The End of Mahabharata: Lord Krishna and the Fate of the Yadavas
H1: The Mahabharata War and the Final Days of Lord Krishna
The epic war of Mahabharata brought an end to the Kaurava clan led by Dhritarashtra and his progeny. However, the aftermath of the war was far graver than anyone could have anticipated. A significant and often-ignored aspect of the Mahabharata’s concluding chapter revolves around Gandhari, the blind queen of Hastinapura, and her prophetic words. Gandhari, in her despair, cursed Lord Krishna and his Yadava clan. Her sorrowful outburst, while filled with anguish, inadvertently set in motion the tragic destiny of the Yadavas.
H2: Gandhari’s Cursing and Krishna’s Serenity
Nalayani, the mother of the Kauravas, lost her sons in the battle. In her grief, she blamed Lord Krishna for not stopping the war. In her angry and misguided words, she prophesied that Krishna’s own clan, the Yadavas, would face destruction at the hands of internal strife. She firmly believed that everything was preordained and that Krishna, as a divine figure, should have intervened. However, Lord Krishna, although deeply affected by her despair, maintained his composure and wisdom, offering her a gesture of solace and moving forward.
He advised her, “Mother, what you said would soon come true, but for now, let us attend to the tending of the dead and sending them on their journey to the heavens.” The words spoken by Gandhari under the immense pressure of grief would be fulfilled after three decades.
H2: The Sages and the Curse
After the war, a significant event unfolded which would set the stage for the Yadavas’ eventual destruction. Great sages, including Vishwamitra, Durvasa, Vashista, and Narada, on a pilgrimage, visited Dvaraka to meet Lord Krishna and Balarama. The Yadavas had lost their culture and discipline, becoming more akin to rowdy miscreants. A prank was orchestrated by a group of Yadava boys, dressing Samba, the son of Krishna and Jambava, as a pregnant woman.
The sages, through their divine vision, realized the truth and cursed him, saying, “The disguised boy will give birth to a lump of iron which will destroy the entire Yadava race.” The Yadavas, arrogant and unconcerned, laughed off the curse. However, the following morning, Samba developed labor pains, delivering a mace from his body. Fear struck the Yadavas, and they rushed to Akroora and Ugrasena to narrate this bizarre event. Akroora ordered them to grind the mace and throw it into the sea.
H2: The Iron Mace and the Crocodile
The Yadavas ground the mace to a fine powder, but a sharp triangular piece remained within. They threw the powder and the triangular piece into the sea. An iron triangle was eventually swallowed by a fish, which was later caught by a hunter. The hunter crafted a poisonous arrow from the fish's entrails, while the powder grew lush grass along the coast of Dvaraka.
H2: The Final Reckoning
Years passed, and the Yadavas, intoxicated by their ease, went to a picnic by the sea. They broke the grass, which had become as strong as iron rods, and beat each other to death. Balaram, seeking solace in meditation, revealed a long serpent - Shesh Naga, his divine form. Shesh Naga left, signifying the end of his leela on earth. Krishna, aware of the impending doom, entered a state of Yoga Samadhi under a tree.
A hunter named Jara, misunderstanding Krishna’s moving foot for a lurking deer, shot an arrow into his feet. Krishna realized Jara's mistake, forgave him and passed away, marking the end of his mortal life. His departure marked the beginning of the Kali Yuga, an era of darkness and decline.