Avadhuta Yadu Samvada (अवधूतयद्वोः संवादः)

Avadhuta Yadu Samvada (Samskrit: अवधूतयद्वोः संवादः) is a well read conversation between Avadhuta (Dattatreya) a recluse who had realized Brahman and Yadu Maharaja of intellectual brilliance, described in the Bhagavata Purana (Skanda 11 Adhyayas 7-9). A very important concept of learning from the very nature around us, Dattatreya, the son of Maharshi Atri and Anasuya, describes twenty-four Gurus (चतुर्विंशतिगुरवः) from whom he has assimilated some specific wisdom.

Dattatreya, said to be the avatara of MahaVishnu, is an example of Avadhuta (अवधूतः). They are the ever-free, highly illuminated beings, yogis, who wander on the earthly sphere always immersed in the Brahman. The life of Dattatreya furnishes the best ideal of a Guru.

Avadhuta Dattatreya

Although many texts describe Dattatreya as the avatara of MahaVishnu, born as the son of Maharshi Atri and his chaste wife Anasuya, very often he is described as the incarnation of the Trimurtis - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, born of the same parents. Some state that he is also one of the Saptarshis. It was he who taught the knowledge of Self to Prahlada, Alarka, Yadu and Kartavirya. He is spoken of highly even in the Upanishads such as Jabala Upanishad, Narada Parivrajaka Upanishad, Yajnavalkya Upanishad and the Bhikshu Upanishad. The Shandilya Upanishad gives an explanation of the term Dattatreya along with his legend.

अवधूतस्य लक्षणानि॥ Characteristics of Avadhuta

Bhagavata Purana in the present samvada describes the lakshanas of an Avadhuta in Yadu Maharaja's words thus

कुतो बुद्धिरियं ब्रह्मन्नकर्तुः सुविशारदा यामासाद्य भवाँल्लोकं विद्वाँश्चरति बालवत् २६

प्रायो धर्मार्थकामेषु विवित्सायां च मानवाः हेतुनैव समीहन्त आयुषो यशसः श्रियः २७

त्वं तु कल्पः कविर्दक्षः सुभगोऽमृतभाषणः न कर्ता नेहसे किञ्चिज्जडोन्मत्तपिशाचवत् २८

जनेषु दह्यमानेषु कामलोभदवाग्निना न तप्यसेऽग्निना मुक्तो गङ्गाम्भःस्थ इव द्विपः २९

त्वं हि नः पृच्छतां ब्रह्मन्नात्मन्यानन्दकारणम् ब्रूहि स्पर्शविहीनस्य भवतः केवलात्मनः ३० (Bhag. Pura. 11.7.26-30)

Summary: Whence did you, apparently inactive, come to possess such extraordinary intelligence and wisdom (is such a youthful stage), endowed with which and enlightened (immersed in Brahman) you roam about in this world like a child. Engaged in activities to attain Dharma, Artha and Kama men desire for longevity, fame and fortune. But you appear to be able-bodied, wise, skillful and alert, good-looking having a nectar like sweetness in speech, yet you behave as if you are a dullard (Jada), lunatic (Unmatta) like one who is haunted by a pisachas (possessed by ghost). People have burning and consuming forms of agni called desires and greed, yet you are free from such burning desires appearing like an elephant standing in the waters of Ganga (untouched by the conflagrations). We enquire you seriously, please tell us the cause of your blissfulness due to the Self, untouched by objects of pleasure, just pure consciousness.

The characteristic presentation of an Avadhuta to the world may be described as बालोन्मत्तपिशाचवेषाः।

An Avadhuta is free from the net of hope, from the idea of the beginning, middle, and end of things and that he is perpetually abiding in happiness. He is devoid of all desires, his speech is devoid of evil and that he exists in all existing things. An Avadhuta's body is covered with dust, the mind is purged of all evil thoughts and he is free from all diseases. He is full of contemplation of the reality, free from activities causing anxieties and bereft of ahankara. Primarily an Avadhuta is permeated with the sentiment of oneness throughout and are untouched by the worldly phenomenon and all duties, rites, observances prescribed by the various texts. His speech though devoid of evils may be misinterpreted by a worldly man and his actions may clash with the worldly interests against human expectations.

For all such things he does not care, for he has already trodden them and risen triumphant over them all. His utterances do not hold water with the ordinary man of the world, for one who is still enveloped thickly with the veils of the Maya and whose aim is yet to attain worldly success or even heavenly joys. The Avadhuta's message is grasped easily by those who have risen far above this stage of life.