vidarbha, Kamboj, and many other lands also came. On the bank of Kurukshetra, it became a huge gathering. Bathing, offerings for the ancestors, gifts to the Brahmins, feasting, and other sacred acts were all performed with great ceremony, O King."

After a long time, Vasudeva met his sister Kunti again. The sight of her brother broke open the pain hidden in her heart. Kunti began to weep deeply.

"No relative asks about me, brother," she cried. "Who is more unfortunate than I am? Not even, not even a kind-hearted person like you stood beside me in my time of trouble. What greater misfortune can there be than this?"

When Vasudeva saw his sister in such pain, he too could no longer control himself.

"Do not cry, Kunti, be calm," he said. "My troubles were not few either. Because of Kansa’s cruelty, I almost died. By God’s grace I survived. But did my troubles end there, sister? Out of fear of Jarasandha, I kept running from place to place."

Kunti said softly, "I have heard everything, brother."

Vasudeva replied, "I also know all your news, Kunti. I pray for you to the Supreme Blessed One. And Krishna and Balaram are always beside you."

Kunti answered, "They are the ones who have protected us, brother. Who else is so dear to us apart from them?"

After a long time, brother and sister met again. Forgetting her hurt, Kunti bowed at Vasudeva’s feet. His blessing fell upon her head like grace.

At the same time, the kings who were loyal to Maharaj Yudhishthira and were his friends bowed to the aged King Ugrasena and said, "O Bhoj king Ugrasena, you are blessed. Your family is blessed. The Supreme Lord, whom seekers try to see through hard penance, has shown himself to you by his own will. You can see him whenever you wish. We bow to your rare good fortune, Maharaj. The Lord himself is devoted to you. He lives in your house. Just thinking of this gives us goosebumps, Maharaj. We bow to you."

When Maharaj Nanda heard that both Krishna and Balaram had come to Kurukshetra, he could no longer stay still. Taking the cowherds with him, he set out for Kurukshetra. They brought a great amount of milk, curd, chhana, and butter, and all of them reached the holy land.

Seeing King Nanda, Vasudeva overflowed with joy. He went forward to embrace him tightly and ask about his welfare. But because of emotion and respect, his throat closed up. No words came out. With tear-filled eyes, Vasudeva kept looking at Nanda.

On the other side, when Rohini and Devaki saw Queen Yashoda, they were overcome with joy, tears, and gratitude. Queen Yashoda too became deeply moved when she saw them. Devaki, full of feeling, held Yashoda’s hand and said, "I bow to you, Queen Yashoda."

Yashoda was startled. "What is this! You are the mother of my dark Krishna and precious Balaram. How can I accept your bow?"

Devaki answered, "What you have done for us, even if I gave you the moon and sun as gifts, I could never repay that debt, Devi. Lord Nanda of Braj and you yourself protected the world’s two priceless jewels. You raised them with affection, care, and love. If you had not been there, my Krishna and Balaram would have become orphans today."

Yashoda shook her head at once.

"Devi, what are you saying, Queen Mother? If Krishna and Balaram had not been in my lap, then I myself would have wandered like an orphan woman today. You are blessed. Your womb and Devi Rohini’s womb are blessed. Even the gods bow today to your wombs."

Devaki said with deep humility, "Though I carried Krishna in my womb, I still say that you are the true mother of Krishna and Balaram. I could not give them the kind of love that you gave them. As Krishna’s mother, your name will always shine, Queen Yashoda. I am happy to remain behind you."

How great was her heart. How generous was her spirit. If she were not like this, how could she have carried the Supreme Lord in her womb? Such greatness cannot be measured at any price.

Parikshit then said, "But, O sage, you had said that Shri Krishna also met the gopis of Vrindavan here. Now please tell me that, Lord. I am eager to hear it."

Shukadeva said, "I will tell you, O King, I will tell you. They are even more eager than you are. After so long, they will breathe fully once again. Their eyes will find their true purpose. Life will return again to their dead and empty hearts. They have waited all this time in the hope of that touchstone. Now they saw that beautiful dark Shyam, fresh like new rain clouds, the beauty of love itself. After so long, they met again."

