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Arjuna was recollecting the times when Krishna had loved him as a dear friend, the times when He had showered fatherly love upon him, the times when He had advised him on important matters and the times when He had played and jocularly teased him. He then recollected the Bhagavad Geeta that he had heard years before and with this attained mental peace. His grief was destroyed and he attained absolute peace.

There are many who keep on recollecting their past sorrowful events and remain in that state itself. They continue to chase the dead relative. They do not believe in moving on in life. ‘He has gone ahead with his journey. Now I should continue my journey independently.’ Such thinking should be developed. What is the use of recollecting the same sad events? Learn to recollect good incidents and the important lessons that have been learnt from them. One should learn this from Arjuna.

Arjuna recollected all the past good memories and pleasant events. He remembered the incidents where the Lord had objected to his vows, the incidents where the Lord had encouraged and helped him fulfill his vows as well as the incident where He assumed the role of a Guru and accepted him as a disciple. He remembered how the Lord in the role of Guru preached to him the sacred Bhagavad Geeta. He was grateful that the Lord, through the medium of this preaching, ensured that he remains steadfast in the completion of his duties and thus becomes a liberated being.

In this way Arjuna thought of only the good memories. If Arjuna had not recollected all those happy incidents, can you imagine what would have been his mental state due to dejection?

Yudhisthira had enquired about each and every relative individually. Barring four or five, all of them were no longer alive. Now when Yudhisthira heard that none of his friends or relatives was alive, when he heard that Krishna himself was no more, what would be the state of his mind? How would he have felt? Therefore instantly, with an absolutely firm mind that was devoid of any grief, he decided that he has to travel to that place where Krishna lives. His mind was calm.

A very important message is contained in this for us who are living in Kali Yuga. At least a few among these points we should adopt. There are people who grieve for years at stretch about their kith and kin who have departed. They talk and think about them at all times. Instead of this if they think about Krishna it would be so supreme, isn’t it? Believing firmly that these departed souls have merged with God, one should also seek to attain God. Such resolution should be taken with a firm decisive mind, devoid of grief. With this the departed soul and the person both will be at peace.

By constantly thinking about departed souls, you are holding on to them and pulling them continuously down towards this world. Through your mind you are constantly attracting them towards yourself. With this neither you nor they will be mentally peaceful.

All this preaching to Yudhisthira is actually meant for us. If not, how is it possible for Arjuna to ever forget Krishna? Such was his relationship with Krishna. But then, methodically he composed himself, stabilized his mind and became calm, peaceful. There were some more pending tasks for him to complete. He decided to return to that place where Paramatma lives. Observing this in his younger brother even Yudhisthira resolved firmly to ascend heaven.

Kunti who heard Arjuna’s narration about the disappearance of Lord Krishna from earth and of the total destruction of the Yadu clan, fixed her mind in undeviating devotion towards the Lord, who was beyond measurement by any parameter. She thus attained liberation while living (jeevan mukti). She discarded this body and exited from the shackles of births and deaths! How soothing it is to hear such words!

Just as a thorn removes another thorn, the Lord who is without form took on a physical body for the purpose of reducing the burden of Mother Earth. He now gave up his body. The purpose of His incarnation was complete. To Him, the taking up a body, the actions undertaken through the medium of that body and relinquishing it are one and the same.

Just as an actor dons many disguises for the purposes of enacting a drama, the Supreme Lord accepted different incarnations and then gave up those bodies too. In this case he accepted the role as Krishna, reduced the burden of earth and then gave up his body.

From the moment Krishna gave up His body, Kali increased his influence on earth. Kali Yuga commenced that day. Kali instigated those who lacked wisdom towards unrighteous deeds. Miserliness, untruthfulness, cheating, violence and other unrighteous actions became rampant in every country, city, home; in fact in every being. To be frank due to the influence of Kali, they caused a person to harm himself. Yudhisthira, who was very wise, realized this.

