|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 42 – The legend of Lord Krishna - The grief of Arjuna

Devi Uththara who is the wife of Abhimanyu was conceived with the child, prominent astrologers were received to the palace to predict the future of the infant.  The predictions were made to Yudhishtira that the child born would be highly intellectual, possessed with immense might, virtuous will have the sense of charity like King Ranthideva, and righteous like King Yayathi, but he will have death by serpent bite Thakshaka due to the curse of a Vipra, he will attain the supreme knowledge of ‘Athma’/soul from Shukha Bhramam, son of Maharishi Vedavyasa, ultimately he will attain the supreme abode of Lord.

Several years have passed Pareekshith got married to Devi Iravathi, and this couple had a son Janamejaya.  It was almost thirty-six years after the great battle of Kurukshetra, Arjuna decided to go to Dwaraka to meet his soul mate Krishna, thus he bade-farewell to Yudhishtira, Bheema, Nakula and Sahadeva and left Hastinapura.

Arjuna visited Dwaraka and got the news of Krishna’s departure from Daruka who was the charioteer of Krishna, he conveyed the final message of Krishna to take the elderly people, children, and Krishna’s parents from Dwaraka to Hastinapura, before the ocean swallows the entire Dwaraka.  Arjuna could not withstand the grief of departure of Krishna and the upcoming troubles of Dwaraka that submerges in water, he was already shattered and the responsibility to protect the people of Dwaraka seemed impossible for him, cannot ignore the command of his dearest companion and his last wish, so he gathered the remaining people in the Dwaraka and proceeded to Hastinapura. On the way, he was attacked by a few Mlecchas/Yavanas and harassed the young women.  Arjuna had faith in Gandiva that would protect the people from the attackers, Alas! He could not remember any of the usages of weapons, in a moment he realized that all his knowledge has lost, became helpless; eventually, he couldn’t help a single person from the clutches of Mlecchas. Finally, he had to run for his life, was chased by Yavanas and physically wounded.  Arjuna had to flee from the sight of Mlechasa, was stopped by Lord Varuna, and instructed him to give back the Gandiva that has lost all its divinity and prowess. Arjuna returned his powerful Gandiva, which raised his glory as an eminent archer, was always favorable with him had to return to Lord Varuna.  Arjuna was completely devastated at the grief of separation from his dearest companion Krishna, and the loss of his promising weapon Gandiva.

 It was almost six months,  Arjuna did not return to Hastinapura. Once Yudhishtira revealed his anxiousness about the safety of Arjuna, he explained his concerns to Bheema. Yudhishtira was witnessing too many bad omens, owl producing hoot and screeches, crows have no sleep in the night hours, repeated earthquake and tornado, the ocean water level is increasing causing the flash flood, all these were increased the restlessness in Yudhishtira.  He remembered the warning of Maharishi Narada about Krishna’s departure to his abode was nearing, the thought itself made his extremely unease, he instructed Bheema to go to Dwarak and check on Arjuna.  Suddenly there appeared Arjuna in ragged clothes, disheveled hairs, unshaven face, had lost all the brilliance on his face, Gandeeva was missing, and not adorned a crown.  Arjuna approached Yudhishtira with face hung down and tears overflowing, prostrated before him.