Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 35
Kṛṣṇa’s Impending Departure; Uddhava’s Surrender; King Yadu and the Avadhūta’s Twenty-Four Gurus
Beginnings
पृथिवी वायुराकाशमापोऽग्निश्चन्द्रमा रवि: । कपोतोऽजगर: सिन्धु: पतङ्गो मधुकृद् गज: ॥ ३३ ॥ मधुहाहरिणो मीन: पिङ्गला कुररोऽर्भक: । कुमारी शरकृत् सर्प ऊर्णनाभि: सुपेशकृत् ॥ ३४ ॥ एते मे गुरवो राजन् चतुर्विंशतिराश्रिता: । शिक्षा वृत्तिभिरेतेषामन्वशिक्षमिहात्मन: ॥ ३५ ॥
pṛthivī vāyur ākāśam āpo ’gniś candramā raviḥ kapoto ’jagaraḥ sindhuḥ pataṅgo madhukṛd gajaḥ
O King, I have taken shelter of twenty-four gurus, who are the following: the earth, air, sky, water, fire, moon, sun, pigeon and python; the sea, moth, honeybee, elephant and honey thief; the deer, the fish, the prostitute Piṅgalā, the kurara bird and the child; and the young girl, arrow maker, serpent, spider and wasp. My dear King, by studying their activities I have learned the science of the self.
The wasp is known as supeśa-kṛt because it causes the insect that it kills to take a beautiful form in the next life.
FAQs
In Bhagavatam 11.7.35, the Avadhūta tells King Yadu that he accepted twenty-four teachers and learned by observing their conduct, drawing spiritual instruction from their natural behavior.
King Yadu asked how the Avadhūta attained such steady wisdom and freedom. The Avadhūta replies that his realization came from learning practical lessons from twenty-four examples in nature and society.
Cultivate reflective observation: learn patience, non-attachment, simplicity, and discernment by watching how nature functions and by noticing the outcomes of different human behaviors—then apply those lessons to reduce desire and increase inner steadiness.