Devanagari
श्रीउद्धव उवाच
यथा त्वामरविन्दाक्ष यादृशं वा यदात्मकम् ।
ध्यायेन्मुमुक्षुरेतन्मे ध्यानं त्वं वक्तुमर्हसि ॥ ३१ ॥
Verse text
śrī-uddhava uvāca
yathā tvām aravindākṣa
yādṛśaṁ vā yad-ātmakam
dhyāyen mumukṣur etan me
dhyānaṁ tvaṁ vaktum arhasi
Synonyms
śrī
—
uddhavaḥ uvāca — Śrī Uddhava said
;
yathā
—
in what way
;
tvām
—
You
;
aravinda
—
akṣa — O my dear lotus-eyed Kṛṣṇa
;
yādṛśam
—
of what specific nature
;
vā
—
or
;
yat
—
ātmakam — in what specific form
;
dhyāyet
—
should meditate
;
mumukṣuḥ
—
one who desires liberation
;
etat
—
this
;
me
—
to me
;
dhyānam
—
meditation
;
tvam
—
You
;
vaktum
—
to speak or explain
;
arhasi
—
ought .
Translation
Śrī Uddhava said: My dear lotus-eyed Kṛṣṇa, by what process should one who desires liberation meditate upon You, of what specific nature should his meditation be, and upon which form should he meditate? Kindly explain to me this topic of meditation.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Uddhava said: My dear lotus-eyed Kṛṣṇa, by what process should one who desires liberation meditate upon you? What are the details of the object of meditation and what is the object of meditation? Kindly explain to me this topic of meditation.
The Lord has confirmed that without bhakti no process yields its results. But without knowledge of a method in all these processes, the goal sought by the path will not give happiness. Uddhava therefore asks the method of meditation in bhakti for those desiring liberation. The word yathā indicates “What type of method should be used?” Yādṛśam indicates “What are the details of the object of meditation?” Yad-ātmakam indicates “What is the form on which one meditates?”
Instead of dhyāyen mumukṣur etan me dhyānaṁ tvaṁ vaktum arhasi which is easier to understand, there is another version with dhyāyen mumukṣur etan me dhyanam me vaktum arhasi. The meaning is as follows. You should tell me how those desiring liberation meditate on you. “What is the use of asking about meditation for persons desiring liberation, since you are a pure devotee? You should ask how you can meditate on me.” With folded hands Uddhava shows the Lord’s two feet. “This is my meditation (dhyanam me).”
Purport
It has already been elaborately explained by the Supreme Lord that without loving devotional service rendered to Him in the association of devotees, no other process of self-realization will work. Therefore it may be asked why Uddhava is again referring to the system of meditation,
dhyāna.
The
ācāryas
explain that one cannot fully appreciate the beauty and perfection of
bhakti-yoga
unless one sees its superiority to all other processes. Through comparative analysis, the devotees become fully ecstatic in their appreciation of
bhakti-yoga.
It should also be understood that although Uddhava asks about those who aspire for liberation, he is not actually a
mumukṣu,
or salvationist; rather, he is asking questions for the benefit of those who are not on the platform of love of Godhead. Uddhava wants to hear this knowledge for his personal appreciation and so that those who pursue salvation, or liberation, can be protected and redirected to the path of pure devotional service to the Supreme Lord.