So far Yudhisthira had been addressed as a king or as an emperor. Now he is addressed as a wise man. He realized that he had to leave this earth and determined firmly to do so. He did not make new resolutions, ‘Oh, I need to eliminate this untruthfulness in people; I have to eradicate deceptiveness’. He realized that they will go away on their own. He was truly wise. Just as a thorn plucks out another thorn, these incarnations which create these changes also destroy them when their time is complete. For that also the right time has to arise. Yudhisthira realized this and hence is advised as wise.

In Hastinapura, Yudhisthira coroneted his grandson Parikshit, who was equal to him in every respect, as the emperor of the entire land that spanned up to the seas and entrusted the kingdom to him. In a similar manner, at Mathura, he crowned Vajra, the son of Aniruddha, as the King of Surasena kingdom. Thereafter, he performed the yagna called Prājapatyeshti, and invoking the fire into himself, took up sanyasa (renunciation from worldly life).

Sri Krishna! Datta Krishna!

Arjuna who was choked due to intense grief, was neither able to answer the questions properly nor was he able to express his grief accurately. He continued, “I was able to recover and return to King Virata, the cows that Kauravas had stolen from him. I could forcibly seize the crowns of the Kauravas which were bedecked with precious stones and which represented their strength and might”.

The design, shape and the decorations of the crown worn by a warrior is an indicator of the individual prowess and position. Seizing them forcibly indicates humiliating them.

“How could I have accomplished this feat if not for Srikrishna’s loving grace upon me? The vast army of Kauravas led by chieftains such as Bheeshma, Karna, Shalya and Dronacharya was undefeatable. These unsurpassed chieftains moved their chariots in weird arrangements, adding to the glory of the Kaurava army. Even before my gaze could fall upon them, Krishna would gaze at them. With just that gaze He would draw from these warriors, their might and enthusiasm completely.

The generals of the Kaurava army such as Bheeshma, Drona, Karna, Susharma, Shalya, Ashwatthama, Saindhava, Bāhlika and others attacked me with powerful and violent weapons during the war. Just as the fearful and destructive weapons of Hiraṇyakaśipu could not harm Prahlāda, the supreme devotee of Lord Narasimha, these brutal weapons of the Kauravas could not harm me even slightly. By whose grace could this be possible? Was this not Krishna’s grace?

The Supreme Lord gives himself away totally to his devotees. Eminent persons worship the holy feet of this Lord solely for the purpose of attaining liberation. Oh, I was so foolish and ignorant I desired that such Supreme Lord should be my charioteer during the war.

During the war when my horses were tired, I would descend from the chariot so as to fetch water for them. The enemies would not dare to attack me with their weapons during such times. But for His power and greatness, how else could this happen?

It was my absolute foolishness that I did not realize His glory at that point of time. Now I am able to see the Lord’s grace and glory at every step. Although in some corner of my heart I knew He was the Supreme Lord, I failed to grasp His complete essence then.

O great king! Srikrishna, out of great love, would with a smile on His face ridicule me jocularly. At the same time He would lovingly speak to me addressing me as ‘Kuru-nandana’, ‘O Son of Kunti’, ‘Arjuna’, and ‘O dear friend’. Recollecting all those loving words my heart is devastated.

While sitting, standing, sleeping, eating and in all other activities I would constantly compete with Him. Boasting about my glory and greatness I would address him as ‘O friend’, ‘O truthful one’ and ridicule Him. Srikrishna was so large hearted that He forgave these unpardonable sins of mine committed in foolishness, just as a true friend would forgive his friend, or just as a father would forgive his son.

Now I realize that I, the sinner, have been separated from my dearest friend. My heart is totally void. When I was trying to save His wives, evil minded ordinary cowherd boys, stopped my chariot and effortlessly defeated me in a fight. They beat me up as easily as one beats a woman. The same chariot, the very same horses, the same Gandiva bow and arrows failed to have any impact on them. That Arjuna in front of whom even great emperors used to bow in reverence was defeated by ordinary cowherd boys.

