302 The Nectar of Devotion

places are also attracted by the songs of Your glory. And, observing
all Your transcendental qualities, I have also become attracted and
have decided to dedicate my life to Your loving service.”

In the city of Dvaraka the following devotees are known as Krgna’s
close associates: Uddhava, Daruka, Satyaki, Srutadeva, Satrajit,
Nanda, Upananda and Bhadra. All of these personalities remain with
the Lord as His secretaries, but still they are sometimes engaged in
His personal service. Among the Kuru dynasty, Bhisma, Maharaj
Pariksit and Vidura are also known as close associates of Lord Krsna.
It is said, “All the associates of Lord Krsna have lustrous bodily fea-
tures, and their eyes are just like lotus flowers. They have sufficient
power to defeat the strength of the demigods, and the specific fea-
ture of their persons is that they are always decorated with valuable
ornaments.”

When Krsna was in the capital of Indraprastha, someone addressed
Him thus: ‘My dear Lord, Your personal associates, headed by
Uddhava, are always awaiting Your order by standing at the entrance
gate of Dvaraka. They are mostly looking on with tears in their eyes,
and in the enthusiasm of their service they are not afraid even of the
devastating fire generated by Lord Siva. They are souls simply sur-
rendered unto Your lotus feet.”

Out of the many close associates of Lord Krsna, Uddhava is con-
sidered the best. The following is a description of him: ‘‘His body is
blackish like the color of the Yamuna River, and it is similarly as
cool. He is always decorated with flower garlands first used by Lord
Krsna, and he is dressed with yellow silk clothing. His two arms are
just like the bolts of a door, His eyes are just like lotus flowers, and
he is the most important devotee amongst all the associates. Let us
therefore offer our respectful obeisances unto Uddhava’s lotus feet.”

Uddhava has described the transcendental qualities of Sri Krsna as
follows: “Lord Sri Krsna, who is our master and worshipable Deity,
who is the controller of Lord Siva and Lord Brahma, the controller
of the whole universe as well, accepts the controlling orders of
Ugrasena, His grandfather. He is the proprietor of millions of uni-
verses, but still He begged a little land from the ocean. And although
He is just like an ocean of wisdom, still He sometimes consults me.
