Olodumare wanted to give up his post and tested the deities; on Eshú's advice he handed the Ude to Orunmila. The sorcerers and Osain stole it from him four times, but with patience and sacrifice Orunmila always got it back, until it was his forever.
When heaven filled up, Olodumare wanted to vanish and leave one of his deities in his place; he tested them all. On Eshú's advice, he handed the Ude — the badge of authority — to Orunmila, even though he seemed the laziest of them.
The deity of sorcery talked Osain, Orunmila's close friend, into stealing the Ude. Osain hypnotized him and stole it, hiding it in the chimney; Orunmila, on the advice of his Awó, made sacrifice with yam, rat and fish, and got it back. This happened four times: they hid it in the rubbish, they buried it, and they threw it into the river inside a fish, and every time, with patience and sacrifice, Orunmila found it.
On the appointed day, Orunmila knelt and offered the Ude to Olodumare, who told him: wear it always on your neck as a divine inheritance; many will try to steal it, but no one will ever succeed again. Later Orunmila found out about Osain through the mirror of the Ude and, even knowing he was guilty, did not betray him; Osain confessed and became his servant forever. That is why he prepares the child's medicines before it is born, and Orunmila takes the final credit.
Abinu erin, amu owore da san abinu ogbo momo amu orire kon ogiri abinu okpe luju kon ya gbude komi awo me tela lon difafun Orunmila nijo te fe gba ude lowo Olodumare
El que se molestó con el elefante pero se comió su carne en su sopa. El que se enojó con el carnero padre y golpeó su cabeza contra la pared antes de matarlo para comer. El que se molestó por causa del vino de palma en el bosque y lanzó el medallón de autoridad (Ud.) al agua.