Parikshit whispered, "What did the gopis, what did the gopis do, O sage?"

Shukadeva replied, "No, O King, it was not what you are thinking. They did not embrace him openly. That supreme jewel lives in their hearts, O King. Now they were seeing him outside as well. For them there was no difference between inside and outside anymore. Their waiting had become meaningful. Their lives had become meaningful. It was as if they were becoming blessed, as if every wish deep in their hearts was being fulfilled. Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Hare Hare Krishna."

Parikshit asked, "Was it only a meeting, Lord? Did the gopis not speak at all with their Shyamsundar?"

"Yes, O King," said Shukadeva. "That too happened. The gopis looked at him and became lost in him. Their physical bodies seemed to turn into bodies of pure feeling. Seeing this, Krishna took them aside in private."

Then Shukadeva described those sacred words.

Krishna said, "How are you all? Is everyone in Braj well? I had to come away to Mathura because my relatives called me. After that I became tied up in many other duties. So, you have forgotten me now, have you not, my friends?"

The gopis replied, "We have indeed forgotten you, Shyam. Yes, we have forgotten you. At first we searched for you a lot, Madhav, we searched a lot. After that, we do not search anymore."

Krishna said, "Then I did not say anything wrong. What happened? You do not need me anymore."

They answered, "You are tricking us, Madhav. Do you not know why we do not search for you? By searching and searching, our eyes now see only you in every direction. We cannot see anything anywhere except you. Yes, Madhav, in our world only you exist. We ourselves are not even there. Then where shall we search for you? Thinking of you, our every breath says Krishna, Krishna. Then where shall we search for you again?"

Krishna asked gently, "Then you have no hurt or complaint against me anymore, dear friends?"

The gopis said, "Why do you ask this, Krishna? For hurt or complaint, there must be one who feels hurt and another against whom it is felt. If there are not two, then who will be upset with whom, Madhav? In our world there are no two. There is only one, Krishna. We ourselves are not even there."

Krishna then gave them deep spiritual teaching.

"Look, my friends, union and separation are both the will of God. No one has any control there. But you have seen that I am not ungrateful. Even though I went away with this body, I still remained with you. I did not leave you."

The gopis answered, "We too have not left you, Madhav."

Krishna said, "My dear ones, you have all received my deepest love. You are blessed. Whatever you see anywhere in this world, I am there in all of it. There is nothing anywhere outside me. In pot, in scene, in the seen and the unseen, in the living and the lifeless, in every object and every creature, I alone remain. Only when love for me awakens can one see Krishna everywhere."

The gopis replied, "You are the soul of our soul, Madhav. Our blood, our flesh, our marrow, all is you, all is you, all is you."

Krishna continued, "The bodies of living beings are made of the five elements. Those are the main parts of the body. And inside the body, the soul stays as the living self. But I am different from them, dear ones. They all exist in me, but I am deathless. I am not bound by anything. Think of me in this way."

In private, Krishna gave the gopis this spiritual teaching. As they listened with full absorption, their subtle bodies were destroyed. They then became one with Shri Krishna. At last, they gained Krishna forever.

Parikshit asked softly, "And Radharani? Did she not come to Kurukshetra, Lord? Did she not meet Shri Krishna?"

Shukadeva answered, "She came, O King, she came. Everyone came from Braj for the holy bath. But in Vrindavan itself, the one whom the sakhis mistook for Krishna in every place—what new teaching could Shri Krishna give to her? They did not need words for their exchange, O King. They flowed from heart to heart. Each lived in the feeling of the other. No, the language of life—speech is too much there, O King, too much. Through the sight of Shyamsundar and through his words, the spiritual life of the gopis now reached its fullness."

Parikshit said, "I have a question, Lord. You said that the gopis now gained Krishna forever. Was separation from Krishna necessary for them to gain Krishna in this way?"

