Krishna's closest friend and wisest student, sent to teach the gopis and taught by them, then given Krishna's last teaching.
Appears in
Uddhava in Vraja — the song to the bee — Skandha 10, adhyayas 46-47 — Krishna sends his wisest friend to console the gopis with philosophy, and Uddhava goes home wishing to be a creeper in Vrindavan.
The avadhuta's twenty-four teachers — Skandha 11, adhyayas 7-9 — King Yadu asks a carefree wanderer where his joy comes from, and hears of twenty-four teachers, among them a pigeon and a courtesan.
The Uddhava Gita — Skandha 11, adhyayas 6; 10-29 — Krishna's last and longest teaching, given to a friend who asks only to go with him when he leaves the world.
Embodies
Who is a teacher — A son teaches his mother, a madman teaches a king, and an ascetic learns from a pigeon, a python and a courtesan.
Love in separation — The gopis love Krishna most when he is gone — and the messenger sent to console them comes back taught by them.
Questions to explore
Why did Krishna choose Uddhava to carry his message to Vraja?
What did Uddhava ask Krishna when he learned Krishna would leave?