In the past it was Krishna who was energizing them all. Now in His absence all these are devoid of energy. At that time I failed to realize His greatness. Now in His absence I am able to understand. The same horses, the same bow, the same arrows, the same chariot have become lusterless. I, the great Arjuna, have been reduced to a state wherein even women can easily defeat me.

All these appear illusory like toys created by a magician using his illusory knowledge. What am I to do with them? Just like a seed sowed in the barren land, all this knowledge is of no use now. All this is akin to pouring ghee on the ashes.

O great emperor! You enquired about our relatives in Dwaraka. The Yadavas cursed by Vedic Brahmins, lost their power of intellect and reasoning in totality. Having consumed excessive liquor, in an inebriated state, they fought and destroyed themselves completely. Only 4 or 5 amongst them are still alive.

I believe that all this nothing but the play of the Supreme Lord Krishna. In front of His eyes, his entire clan was destroyed. Thus it has to be His intention. He must have done that to ensure that he does not leave anything behind.

It is purely his grace that at times people protect each other. At another time they destroy each other. The Yadavas were so attached and friendly towards each other. If such people have killed each other, then surely it has to be His intention only!

O emperor! Just as large sea animals swallow the smaller ones; just as the strong eat up the weak; Krishna has caused the stronger Yadu to killer the weaker ones. Through this he has reduced the burden of the earth. Just as He wiped away from earth the Kauravas who were filled with tamasic traits, now he caused the Yadus to fight amongst themselves.

My dear brother! The words of Krishna, which were corresponding to matters based on time and space, used to reduce the burning heat from my heart. Such was His talk! These words come back to my memory now and are pulling my mind”.

Thus, when Arjuna, with a pure heart and with feelings of total affection was contemplating upon Srikrishna’s lotus feet, his pure mind was absolved of all grief. Due to contemplating upon Srikrishna’s lotus feet, desires and all other forms of impurities were totally destroyed from Arjuna’s intellect. Due to the passage of time, Arjuna who was totally engrossed in duties and in luxuries, had completely forgotten the Bhagavad Geeta which Srikrishna, the Supreme Lord had preached to him at the beginning of the war. Now he remembered it completely! With this his grief was totally washed away.

Arjuna attained Supreme Knowledge (Brahma jnana). As spiritual ignorance (ajnana) was totally destroyed in him, his attachment towards this gross body disappeared. He was able to get rid of these worldly bondages that cause repeated cycle of re-births (samsāra). He was able to discard all forms of differentiations and dualities. He no longer grieved.

Having learnt that Srikrishna, the Supreme Lord, had discarded His physical form and that Yadu clan was totally destroyed, Yudhisthira stabilized his mind completely and decided firmly that he too should ascend heaven (swargārohana).

Datta Narayana!

First Canto Chapter Fifteen

In this chapter Arjuna explaining the destruction of the entire Yadu lineage, Krishna’s return to Vaikunṭha and the decision of the Pandavas to go off towards the Himalayas are covered.Seeing the ashen and lusterless face of Arjuna, the dearest friend of Krishna, who was anguished due to the separation from Him, people assembled there guessed that something was seriously wrong. Arjuna was so dejected and grief-stricken that he could not even get himself to speak.

For this reason his elder brother Yudhisthira questioned him in various ways with the hope that some question would trigger him to talk. But then Arjuna’s heart was so heavy with grief that, no matter what, words wouldn’t come out of his lips. Yudhisthira was unsure whether his younger brother had even heard the questions.

Arjuna’s lotus-like face was totally drained out and was lusterless. He was struggling hard to control and wipe away the tears of sorrow that were profusely flowing from his eyes.  Due to intense love towards Krishna, who was no longer visible to him, his mind was greatly perturbed.

Recollecting all those beautiful moments that he had spent in close association with the Lord, recollecting the incident wherein the Lord had offered to be his charioteer, and recollecting their friendship, Arjuna while sobbing inconsolably, began to slowly speak in a hoarse voice that was choked with emotion:

“O King! My dear brother! Srikrishna, my closest relative, my friend and my God has cheated me and gone. When leaving, He has taken away with him my entire radiance which used to astonish even celestials.