Shukadeva replied, "Look, O King, let me ask you something. As long as I am before you, you hear my words and speak with me. But when I am not in front of you, what do you do then?"

Parikshit said, "I think about your words, Lord. I think about everything you said."

"Exactly," said Shukadeva. "When I am not before you, then I am in your heart. This staying in the heart is the true staying, O King. Love and deep longing are born for the one who lives in the heart. Only after Krishna moved away from before their eyes did the gopis receive Krishna in a deeper way. That is why they became worthy of this very rare spiritual wisdom. Do you understand, O King?"

Parikshit said, "I understand clearly, Lord. I have no more doubt."

Shukadeva continued, "Many kings from many lands had also come to that holy place of Kurukshetra. Krishna himself welcomed them, served them as guests, and asked about their well-being. The queens of Krishna were welcomed and honored, and Draupadi, dear to the Pandavas, met them with joy, laughter, and playful talk. That whole sacred gathering became like a storehouse of happiness."

Then he paused and said, "While everyone was overflowing with joy together, at that very time another wonderful event took place there, O King."

Parikshit asked at once, "What happened, O sage? No unwanted trouble appeared, did it?"

Shukadeva said, "No, O King. Rather, some greatly desired sages suddenly arrived there. Among them were Devarshi Narada, Krishna Dvaipayana Vedavyasa, Atri, Brihaspati, Pulastya, Bhrigu, Vashishtha, and the great sages Sanaka and Sanatana. To see so many sages together in one lifetime is almost impossible. Seeing these eternal sages at that holy place, everyone stood up and offered respect. All the kings bowed to them. Krishna and Balaram stood up and respectfully asked the sages to take their seats. Then Krishna himself served them by offering water for their feet and other honors with his own hands."

When the weariness of travel had left the sages, Krishna folded his hands and said, "The great masters of yoga are not easily seen in this life. Their sight is very rare. Yet today we are able to see them. What great merit have we done? Otherwise how could we become worthy of your darshan?"

The sages answered, "O Lord, what are you yourself saying? We have come here to see your holy feet."

But Krishna said, "No, no, we are household people. Living on earth, we are stained by the dust of earth. We naturally make the mistake of thinking that water, river, sky, and air alone are holy places. But we do not know that true holy places are great saints and holy souls."

The sages replied, "Lord, to us the true holy place is you yourself. You are the living image of dharma. That is why we have come today to see that holy place."

Krishna then said, "Those who keep their chosen deity limited only to an image, and who cannot see him in all living beings outside, how will they understand your greatness? Great sage, those who remain busy day and night only with their own body, relatives, and idols made of material things—such people gain neither true religion nor true merit. Without serving wise and holy souls like you, true knowledge can never be gained."

Parikshit said in wonder, "O sage, how wonderful! Shri Krishna is the Lord himself, and these sages are all his devoted followers. Yet he is offering himself to them with such beautiful respect."

Shukadeva replied, "Yes, O King, he is. All the kings present are silently listening to his words. In each of their hearts, respect for those godlike sages is growing. The fruit of seeing great souls and serving them is being planted deep inside them."

Then the great Vyasa said, "Lord, you are acting in this human way to teach the people. You have taken this human body. Whatever you are doing is all for teaching the world. By worshiping us with your own hands, you are teaching the people of the world, and the coming ages, the greatness of serving holy souls. Lord, hiding your divine play, you are showing the world this wonderful path of service."

After bowing to Shri Krishna and Balaram, the great souls prepared to return to their places. At that very moment Vasudeva came before them and stood with folded hands. In a humble voice he said, "O sages, in your bodies dwell Brahma and all the other gods. I bow to you. Before you leave, please teach me the way to attain liberation, Lord. Tell me by what action I may gain liberation."

The sages were surprised.

"Great soul Vasudeva, in your own house lives Shri Hari, the Supreme Brahman himself. And even after that, you ask us the way to liberation? We ourselves have come to gain his darshan. You see him always. What remains for you to ask, Vasudeva?"

