The Uddhav Gita: Krishna's Last Teaching

The Yadava clan had grown very powerful, and some of its young men proud. Once, as a prank, they dressed Krishna's son Samba as a pregnant woman and asked some sages: what will she give birth to? The sages cursed: an iron club that will destroy your clan. Krishna understood that His time to depart had come.

Learning this, Uddhav was heartbroken. He said: Lord, take me with You; I cannot live a moment without You. Then Krishna lovingly gave him teachings that fill the Eleventh Canto, known as the Uddhav Gita.

Krishna told the story of an avadhut, a wandering sage, who had taken twenty-four gurus. From the earth he learnt patience; from the wind, to touch everything without clinging; from the sky, to be in all things yet apart; from water, to purify. From the bee he learnt to take only what is needed and not hoard; from the moth, not to be destroyed by blind attraction; and from a child, to be happy without worry.

Krishna explained that the mind is the cause of both bondage and freedom. One who does their duty without worrying about results, sees the Lord in all and lovingly takes His name, is free even while living in the world. He said that of all paths, devotion is the simplest and the highest.

At last Krishna told Uddhav to go to Badrikashram and live this wisdom, and gave him His sandals. Uddhav left with a heavy heart. After this the Yadavas fought among themselves and perished, Balram departed through yoga, and Krishna, seated beneath a tree at Prabhas, returned to His own abode.