Once life force (prana) leaves, the body is reduced to a corpse. To the supreme devotee of the Lord, separation from Him even for a second is traumatic. How can anything in this world appear joyful to one who is separated from His Lord?”

Arjuna, who considered Krishna as Paramatma, thought about Him every second. In every action, in every breath and at every second his thoughts used to be entirely focused upon Krishna. There was not a moment when he was separated from Him. If even for a second he failed to think of the Lord or the Lord was not visible to his eyes, he would be utterly dejected. At such moments, he would consider himself to be a living corpse, that’s all.

Arjuna continued, “During Draupadi’s swayamvara (selection of groom by the bride) many princes who had assembled there upon invitation from King Drupada, were arrogantly and lustily eyeing Draupadi. That Lord Srikrishna, due to whose grace I could vanquish their pride and radiance; that Lord, due to whose grace I could successfully string the bow, hit the Matsya yantra (fish eye) and obtain Draupadi’s hand in marriage, has now left me and gone away.

That Srikrishna, who by His mere presence filled me with the energy through which I could defeat all the Devatas led by Indra (lord of heaven) and offer the Khāṇḍava forest to Lord Agni, is now not to be seen.

That Srikrishna, by whose grace Yama created for us an exquisite royal court filled with wondrous sculpting, the royal court wherein you conducted the Rajasuya yagna for which kings from all corners of the world assembled and paid you tributes, is now not to be seen.

That Srikrishna, due to whose radiance the worshipful Bheema, who possesses the strength of 10,000 elephants, killed the mighty Jarāsandha who had suppressed thousands of kings under his feet; that Srikrishna, by whose grace Bheema released all those kings who were kept in captivity by Jarasandha for the purposes of sacrificial offering in the Bhairava yagna, is now not to be seen. These grateful kings who were thus set free offered tributes to you during your Rājasuya yagna.

O dear brother! During Rājasuya yagna, maha-abhisheka was performed to your wife’s hair. Thereafter, during the game of dice, those wicked men touched her purified hair and humiliated her in front of everyone in the royal court. At that time she sobbed piteously and fell at Krishna’s feet. Srikrishna, who ensured that the hair of these wives of the wicked Kauravas was loosened, due to the death of their husbands in the war, is no more.

When we were in exile, Duryodhana sent Maharishi Durvasa together with his 10,000 disciples to us so as to put us in great trouble.  Exactly at that time Srikrishna arrived at our home. Eating those small remnants of food from the vessel in which it was cooked, Srikrishna protected us. By this act He abated the hunger of Durvasa and of his 10,000 disciples, and caused contentment to all the three lokas (planes of existence). Had it not been for Srikrishna, we would have been cursed by Mahamuni Durvasa. Srikrishna who had thus protected us, is now not with us.

It was due to the radiance of Lord Srikrishna that in the fight with Shiva, the Lord who wields the trident, I could cause astonishment to Him who was accompanied by his wife Parvati. Lord Shiva blessed me by giving me His Pāsupata weapon. Such Krishna has left us and gone away.

O my dear brother, due to His influence even guardian deities of the worlds handed over their weapons to me. Due to Srikrishna’s grace I was able to travel to heaven in this physical body and obtain half of Indra’s throne. Such Srikrishna is no more.

When I was relaxing in the celestial gardens in heaven, Lord Indra accompanied by hordes of other Devatas sought shelter in me and begged me to kill the demon Nivatakavaca. Using my Gandiva bow I killed all those demons. He with whose grace I was able to destroy these demons, that Supreme Lord, Paramatma, has cheated me and gone away”.

When we are completely grief-stricken, we say that the Lord has cheated us. Although it appears as if we are blaming Him, we actually are not. It is a satirical praise (ninda stuti) of the Lord. It is the intense love for Paramatma that makes them speak in that manner. We scold children but there is no anger in the harsh words we use against them. Satirical praise is akin to that.