Then Narada said, "Narayana, Narayana. What Vasudeva is saying has a deep reason, Maharshi Vyasa."

Vyasa asked, "A reason? What reason are you speaking of, Devarshi Narada?"

Narada replied, "He does not think of Shri Krishna as the Supreme Brahman. He thinks of him as his own son and wishes for his welfare like an anxious father. This is the Lord’s yogamaya. Covered by that maya, one does not feel his human play to be divine play. It seems natural."

Then another sage asked, "Even if God is so near, is it truly not possible to understand his divine greatness, Devarshi?"

Narada answered, "No, Maharshi Bhrigu, it is not. When he is very near, when he is easily available, his greatness is not understood. What is too close is often neglected. One who lives very near the Ganga may go elsewhere to earn merit. Have you not seen it? He may even bathe in the Ganga there, but not near his own home."

Bhrigu said, "You have spoken truly, Devarshi. Then what is our duty now?"

Narada replied, "Please kindly answer the question of great soul Vasudeva, O sages."

They said, "As you command, Devarshi. But I request that Maharshi Vyasa fulfill this prayer of Vasudeva."

Then Vyasa said, "O Vasudeva, to attain liberation you must go beyond the fruits of action. You must put an end to action and to desire for its results."

Vasudeva asked, "How is that possible? Please tell me, Krishna Dvaipayana Vedavyasa."

Vyasa answered, "Perform sacrifice, Vasudeva. Worship Shri Vishnu, the Lord of sacrifice. When reverence and surrender to him awaken in you, your heart’s wish will be fulfilled. With the wealth you have earned through the path of justice, you must worship Narayana, the Lord of sacrifice. Other than this, there is no path of liberation for Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas. The scriptures call this dharma."

Vasudeva asked, "To perform this sacrifice, must I go to the forest of penance, Lord?"

Vyasa replied, "If your heart is not free from all desires and cravings, then even if you go to the forest of penance, there will be no result, Vasudeva."

Vasudeva asked, "Then how will my desire for enjoyment come to an end?"

Vyasa said, "Through charity and sacrifice, one can give up desire for wife and children, desire for heaven, and desire for worldly honor, Vasudeva. This renunciation must be practiced while still living the householder life, and only then should one go to the forest. But before leaving the household life, one must repay the debts to the gods, the sages, and the ancestors. These three debts are repaid through sacrifice, study, and having children."

Vasudeva bowed low and said, "O great and godlike sages, I bow low before you. I will follow your command. I will perform the sacrifice. Please carry out that sacrifice for me. Please become my priests."

The sages said, "Very well, then let it be so."

The sages then bathed, purified themselves, and began the sacrifice with Vasudeva and his eighteen wives. Shri Krishna and Balaram themselves, along with the queens and the sons, lit up that place of sacrifice with their presence. Other royal people, the Yadava heroes, the cowherds, and the gopis all came to that great place of sacrifice.

At the end of the sacrifice, Vasudeva gave many gifts to the Brahmins. Then, with his own hands, he served food to all, from dogs to Brahmins. Seeing this sacrifice of Vasudeva, everyone present cried out in praise.

In this way, that full and holy day at Kurukshetra came to an end. The other guests took their leave. Then Maharaj Nanda came to Vasudeva and asked permission to depart.

"Great soul Vasudeva, now please allow us to leave. It is time for us to return to Braj."

Vasudeva said at once, "No, brother, how can I let you go? I behaved badly toward you. How can I let you leave without making amends for that?"

Nanda replied, "What is this! You have done no wrong, Vasudeva."

Vasudeva said, "You are without fault, and so you do not see the faults of others. But truly my faults have no end. When I was in prison, I could not serve you in any way. I was of no help to you. And now look—drunk with wealth and pride, I could not even honor you properly."

Then he said firmly, "No, no, you will not leave, not at all."

