Uddhava is not inferior to Me in any way because he is never affected by the modes of material nature. Therefore he may remain in this world in order to disseminate specific knowledge of the Personality of Godhead.
Srimad Bhagavata Purana
श्रीमद्भागवतमहापुराणम्
मूल श्लोकः
नोद्धवोऽण्वपि मन्न्यूनो यद्गुणैर्नार्दितः प्रभुः । अतो मद्वयुनं लोकं ग्राहयन्निह तिष्ठतु
noddhavo'ṇvapi mannyūno yadguṇairnārditaḥ prabhuḥ | ato madvayunaṃ lokaṃ grāhayanniha tiṣṭhatu
SB 3.4.31