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[Srimad Bhagavatam 3.4.15 - Uddhava to Lord Krsna]
"O my Lord, devotees who engage in the transcendental loving service
of Your lotus feet have no difficulty in achieving anything within the
realm of the four principles of religiosity, economic development,
sense gratification and liberation. But, O great one, as far as I am
concerned, I have preferred only to engage in the loving service of
Your lotus feet."

The devotees can achieve not only liberation but any success in the
realm of religiosity, economic development or sense gratification up
to the standard of the demigods in the heavenly planets. But a pure
devotee as Uddhava refuses to accept all such facilities. A pure
devotee wants simply to engage in the service of the Lord and does not
consider his own personal benefit.

Transcendental knowledge has three departmental divisions, namely
knowledge of impersonal Brahman, knowledge of the all-pervading
Supersoul and knowledge of the Personality of Godhead. Out of the
three, transcendental knowledge of the Personality of Godhead has
special significance and is known as bhagavat-tattva-vijnana, specific
knowledge of the Personality of Godhead. This specific knowledge is
realized by pure devotional service and no other means. Bhagavad-gita
(18.55) confirms this: bhaktya mam abhianati. "Only persons engaged in
devotional service can factually know the transcendental position of
the Lord." Uddhava was considered to be the best amongst all devotees
of that time, and therefore he was directly instructed by the Lord's
grace.

Pure devotees of the Lord are not very much concerned with
philosophical speculation in regard to transcendental knowledge of the
Lord. Nor is it possible to acquire complete knowledge of the Lord.
Whatever little knowledge they have about the Lord is sufficient for
them because devotees are simply satisfied in hearing and chanting
about the transcendental pastimes of the Lord. This gives them all
transcendental bliss.

Due to our long association with bodily relationships, bereavement on
account of the annihilation of friends and relatives is not at all
astonishing, but one has to learn the art of subduing such bereavement
with higher, transcendental knowledge. A pure devotee like Uddhava has
no material afflictions because he engages constantly in the
transcendental loving service of the Lord.

It is stated in Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu (1.2.187)
"Anyone who, by his actions, mind and words, lives only for the
transcendental loving service of the Lord, is certainly a liberated
soul, even though he may appear to be in a condition of material
existence."

One who is unable to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead by
going through the pages of the Vedas may take shelter of one of the
Lord's devotees, such as Uddhava, in order to advance further in
knowledge of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Brahma-samhita
says that it is very difficult to understand the Supreme Personality
of Godhead from the Vedas, but He is easily understood from a pure
devotee like Uddhava. The Lord authorized Uddhava to speak on His
behalf. Unless one has such authorization, one cannot understand or
preach the devotional service of the Lord.

Uddhava was in such a transcendental position, and thus he was
selected to be the factual representative of the Lord. Such a devotee
of the Lord is never affected by material strength, intelligence or
even renunciation. Such a devotee of the Lord can withstand all
onslaughts of material nature, and therefore he is known as gosvami.
Only such gosvamis can penetrate the mysteries of the Lord's
transcendental loving relationships.

- Srila Prabhupada Purport