9- Dhritarashtra's Demise, the Fall of the Yadu Dynasty, and Krishna's Departure from Earth

Vidurji, the prime minister of the Kauravs, is unwilling to take sides and has evaded the battle of Mahabharata by embarking on a pilgrimage. On his journey, he receives the timeless wisdom of the soul from Maharishi Maitreya and returns to Hastinapur when the war ends. Upon witnessing their beloved uncle Vidurji's return, Yudhishthir, along with Dhritarashtra, Gandhari, and the entire Pandav family, greets him and eagerly inquires about Vidurji's pilgrimage, speculating on whether he had visited Shree Krishna's Dwarka and how they fare there. In great detail, Vidurji recounts his experiences during the pilgrimage and encounters with the Yaduvanshis. He chooses not to disclose the tragic demise of the Yaduvansh, as he doesn't want to cause sorrow to the Pandavas. He believes that the event will unfold in due course.

Vidurji is said to be an incarnation of Dharmaraj (Yamraj) himself. Due to a curse from sage Mandavya, he becomes a servant's son for a hundred years.

During his stay in Hastinapur, Vidurji notices that upon gaining the kingdom, Yudhishthir, with the Pandavs, are engrossed in their household affairs and, in doing so, forgetting that by the passage of each day, their lives are heading towards death. He observes Dhritarashtra, his older brother, clinging desperately to life despite his age. With a heavy heart, Vidurji reminds Dhritarashtra of the unstoppable force of time. Everything – wealth, power, even loved ones – fades with time. Dhritarashtra's life itself, like an old cloth, is worn thin by years.

But Vidurji's most important words address Dhritarashtra's attachments. "Why live depending on those you wronged?" he asks. He reminds Dhritarashtra of the Pandavas, the very ones he tried to harm, who still care for him. However, Vidurji's honesty goes a step further. He doesn't shy away from the harsh truth. "What pride is there," he says,"in living like a dog, accepting food from those you tried to destroy?" The comparison stings, but it awakens Dhritarashtra to the ugliness of his situation.

Vidurji's words, both kind and honest, pierce through Dhritarashtra's self-imposed blindness. The desire for worldly things crumbles, replaced by a yearning for spiritual peace. With newfound determination, Dhritarashtra leaves the house for Uttarakhand. Gandhari and Vidurji follow him. 

When Yudhishthir does not see Vidur, Dhritarashtra, and Gandhari in the morning, he asks Sanjay- Dhritarashtra's charioteer cum companion. Sanjay, unaware of their whereabouts, cannot provide any information and feels saddened. At that moment, Naradji arrives there with Tumburu. Yudhishthir inquires from him, and Naradji says:

"Dharmaraj! Do not grieve for anyone, for this entire world is under the control of God. He is the one who brings beings together and separates them. Just as in the world, toys come together and part according to the player's wish; similarly, by the will of Bhagawan, people meet and part."

He further urges Yudhisthir to abandon the sorrow arising from ignorance that how his helpless uncle and aunt will live without him. This five-elemental body is under the control of time, actions, and qualities. Like a man caught in the mouth of a python, this dependent body cannot protect others. Those without hands depend on those with hands, those without feet depend on four-legged animals (like grass, etc.), and among them, smaller creatures become the food of bigger ones. In this way, one being is the cause of another being's life. In all these forms, the same self-luminous Bhagawan, who is the soul of all souls, is manifesting in many ways through Maya; you should see only Him.

The same Bhagawan, who grants life to all beings, has incarnated on this earth as Krishna. Now, He has completed the tasks of the gods. A little work is still left, so He remains here. As long as He is here, you all should also wait.

Naradji then informs him, "Dharmaraj, to the south of the Himalayas, where the Ganga has divided herself into seven streams for the pleasure of the Saptarishis, a place called 'Saptasrot,' Dhritarashtra has gone to the ashram of the sages with his wife, Gandhari and Vidur. There, they bathe thrice a day and perform Agnihotra rituals according to the prescribed methods. Now, they have no desires; they live peacefully, drinking only water. They have withdrawn their senses from the material objects by controlling their life force. Their impurities of tamas, rajas, and sattva have been destroyed by meditating on Bhagawan. 

On the fifth day from today, Dhritarashtra will abandon his body by burning it to ashes. Seeing her husband's body burn, Gandhari will also follow her husband and enter the same fire. Vidurji, witnessing his brother's wondrous liberation, will depart from there to undertake a pilgrimage."

After saying this, Devarshi Narad leaves for divine lokas with Tumburu.

After some time, Arjun goes to Dwarka to meet Shree Krishna, but even after a long period, he does not return. Meanwhile, Yudhishthir begins to notice many bad omens. He sees that the course of time has become very dire. The seasons do not occur as they should, and their activities are also reversed. People have become very angry, greedy, and untruthful. To sustain their lives, people have started engaging in sinful trades. All dealings are filled with deceit, and even friendships are mixed with betrayal. There are conflicts between father and mother, relatives, brothers, and even husband and wife. Nature also starts showing very ominous signs.

Seeing all this, Yudhishthir tells his younger brother Bhimasen, "We sent Arjun to Dwarka so that he could find out what Shree Krishna is doing there and meet our relatives. It has been seven months since then, but your younger brother has not returned. I do not understand the exact reason for his delay in returning. Could it be the time Devarshi Narad foretold, where Bhagawan Shree Krishna wishes to conclude His divine play? By His grace, we have obtained this wealth, kingdom, wives, life, family, children, victory over enemies, and the right to the heavenly realms."

