The Kurukshetra war ends and Krishna is back in Dwaraka. Brahma and the celestials praise Him. Brahma says, “You have been on the earth for 125 years. You have reduced the burden of the Earth. If people listen to Your story, they will obtain jnana. If they know about Your avatara, kali dosha will not affect them. The purpose of Your avatara has been fulfilled. Please return to Your divine abode — Sri Vaikuntham.” Lord Krishna replies that the Yadu clan will be destroyed shortly and that He will return once that takes place. Uddhava then tells Krishna that he cannot contemplate life without Krishna. How can His devotees forget Him or His leelas? How can they cope with the absence of Krishna in their lives, asks Uddhava. Krishna tells Uddhava that Dwaraka will soon submerge and that Uddhava should, therefore, leave the city. He also tells Uddhava that he should always meditate on the Lord and control his senses, said P.T. Seshadri in a discourse.
Uddhava tells Krishna that the Lord has not only been an Acharya to him (Uddhava), but to everyone. Uddhava wants some parting advice from Krishna. The Lord tells Uddhava that the earth is home not only to human beings, but to many living things. Each one of them should be looked upon as a guru, for they can teach human beings many things.
Krishna tells Uddhava the story of a Brahmin sadhu who visits the court of King Yatu, son of Yayati. Yatu observes that the sadhu is young, but has no attachments. Although he is a jnani, he looks like an idiot. There are two fires that burn people — the fire of kama and the fire of greed. Yatu wonders how the sadhu escaped these fires. The sadhu tells Yatu that he has learnt lessons from 24 Acharyas, and he lists them — earth, wind, akasa, water, agni, moon, sun and so on.