Vidura was much older than Uddhava. By family relationship Uddhava was a contemporary brother of Krsnas, while Vidura was as elderly as Krsnas father Vasudeva. But although junior by age, Uddhava was much advanced in the devotional service of the Lord, and therefore he is described herein as the chief amongst the devotees of the Lord. Vidura was confident about this, and thus he addressed Uddhava in that higher category. That is the way of courteous dealings between two devotees.