Story of Uddhava

General information.

A Yādava. He was a friend and minister of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. In Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva, Chapter 186, Stanza 18, mention is made that Uddhava was present on the occasion of the Svayaṃvara (marriage) of Draupadī. It is mentioned in Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva, Chapter 218, Stanza 11, that at a famous celebration held in the mountain of Raivata, Uddhava was present. (See under Subhadrā).

Uddhava was a disciple of Bṛhaspati, and a man of great intelligence. It was this Uddhava who brought the dowry of Subhadrā to Indraprastha, when Arjuna married her. (Mahābhārata Ādi Parva, Chapter 220, Stanza 30).

Once a king named Śālva besieged the city of Dvārakā. At that time Uddhava saved Dvārakā. (Mahābhārata Vana Parva, Chapter 15, Stanza 9).

The message carried by Uddhava.

Kaṃsa sent Akrūra to Ambāḍi, and brought Śrī Kṛṣṇa to Mathurā. Śrī Kṛṣṇa killed Kaṃsa and made Ugrasena king, and stayed in the city of Mathurā for a time. At that time Śrī Kṛṣṇa sent Uddhava to Ambāḍi to know about the well-being of the people there. The moment Uddhava entered Ambāḍi, the Gopas and gopa women, (cowherds) Yaśodā and Nandagopa, all surrounded him to hear about Śrī Kṛṣṇa. They felt much pleased at knowing that Śrī Kṛṣṇa was getting on well. They sent through him many presents to Śrī Kṛṣṇa. He got all those presents into his chariot and took them to Śrī Kṛṣṇa in Mathurā. (Bhāgavata, Skandha 10).

The end.

Śrī Kṛṣṇa informed Uddhava beforehand the fact that the Yādava dynasty was going to end. Uddhava felt grief and requested Śrī Kṛṣṇa to take him also to Vaikuṇṭha (the abode of Mahāviṣṇu). Śrī Kṛṣṇa taught Uddhava the doctrine that the body of man and such other things seen in the whole universe were nothing but mere delusion. At that time Uddhava asked Śrī Kṛṣṇa twentyone questions about Bandha and Mokṣa (Bondage and deliverance).

To all these questions Srī Kṛṣṇa gave him satisfactory answers. (Bhāgavata Skandha 11).

Before the destruction of Dvārakā, the Yadus left the city. They went to Prabhāsatīrtha, a place on the sea coast and lived there. Uddhava who knew that the destruction was imminent, bade farewell to them and walked away alone. He was filled with a brightness. Śrī Kṛṣṇa did not stop him. (Mahābhārata Mausala Parva, Chapter 3).

It is stated in Bhāgavata, Skandha 11, Chapter 29, that Uddhava went to the hermitage of Badarikā and engaged himself in penance.