Bhagwat Puran Eleventh Skandh: The Uddhava Gita and the 24 Teachers of the Avadhuta

The eleventh skandh is the knowledge section of the Bhagwat. As Krishna gave the Gita to Arjuna in the Mahabharata, here, before leaving the earth, he gives his last teaching to his dear Uddhava, called the Uddhava Gita.

Chapter 1: the sages' curse

Having lightened the earth's burden, the Lord saw that the Yadavas themselves had grown invincible and proud. At Pindaraka, Yadava boys dressed Samba as a pregnant woman and asked the sages (Vishvamitra, Kanva, Durvasa, Narada and others) what she would bear. The sages cursed: "An iron club, which will destroy your clan."

Chapters 2 to 5: the nine Yogeshvaras and King Nimi

Narada told Vasudeva the dialogue between King Nimi and the nine Yogeshvaras (Kavi, Hari, Antariksha, Prabuddha, Pippalayana, Avirhotra, Drumila, Chamasa and Karabhajana). They explained what the dharma of devotion is (offering all actions to God), who is a true devotee (one who sees God in all beings), what maya is and how to cross it (through the guru and devotion), action, inaction and wrong action, the avatars, and the form of worship for each age (in Kali, sankirtana).

Chapters 6 to 9: the avadhuta's twenty-four teachers

Krishna told Uddhava of King Yadu and the avadhuta Dattatreya, who said he had taken twenty-four teachers from nature:

• Earth: forbearance and living for others.
• Wind: touching all, clinging to none.
• Space: being in all yet apart from all.
• Water: purity, purifying all.
• Fire: accepting whatever comes and yet staying pure.
• Moon: waxing and waning belong to the body, not the self.
• Sun: taking up water and returning it as rain; one sun appears as many in many pots.
• Pigeon: excessive attachment to family brings ruin (the pigeon, grieving for its young caught in a net, was caught too).
• Python: content with what comes.
• Ocean: unchanged whether rivers flow in or not.
• Moth: burned in fire for love of form; beware the pull of the senses.
• Bee: taking a little nectar from each flower; taking the essence from every scripture.
• Elephant: trapped through the lure of touch.
• Honey-gatherer: what is hoarded is taken by another.
• Deer: caught by the hunter through love of music.
• Fish: hooked through greed for taste.
• Pingala the courtesan: hope is the greatest sorrow; when she gave it up she slept in peace.
• Osprey: as soon as it dropped its piece of meat, the other birds left it alone; one who lets go is happy.
• Child: carefree joy.
• Maiden: many bangles clashed; with one there was quiet. Among many there is strife; in solitude, peace.
• Arrow-maker: so absorbed that a royal procession passed unnoticed.
• Snake: builds no home of its own; lives alone and alert.
• Spider: spins its web from within and draws it back; so God creates and withdraws the world.
• Wasp (bhringi): whatever you meditate on constantly, you become.

Chapters 10 to 29: the Uddhava Gita

Krishna taught Uddhava at length:

• Bondage and liberation: the self is neither bound nor free; ignorance creates the sense of bondage, knowledge frees.
• The glory of satsang: the fruit of devotion that comes through the company of the good does not come through yoga, knowledge, austerity or charity.
• The Hamsa Gita: in answer to the questions of Brahma's sons, the Lord taught them in the form of a swan.
• Devotion is supreme: "Na sadhayati mam yogo na sankhyam dharma uddhava, na svadhyayas tapas tyago yatha bhaktir mamorjita": neither yoga, nor Sankhya, nor dharma, nor study, nor austerity, nor renunciation wins me as strong devotion does, Uddhava (11.14.20).
• The method of meditation, the powers that come and the caution needed with them.
• The divine glories (as in chapter 10 of the Gita).
• The duties of varna and ashrama, and the paths of knowledge, detachment and devotion.
• The forbearing Brahmin (Bhikshu Gita): a miser lost his wealth and was insulted by people, yet stayed calm and said: "The cause of my joy and sorrow is not people, planets, karma or time; it is the mind."
• Pururava's renunciation, the method of worship, and the essence of devotion.

Chapters 30 and 31: the end of the Yadavas and Krishna's departure

As the curse foretold, the Yadavas fought among themselves at Prabhasa and perished. Balarama left his body by yoga on the seashore. Krishna sat beneath a peepal tree; the hunter Jara, taking his foot for a deer, shot an arrow. Krishna forgave him, sent word to Arjuna through his charioteer Daruka, and returned to His abode. With Him went truth, dharma, steadfastness, glory and prosperity, and the Kali age began.

What this skandh teaches

• With open eyes all of nature is a teacher: forbearance from the earth, the secret of creation from the spider.
• Hope and attachment are the roots of sorrow; letting go brings peace (Pingala and the osprey).
• The cause of joy and sorrow is not outside but one's own mind (Bhikshu Gita).
• Pride destroys even the greatest clan from within.
• The simplest way to God is firm devotion and good company.