“I could single-handedly cross that terrible ocean called Kaurava army, which contained gigantic whales such as Bheeshma, which was unimaginably deep, vast and which was impossible to cross over. This was possible purely because Krishna, my protector, was by my side”.

Datta Narayana! Datta Narayana!

Yudhisthira continued, “O Bheema, dust has completely enveloped all the four directions so much so that it appears as if many galaxies are forming around the Sun and the Moon. The earth together with mountains trembles dreadfully. Even in the absence of clouds frightening thunder can be heard. Look at that lightening.

The wind blows vehemently throwing dust in all directions and creating darkness. Clouds wickedly rain down fearful blood-coloured disastrous showers. Sun’s illumination has weakened. In the sky the planets fight amongst themselves. It appears as if everything is burning and the hordes of living beings are weeping.

Bheema, all rivers, ponds, lakes and even human minds appear totally agitated. Even when ghee is poured, fire no longer ignites. I wonder what calamity this eternal time is going to bring.

Look, calves no longer seek to drink milk. Cows have also stopped yielding milk. Just see these cows stand and shed tears. The bulls are no longer happy while grazing.

From the idols of the deities tears flow profusely. Villages, cities, towns, ashrams, gardens, fields, all lack vigour and splendor. What form of calamity are they trying to indicate I fail to understand? Wherever and whatever I see, irrespective of whether it is big or small, indicates to me of some inauspicious impending disaster. Everywhere I see only ill omens.

From all these various ill-omens I believe that very shortly the earth is going to lose its splendor. These inauspicious omens indicate that very shortly the earth will be bereft of the divine lotus footprints of Lord Srikrishna”.

While Yudhisthira, observing all these ill-omens, was lamenting profusely in this manner, Arjuna returned from the city of Dwaraka.

Intensely grieving in a manner that was never seen in the past, Arjuna entered and bowed at the feet of his elder brother. With his head bent down he was profusely shedding tears.

Seeing his younger brother who was totally lusterless and ashen, Yudhisthira recollected the words of Sage Nārada. With overpowering anxiety and agitation, in the presence of all relatives and friends, he questioned Arjuna in the following manner:

“O Arjuna, in the city of Dwaraka are all our Yadava relatives, belonging to the Madhu, Bhoja, Daśarha, ārha, sātvata, Vṛśni and Andhaka clans, happy and peaceful? Is our maternal grandfather Surasena happy? Are our maternal uncles Vasudeva and his brothers doing well? Are his 7 wives including Devaki, their sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren doing well?

How is King Ugrasena? With the death of the wicked Kamsa he is now bereft of a son. Is Devaka, the brother of Ugrasena, still living? Are Dadhīka and his son Krtavarma doing well? Are Akrura, Jayanta, Gada, Sāraṇa happy and comfortable? Are Sratrujit and other Yadava warriors faring well? How is Balarama, the worshipful Lord of Yadavas?

How is Pradyumna, the great warrior of the Vṛśni tribe? How is the worshipful Aniruddha, who displays unimaginable great speeds during war? Is he happy? Hope Suṣena, Charudeśṭa, Jāmbavati’s son Sāmba, Rṣabha and other sons of Srikrishna, along with their children, are doing well?

Are Śrutadeva, Uddhava and others attendants of Srikrishna, happy and well? Are Nanda, Sunanda and other exalted Yadava kinsmen doing well? Are all the others who live under the constant protection of Lord Srikrishna doing well? Are they comfortable and happy?”

Notice that he enquires about Balarama and Srikrishna in the end. How can he directly ask, ‘Is Paramatma dead or alive?’ In this questioning of Yudhisthira, the softness of his mind and sweetness in his speech are clearly visible. It is noteworthy.  The intensity of his feelings can be gauged from this speech of his.

“Balarama and Srikrishna love us dearly, is it not? Do they still seek our welfare? Is Srikrishna, who possesses extreme love towards learned Vedic scholars and devotees, comfortable and happy being seated amidst friends in the royal-assembly of Sudharma, in the city of Dwaraka?