The Yadavas did not let Maharaj Nanda, Queen Yashoda, or anyone from Vrindavan return. They cared for them, served them, and honored them in the royal buildings near Kurukshetra. In this way three months passed. Just before the rainy season came, Vasudeva had to let the people of Braj leave, though he did not want to. Before they went, he gave them many gifts. The people of Dwaraka also returned to Dwaraka before the rainy season began.

Parikshit asked, "After hearing those words about Shri Krishna from great souls like Vyasa, did Vasudeva remember them later, Lord? Did he think of Krishna and Balaram as God?"

Shukadeva said, "Yes, O King, Vasudeva remembered everything. Every morning at dawn, Krishna and Balaram bowed to Vasudeva and Devaki. One day they came to bow. Vasudeva and Devaki placed their hands on the heads of the two boys, blessed them, and seated them lovingly. Holding Krishna’s hand, Vasudeva said with tearful eyes, 'O Krishna, O Balaram, I know that neither of you is an ordinary human being. Because of maya, you have become our sons. Before your birth in the prison, four-armed Narayana himself told me this, Krishna.'"

Then he said, "I know that, father. O Krishna, you are everything. There is nothing anywhere outside you. Blinded by selfishness and maya, I thought of you as my sons. How can I understand the mystery of your yogamaya, O Supreme Lord?"

Krishna replied, "Now it is true that we are your sons. But if I accept what you say, then it must be said that the soul is one and undivided. All these many things you see before your eyes are really the maya of the soul. I am all. I am that undivided soul. Therefore, whatever I am, everything else is that too."

As Vasudeva listened to these words from Krishna’s mouth, he became deeply absorbed. He remained silent. A divine glow shone on his face. In that moment all sense of difference left him.

At that time mother Devaki was also there. But she could not remain silent and still like Vasudeva. She was a mother, and she always remembered her six sons whom Kansa had killed. A mother’s heart broke in pain at that thought. So while hearing Krishna speak of his own divine power, she again remembered those dead sons.

With tear-filled eyes she said, "Krishna, Balaram, you are not human, my sons. You are God himself. You came into my womb to destroy the cruel. But it is also your vow to rescue the holy and the good."

Krishna said, "Yes, mother. We have come to rescue good and innocent people. Now tell us, mother, what is your command for us? Speak without hesitation."

Devaki said, "Before you came, I had six more sons, Krishna. Kansa killed them all. I could not even see their faces, my son. Thinking of those dead children again and again, I have turned to stone in sorrow. Krishna, if you can, can you bring back those six sons of mine?"

Krishna replied, "Do not grieve, mother. We will obey your wish. Rest without worry."

Hearing their mother’s wish, Krishna and Balaram then entered the underworld region of Sutala with the help of Yogamaya. The king of that world was Bali. Seeing the Supreme Lord Krishna and Ananta-naga Balaram come to that world without warning, Bali was filled with joy. With his relatives, family, and courtiers, he fell flat in full prostration at the feet of Krishna and Balaram.

After showing them proper honor, Bali said, "O Supreme Lord, O Anantadev, you have come yourself to this world of poor, lowly demons like us, full of rajas and tamas, and given us your darshan. We are blessed, Lord, truly blessed. I do not have the power to serve you properly. Still, in your kindness, please tell me what I may offer you."

Krishna said, "Brahma had cursed the six sons of Prajapati Marichi. They were all later born as the sons of the demon king Hiranyakashipu. By the power of Yogamaya, those six were then born from Devaki’s womb and were killed by Kansa. Now they are with you, O king of demons."

Bali replied, "Yes, Lord, the children of mother Devaki are safe in this kingdom."

Krishna said, "My mother Devaki grieves for them day and night. We have come to take them so that her sorrow may end, O king of demons. They will then be freed from the curse and return to heaven."

Bali bowed and said, "I will bring them to you at once, Lord."

The demon king himself went and brought Krishna’s six brothers. Their names were Smara, Udgitha, Parishvanga, Patanga, Kshudrabhrit, and Ghrini. Taking them all, Krishna and Balaram returned to Dwaraka.

