The Three Geetas of Krishna

The Bhagavad Geeta is one of the most revered, well known spiritual, philosophical and religious texts. Not only Hindus but people of other faiths have found solace within the pages of the Bhagavad Geeta. It is well known that this incredible treasure comes from the Mahabharatha, right in the beginning of the war parvas of the itihasa. But, do you know that this was not the only time Sri Krishna expounded dharma by way of Geeta?

The second time is recounted in the Mahabharatha’s Anu Geeta parva. This comes after the Kurukshetra war was done and Duryodhana, his brothers and allies had been vanquished. Arjuna and Krishna were alone and it is then that Arjuna requested Krishna to tell him the knowledge granted through the Bhagavad Geeta once more. He said that the first time, he was unable to comprehend and retain the text fully because of the circumstances in which he heard it, faced with his kinsmen and gurus ready to fight until death. Krishna expounded the Bhagavad Geeta’s core again but in a different format to his friend and sishya then.

The third time Krishna gave a similar exposition on dharma and devotion, it was close to the end of the avatara. Uddhava, his cousin and bhakta, rushed to Prabhasa where the Yadavas had massacred each other. Uddhava was aware that Krishna planned to leave Bhumi soon. He was heartbroken at the prospect and he begged Krishna to allow him to leave Bhumi alongside.

But Krishna had other plans for him. He wanted Uddhava to spread the knowledge that he planned to give him. He persuaded Uddhava to stay back on Bhumi and fulfill this task and then, Krishna gave him a discourse on Dharma and devotion. This discourse is known as Uddhava Geeta.