The Nature of True Devotion

Uddhava: "O Krishna, my heart breaks at the thought of this world without You. The sages speak of devotion as the highest path, yet I see so many forms of worship. What is the nature of true devotion that leads one to You?"

Krishna: "Dear Uddhava, you ask the question that burns in every sincere heart. True devotion is not a ritual performed with hands, but a surrender offered with the soul. It is when the mind, finding no shelter elsewhere, rests completely in Me."

Uddhava: "But Lord, how does one distinguish genuine devotion from mere religious sentiment? Many claim to love You, yet their lives show no transformation."

Krishna: "The mark of true devotion, O friend, is this: one who sees Me in all beings and all beings in Me—such a person cannot hate anyone, cannot harm anyone. This vision is not philosophy; it is the natural sight of a devoted heart."

Uddhava: "And what of those who worship You for material blessings, for wealth, for success in worldly endeavors?"

Krishna: "Even such worship is not rejected, for it brings the soul closer to Me. But the highest devotees, Uddhava, desire nothing—not even liberation. They serve Me as a lover serves the beloved, without calculation, without expectation. Their only reward is the service itself."

Uddhava: "This seems almost impossible, Krishna. How can one love without wanting anything in return?"

Krishna: "It is not impossible—it is natural. Does a mother calculate returns when she feeds her child at midnight? Does a river demand payment before quenching thirst? True devotion is like this—it flows spontaneously because that is its nature. The devoted heart finds more joy in giving love than in receiving anything."

Uddhava: "Then external practices—the temples, the rituals, the offerings—are these meaningless?"

Krishna: "Not meaningless, but instrumental. They are like the boat that carries you across the river. Once you have crossed, you do not carry the boat on your head. Rituals purify the heart, prepare it for devotion. But devotion itself transcends all rituals. It is the continuous remembrance of Me, whether you sit in a temple or walk in a marketplace."

Uddhava: "O Keshava, I have known You as friend, as king, as relative. Now I understand—You were always the Supreme, playing with us as if You were one of us. My devotion was mixed with familiarity. How can I purify it?"

Krishna: "Uddhava, your devotion is already pure because it is free from fear and awe. You have loved Me as I am, not as a distant God to be appeased. This intimacy is the highest devotion. The gopis of Vrindavan possessed it; they saw no difference between themselves and Me. That is why their love remains the eternal example."

Uddhava: "Then after You leave, how shall we love You? You will not be here to serve, to see, to touch."

Krishna: "I am never absent, dear friend. I live in the hearts of those who love Me. When you serve any being with love, you serve Me. When you speak truth, you honor Me. When you comfort the suffering, you hold My hand. My form may withdraw, but My presence expands into everything. True devotion recognizes this and finds Me everywhere."