Seeing her sons, mother Devaki’s motherly love overflowed. Milk rose in her breasts. Those six boys then drank their mother’s milk. By the power of that milk, and by the touch of Narayana himself, they gained self-knowledge. Then, bowing to Devaki, Vasudeva, Balaram, and Krishna, they all went to heaven.

At last Devaki became peaceful. Her terrible grief came to an end, O King.

Parikshit then said, "I have a question, Lord. Those who worship Mahadev, Lord of renunciation, become full of wealth. But those who worship the majestic Narayana become empty and poor. I have found no reason for this, Acharyadev. Please clear my doubt."

Shukadeva replied, "O King, your forefather Maharaj Yudhishthira had asked this same question to Shri Krishna. And now, after so long, you too are asking that same question, O King."

Parikshit asked, "What answer did he give, Lord?"

Shukadeva said, "He said, Ashutosh Shiva is pleased very easily. So great gains from him come very easily. But I am not like that. I am not pleased so easily, Maharaj. I test my devotee. I destroy the wealth of the one who worships me. Even after that, if he continues to worship me as his chosen Lord, then I carry his burden."

Parikshit said, "But why, Lord? God is full of mercy. Then why is he so hard on his devotee, O sage?"

Shukadeva answered, "He is not hard, O King. By destroying the devotee’s worldly attachment, he gives him knowledge of Brahman. As long as wealth remains, desires will remain. So he destroys wealth and makes the devotee depend only on God, so that no other desire remains in him. Age after age he comes to rescue his devotees, understand, O King."

Parikshit said, "O Lord, in what forms has he come age after age? Please tell me."

Shukadeva said, "Krishna’s father Vasudeva had asked this same question to Devarshi Narada. What Narada Muni told him, I will now tell you, O King. For the welfare of the world, at the beginning of creation Shri Hari came in the forms of Hansa, Dattatreya, Sanaka, Sananda, Sanatkumara, Sanatana, and Rishabha. Then he came as Hayagriva. You have heard of the Fish incarnation at the time of the great flood, O King. After that Shri Hari came as Varaha and lifted up the earth. In the Kurma incarnation, during the churning of the ocean, he held Mount Mandara on his back. Then came the Vamana incarnation. He rescued the earth from the hands of the demon king Bali. You know of Parashurama in the line of Bhrigu and of Rama in the Solar line, Parikshit. And then in the Lunar line came Lord Shri Krishna. After this, in the age of Kali, he will come as Kalki."

Parikshit asked, "Are all of these full incarnations, Lord?"

Shukadeva said, "No, O King. In each age he came in the way that age needed. Of course, there are countless other incarnations besides these. The Lord’s divine play is endless, and it is hard to understand. It has no beginning and no end. Only he himself knows all of that play. Who else can know it, O King? Who can know?"

Parikshit then asked, "As the Lord’s divine play is endless, does the ending of his play also have such great meaning, Acharyadev?"

Shukadeva replied, "Certainly, O King. The purpose for which he came has now been fulfilled. Now he must return to his own abode. At the prayer of Prajapati Brahma, he had come to lighten the burden of the earth, O King. Now that same Brahma has come to remind him to return to his divine home. Only after destroying the Yadu line will he return to his own abode. Mukunda Murari himself has told this to Brahma the creator, O King. And now, in Dwaraka and among the Yadavas, many bad signs have begun to appear."

Parikshit asked anxiously, "Did no one else understand this, Acharyadev?"

"No, Parikshit," said Shukadeva. "Other than Uddhava, no one else has yet understood this terrible news. You may call Uddhava the shadow of Shri Krishna. He is a supreme devotee of Narayana. He is also a great spiritual seeker. By taking Krishna’s used clothes, sandal paste, garlands, and leftover food, he himself had become filled with Krishna. So when he understood that separation from his Lord was coming near, Uddhava ran to Shri Krishna. Before his eyes, the whole earth seemed to sway."