As Yudhishthir contemplates these terrible omens, Arjun returns from Dwarka. Yudhishthir sees Arjun looking more anxious than ever before. His face is downcast, tears are flowing from his eyes, and his body has no lustre. Seeing him in this condition at his feet, Yudhishthir becomes alarmed. 

Remembering Devarshi Narad's words, he asks Arjun, "Brother, are our relatives in Dwarka well? Are our esteemed grandfather Shurasenji and uncle Vasudevji with his brothers happy? Are our aunts, including Devaki, joyful? Is King Ugrasena alive and well? Is Balaram, the lord of the Yadavas, happy? Are Pradyumna, Aniruddha, Samba, and Rishabh happy with their families? Do they ever inquire about our well-being? Is Shree Krishna presiding happily in Dwarka's Sudharma assembly?

"Arjun, are you well? You look deprived and troubled. Were you disrespected or insulted there? Did you fail to fulfill any promises to those who came to you with hopes? Are you separated from Shree Krishna? That must be why you feel so empty. There can be no other reason for your immense mental agony."

Bhagwan Shree Krishna's beloved friend Arjun, already distressed due to Krishna's separation, faces a barrage of questions from Yudhishthir, filled with various concerns. Arjun's face and heart have dried up with grief; his countenance has become pale. He remains deeply absorbed in Krishna's thoughts, unable to respond to his elder brother's questions.

Arjun's mind is overwhelmed when remembering the moments spent with Krishna during chariot rides and leisure strolls, filled with friendship, inseparability, and love. Amid great distress, he controls the intensity of his sorrow, wipes tears from his eyes, and then, with a heavy heart, speaks to his elder brother Maharaj Yudhishthir:

"Maharaj! Krishna, who assumed the form of our maternal cousin and closest friend, has deceived me. He has snatched all my powers which he had bestowed upon me. I had gained the powerful Pashupatastra, ascended to heaven with this very body and received the honour of sitting half-seated next to Devraj Indra in his assembly. Maharaj! All these were the fruits of his immense grace, yet today, Bhagwan Shree Krishna has deceived me.

"The Kaurav army was as vast and impenetrable as the boundless ocean, with Bhishma-Drona, etc., but I crossed it alone by taking shelter of Shree Krishna and sitting on the chariot He drove. Walking before me in front of the Kaurav army, He used to snatch away the age, mind, enthusiasm and strength of those great warriors with His mere sight. Dronacharya, Bhishma, Karna, Shalya Jayadratha and other brave warriors had fired their never-missing weapons at me. Still, just as the weapons of Hiranyakashipu did not touch Prahlad, a devotee of God, similarly, their weapons could not touch me."

Arjun further laments, "Those who serve the lotus feet of Shree Krishna become free from the world, and yet, I, a fool, made that Supreme God my charioteer. When my horses got tired, and I got down from the chariot and stood on the ground, even the greatest of the enemies could not attack me because they had lost their senses due to the influence of Shree Krishna.

"Madhav's relieved and sweet smile, His playful and heart-touching words, and calling me 'Parth, Arjun, friend, Kurunandan,' stir my heart with turmoil. We used to live together, joke, talk big things about our relationships, and eat together. 

"Maharaj! The same person who was my friend, dear friend - no, my heart and soul, the Supreme God Bhagwan Shree Krishna, has left me. I was bringing his wives from Dwarka, but tribes defeated me like a weak man on the way, and I could not protect them. The dreaded Gandiva bow of mine, the arrows, the chariot, the horses, and I, the mighty Arjun, who had defeated big kings, couldn't defeat the tribes. I can see that all my power has vanished along with Krishna."

Arjun recounts the devastating fate of Krishna's clan and the people of Dwarka. A Brahmin's curse throws them into a spiral of self-destruction. Consumed by the potent Varuni Madira (liquor), they turn their weapons on each other, obliterating the once-great Yaduvanshi dynasty. In the aftermath, only a few survivors remain.

Sootji tells Saunakji that as Arjun narrates the incidents, he becomes deeply absorbed in Bhagwan Shree Krishna's sweet Leela. His mind becomes exceedingly pure as he meditates on Krishna's lotus feet, purging his heart of all impurities. He recalls the profound teachings of the Gita imparted by Shree Krishna at the onset of the war. Attaining Brahmgyan, the veil of Maya is lifted, and he reaches a transcendent state.

Upon hearing about Shree Krishna's departure to his divine abode and the dissolution of the Yadu dynasty, Yudhisthira resolves to renounce the kingdom and ascend to heaven.

Sootji says, "Bhagwan Shree Krishna took birth in the Yadav clan to alleviate the burden of Mother Earth. Once the task was fulfilled, He discarded the human form." Like a thorn is used to remove another thorn, and later both are thrown away, Shree Krishna also took birth, created the whole Yadu clan, defeated the evils, and finally orchestrated their demise.

Sootji concludes at the end that when Bhagwan Shree Krishna, whose sweet leelas are worthy of hearing again and again, left the Earth, the age of darkness the Kaliyug crept in. 

Summary: JKYog India Online Class- Shreemad Bhagavat Katha [Hindi]- 15.07.2024