Vidura Uddhava Saṃvāda
The Vidura Uddhava Saṃvāda (conversation) is the opening episode of the third skandha (book) of the Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, in Chapters 1 to 4. Vidura had finished a long pilgrimage and carried the wisdom he received from Maitreya Maharshi. On the bank of the Yamunā he met Uddhava, who was full of grief after the mahāprasthāna (great departure) of Bhagavān Kṛshṇa. Uddhava told him in short what had happened. He then passed on Bhagavān Kṛshṇa’s own instruction: Vidura must go to Maitreya Maharshi at Gaṅgādvāra to learn the deeper teaching.
Setting
Vidura had gone on a great tīrtha-yātrā (pilgrimage) to the holy places of Bhārata. On the way he had received deep ātmajñāna (knowledge of the self) from Maitreya Maharshi. He came to the Yamunā. There he met Uddhava, the greatest of the dear companions and counsellors of Bhagavān Kṛshṇa.
Uddhava was in deep grief. The Bhāgavatam describes him weeping, with red eyes, lost in the memory of Bhagavān Kṛshṇa, who had gone from the world so recently.
Uddhava’s grief and what he told
Vidura asked Uddhava what had happened, and why this greatest of devotees was so overcome. Uddhava then told the sad events in order.
The Yādava clan had gathered for a festival at Prabhāsa-kshetra. By the hidden will of Bhagavān Kṛshṇa and by the power of their own gathered karma, they quarrelled among themselves and destroyed one another. Balarāma gave up his body on the seashore in a yogic departure. Bhagavān Kṛshṇa then went into the forest. A hunter named Jarā mistook his shining foot for a bird and struck it with an arrow. In this way Bhagavān Kṛshṇa ended his apparent stay in the world of mortals.
Uddhava had seen the last days and had received the last teachings of Bhagavān Kṛshṇa. He now carried an ocean of grief that only the memory of Bhagavān Kṛshṇa’s form could hold.
Bhagavān Kṛshṇa’s own summary
Uddhava recalled how Bhagavān Kṛshṇa, before leaving, had given him the essence of all his līlās (divine acts). It named his birth in Mathurā, his childhood in Vṛndāvana, the killing of Kaṃsa, the war of the Mahābhārata, his kingship at Dvārakā and the last events. Through Uddhava this summary reached Vidura. It joins the narratives of the earlier skandhas to the teaching that follows in the third skandha.
Bhagavān Kṛshṇa’s direction to Vidura
Uddhava then gave Vidura an instruction that Bhagavān Kṛshṇa himself had given him before leaving:
“Uddhava, when Vidura comes to you, tell him to go to Maitreya Maharshi at Gaṅgādvāra. Maitreya is my dear devotee and confidant. I have taught him the knowledge of all tattvas (principles), of creation, and of liberation. He will give Vidura the teaching that will end all his doubts.”
So Bhagavān Kṛshṇa arranged Vidura’s further teaching even after he had left the world.
Uddhava and Vidura part
Uddhava followed the instruction of Bhagavān Kṛshṇa. He left for Badarikāśrama in the Himālaya and spent the rest of his days there, meditating on the form of Bhagavān Kṛshṇa. Vidura also followed his own direction. He travelled north along the Gaṅgā to Gaṅgādvāra, where Maitreya Maharshi was waiting for him.
Sources
- Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, 3rd Skanda, Chapters 1–4