Maṅgalāya ca lokānāṁ kṣemāya ca bhavāya ca

Āste yadu-kulāmbhodhāv ādyo ananta-sakhaḥ pumān

The primordial being Sriman Narayana, together with Balarama who is none other than Ananta, for the purposes of ensuring the well being, prosperity and protection of this world, has from the oceans, incarnated into the Yadu lineage in the form of Srikrishna.

Yadavas who reside in the city of Dwaraka, are under the constant protection of His powerful arms. Such Yadavas are the most fortunate persons. Staying as servants and attendants to that Lord Mahavishnu, who is worshipped in all the lokas (planes of existence), they are happy and blissful.

Satyabhama and the 16000 women of Srikrishna consider worshipping and serving the His lotus feet as their most important service to the Lord. These queens have obtained for their enjoyment, Pārijāta and other celestial luxuries, which otherwise were the exclusive enjoyments of Sacidevi, wife of Lord Indra (Lord of heaven) and which had been obtained by Lord Indra through defeating all other celestials in a war. Serving the lotus feet of that Supreme Lord is the sole reason for obtaining these enjoyments!

The Yadava heroes, who are under the protection of Lord Krishna’s arms, roam about happily and fearlessly everywhere. These ordinary Yadavas walk about freely and fearlessly in the Dwaraka’s royal court Sudharma, which actually is befitting only to celestials such as Indra (Lord of heaven) and other guardians of the world and which has been forcefully snatched away from them. Srikrishna has incarnated into such Yadu lineage.

O my dear brother, I forgot to ask you something. Are you doing well? Why do you appear pale and lusterless? Could it be possible that having overstayed in Dwaraka, you were humiliated, instead of being honoured? Has someone uttered unworthy words and hurt your feelings in any way? Is it possible that you, the protector of one and all, perhaps could not offer protection to Vedic Brahmins, cows, young boys, old men, diseased persons, women or to any other living being?

I hope you have not obtained a woman with whom cohabitation is forbidden.  Hope you have not behaved disrespectfully towards a worthy woman. Is it possible that someone who is equal or inferior to you in strength has humiliated you? Is it possible that you consumed all the food alone neglecting old people and young children who should have been fed? Or is it possible that you have performed some forbidden act?

Or is it possible that you are deeply grieving because Srikrishna, who is your dearest friend and relative, is not by your side? O my dear brother, say something. Please speak”.

With this the fourteen chapter of the first canto comes to an end.

Narayana. Datta Narayana.

Maharishi Nārada continued, “That Supreme Lord, who is the cause for the creation of all beings, has presently incarnated on this earth in the form of time (Kāla rupa) for the purpose of destruction of demons. His task is almost coming to an end. Just a small balance is left to be completed. Srikrishna is eagerly awaiting this completion.

You all have to wait on this earth as long as He lives here. Dhritarashtra, together with his wife Gāndhari and brother Vidura has gone to the ashram of saints located in the southern part of the Himalayas. In this place River Mandakini, in order to bring joy to the seven great sages, has split into seven divisions and is flowing. For this reason this place has acquired the name Saptasrotas.

In this sacred place, Dhritarashtra presently bathes thrice daily, diligently conducts Fire worship (Agni upasana), and consumes only water for his sustenance. Free from all forms of attachments, he is living contentedly with peace of mind. Having attained stability in posture (āsana siddhi), through performing of Pranayama he has totally restrained his mind and his senses. He exclusively focuses upon Srihari. Free from all vices he is now devoid of trigunas (the three modes of nature i.e. sattva, rajas and tamas). At all times he is able to retain his mind in the intellect (buddhi) and this intellect upon Paramatma.

Just as the space within the pot (ghaṭākasa) merges into the unending space, his intellect has merged completely into the Supreme Lord. In him, tendencies (vasanas, subtle impressions) have been erased in totality. Bringing to an end all the actions of the senses and by giving up food in totality, he is able to sit immobile like a rock. O king! Please do not become an obstacle for him, who has given up actions in entirety!

