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Uddhava Gita Extracts
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| In for fair wisdom - |
Book 11 of the work contains the Uddhava Gita, which is the other famous "Song of the Lord": it suppleants the Bhagavad Gita in major ways. We bring extracts and paraphrases from it below.
As for Krishna stories, the basic sources are the epic Mahabharata and its appendix from the 400s, the Harivamsa - and the Puranas, particularly Books 10 and 11 of the Bhagavata-Purana [Encyclopedia Britannica, s.v. "Bhagavata" and "Krishna"].
Contents
| Supporting reservations are presupposed throughout: |
The Bhagavata
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| Teachings of Uddhava Gita follow. |
Along with the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita, the Srimad Bhagavatam is among the most authoritative Hindu scriptures.
Swami Prabhavananda made a very condensed version of it in 1943; about half was summary and paraphrase rather than translation. But the teachings of Sri Krishna to his disciple Uddhava in Book 11 of the long work, were "rendered without omission and with approximate literalness", Prabhavananda made clear at the onset. His main goal was to interpret the inner spirit of the Sanskrit text [Sl vii].
Book 11 includes the Uddhava Gita
What follows is extracted from a condensed version of the Srimad Bhagavatam. Book (kanda) 11 consists mainly of teachings of Krishna. He is much eulogised, and below is a mere suggestion in paraphrase. Insertions are in square brackets [ - ]:Chapter 1
We praise you,After listening to these song praises, Krishna said,
Your inscrutable divine prowess has brought forth this universe.
Blessed is he who contemplates. His soul melts in joy . . .Those who seek union, worship your feet.
Lord, deliver us.
Your feet cover the whole universe.
May your feet give that which is good [and not step on me].This universe has its being in you.
You are the ruler of the undifferentiated and the intelligence of all intelligence.
You are indeed the supreme.
"I have determined to leave the earth. My kingdom is established."
But he also saw it best to have all his descendants killed first, and his kingdom was destroyed at the same time.
Chapter 2
Krishna's disciple Uddhava stood nearby and heard all this. Then, finding Sri Krishna alone, he drew near and addressed him:Uddhava
Take me with you.Can we live apart from you? You are our very Self.
We can go beyond the boundless ocean of darkness only by meditating on your divine life and your divine play [lila].
Krishna
Verily I say to you,The perceived world is a projection of consciousness. It is transitory, and therefore not real.
When you have gained knowledge and wisdom you can feel unity with all embodied beings.
When you know the Self and find delight in the Self, then you are free [as they say].
Uddhava
Teach me who am dwelling in the domain of maya (in the world), that I may faithfully follow and carry out your words.Krishna
Your Self is your true teacher.By the Self alone is realised the highest good.
I exist in all beings, but the human heart is my favorite dwelling place.
Chapter 3
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Adjoined
Sh: Raghunathan, N., trans. Srimad Bhagavatam, Vols 1-2. Madras: Vighneswara, 1976.Sl: Prabhavananda, swami, trans. The Wisdom of God. New York: Capricorn/Putnam, 1968.
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