On the fifth day from today, Dhritarashtra will give up his body which will be reduced to ashes. When his body, along with the hut in which they are living, is thus being burnt by the Tretāgni (3 sacred fires), the chaste Gāndhāri will step into the fire.

Vidura, who will witness this wonder, will be overjoyed that Dhritarashtra and Gāndhāri have attained liberation! Mourning their death he will leave that place and proceed on pilgrimage”.

Swamiji explains: It can be said that Vidura’s desire was fulfilled. Due to that extensive preaching he had given, Dhritarashtra’s mind melted completely. When we listen to Dhritarashtra’s story we can understand the extreme infatuation he had towards life. His extreme love and infatuation towards his sons, his hatred towards the Pandavas and his treacherous schemes to destroy these nephews cause us to dislike him. We fail to understand whether he is a human being or a rock. Does he have any trace of sympathy and compassion in him, we wonder.

Even such a rock hearted person imbibed the preaching given to him and was transformed! Contemplating upon the essence contained in the message, he focused exclusively on the Lord and attained that supreme accomplishment (siddhi) which is possible only for eminent Yogis!

“Yudhisthira, why are you grieving for them? Discard this grief”. Having said this, Narada together with Tumbura left the place to travel towards heaven.

With this, Yudhisthira was relieved. He was immensely pleased at this good luck of his paternal uncle and aunt. He stopped grieving.

With this the thirteenth chapter of the first canto comes to an end.

First Canto Chapter Fourteen

In this chapter, the ill-omens sighted by Yudhisthira, his worrying about them and Arjuna’s return from Dwaraka are covered.

Maharishi Suta continued, “In order to meet his relatives and to find out about the future activities of Srikrishna, Arjuna left for Dwaraka. Many months passed but Arjuna did not return. Meanwhile Yudhisthira began to see some terribly fearful inauspicious omens.

Due to irregularities in the functioning of the seasons, eternal time (kāla) created fear in him. Anger, greed and uttering falsehood had become rampant in people. In order to earn their livelihood people now resorted to sins. Deceit had spread into all transactions. Friends began to cheat each other. Yudhisthira observed that times had changed drastically. Infighting and misunderstanding had increased between couples, between parents, siblings, friends and relatives.

All these changes were visible because this was the period just prior to the birth of Kali Yuga. With the onset of Kali Yuga, human nature underwent enormous change. Bad traits multiplied in plenty. Many types of ill-omens were clearly visible.

Yudhisthira, who was observing all this, said to his younger brother Bheema, “O Bheemasena! In order to meet our relatives and also in order to know the future activities of Srikrishna, who is of pure reputation, Arjuna has been sent to Dwaraka. It is now seven months since he left us. He has not yet returned. I wonder why? I am unable to understand clearly but for some reason I am apprehensive. Could it be that as Maharishi Nārada had predicted, the time for Srikrishna to give up His body, which He had taken on playfully as a pastime, has arrived? Or perhaps he has already given up His body?

It is purely because of Srikrishna’s grace that we have been blessed with wealth, kingdom, wife, children, lineage, life (prana) and victory over enemies. It is only due to His blessings and grace that we will obtain the future higher planes of existence (punya loka) also.

Bheema, within my body, on earth and in sky I can see many fearful inauspicious omens. My body is trembling. Fear has overtaken me. Entire surroundings and climate appear fearful indicating impending calamities.

Bheema this fear is deluding my intellect. My thighs, eyes and hands are constantly trembling. My heart is shivering. All these omens indicate that some disaster is approaching us shortly. Can you see that she jackal vomiting fire looking at the direction of the Sun? Look at the dog which without any fear looks at me and barks.

Cows and other special animals now walk past me on my left. Other lower animals walk past me on my right. My horses are weeping. This pigeon is behaving like a messenger of death indicating death. Two owls, having given up sleep and seeking total destruction, sit facing each other and shriek fearfully causing me to tremble fearfully”.

Narayana! Datta Narayana!