|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 355 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  203

Daruka returned to Dwaraka and met Arjuna, and narrated all that happened to the city of Dwaraka and its people, Balarama’s demise and Krisha’s departure to the supreme abode.  Krishna did not wait longer, it was the hours of sunset, and the sky was filled with dark clouds.  The Kaliyuga was approaching, Krishna remembered the pathetic state of the people of the Kali era, people will become deceitful and wicked, will have poor memory, loss of interest in spiritual and religious rites and will have a short span of life.  Therefore, Krishna decided to infuse his brilliance in the supreme scripture Bhagavath Mapauran, whoever take shelter in it should remain protected from miseries.

Shuka Bhramam speaks “ Oh! Rajan, all the deities, Lord Bhrama, Mahendra, illustrious Rishis, and Sages, Pithrus, Gandharvas, Siddha, Mahoraga, Vidhyadhara, Charana, Yaksha, Rakshasa, Kinnara, Apsaras, Dhvijas were assembled before the supreme Lord Krishna while he was preparing to leave the mortal coil,.  Lord Mahadeva with Goddess Bhavani, to witness the Bhagavathniryanam/demise, the deities showered flowers upon him.  The supreme Lord Krishna with a pleasing smile on his face slowly closed the lotus-like eyes that were looking at the deities.  Thus, Krishna united the soul with the supreme soul in him and burned his mortal coil in the Yogagni.”

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 354 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  202

The hunter rushed to the prey in extreme pleasure, Alas! He was traumatized watching the supreme Lord Krishna. He became inconsolable watching at the bleeding feet of Krishna, he wept bitterly sitting near his leg with folded hands “Oh! Madhusoodhana, I have committed a grave sin, Oh! Uththamasloka, who is eulogized by Veda, your remembrance would remove the sins, Oh! Chathurbhuja, Oh! Purusha, Oh! Anagha/sinless one, I have shot an arrow on your feet, Oh! Bhagavan, I have mistaken as to its prey, kindly forgive me, and punish me for the sin committed.” Krishna patted on his head affectionately and lifted him holding his shoulders, and speaks “Oh! Hunter, rise on your feet, you have fulfilled my desire, it was destined to happen, and you will attain heaven.” Thus Krishna pacified the hunter and asked him to return, remained seated under the Peepal tree with the bleeding leg. 

It was the end of the day, Balarama left the mortal coil, Vrishnis fought each other died, a few of them were left unharmed. Daruka the charioteer of Krishna walked all over the shore of the Prabhasa in search of Krishna, he watched the horrific aftermath of the clashes between the Vrishnis, and he did not see Balarama.  Suddenly he could smell the rich fragrance of Tulsi in the atmosphere; Daruka meticulously followed the place of its origin, like a honeybee that follows the fragrance of the flower. Daruka found Krishna seated under the peepal tree, he has fallen at the feet of Krishna, he could not control his tears, never seen Krishna like this before, realized that the supreme Lord is preparing to leave his mortal coil.  Daruka wept bitterly with folded hands “ Oh! Bhagavan, I could not see anything, I do not understand what’s happening before me.  We have become powerless, we have lost everything and peace.” Krishna patted his head affectionately and replied “Oh! Daruka, you have to do some work for me. I have to leave this body, do not mourn for it. You have to go back to Dwaraka, my parents are still in the palace and inform them about the demise of Balarama, and request them to leave Dwaraka at once. Arjuna will be in Dwaraka, asks Arjuna to take them to Indraprastha. The moment I leave my body, the ocean will get wild and the rough sea waves would swallow the entire City of Dwaraka, eventually, it will submerge in the water.  Therefore, leave immediately to Dwaraka.”

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 353 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  201

Rama: Samudhravelayam Yogamasthaya Paurusham | Tha Thyaja Lokam Manushyam Samyojya Athmanam Athmani ||

Shuka Bhramam speaks “ Oh! Rajan, Balarama, and Krishna took a seat in an isolated area of the seashore. They were not unhappy to witness the destruction of the Vrishnis, instead, they felt relieved that the wicked children had lost their lives; otherwise, they would become a burden for Mother Earth in the future.  It was the time of sunset, Balarama sat on the seashore watching the sun, underwent deep meditation and attained union with the Bhramam.  The whole atmosphere was filled in a unique brilliance, and his body became standstill.  Krishna watched his brother Rama’s body is washing away by the waves, remembered his time for departure. He returned to the woods and took a seat under a peepal tree.  The Supreme Lord Krishna who has the supreme brilliance, attired in marvelous yellow silk garment, dark cloud complexioned, adorned in Srivathsam, Vanamala, Kausthubham, Makarakundalam, Katisuthra/marvelous waist ornament, Bhramasuthra/sacred thread across the chest, Kireeta, Katakam, Angadham, and Haranoopuram, seated under the peepal tree with a pleasing smile on his face.  A hunter approached the wood with a powerful arrow that was made from the Musala, previously discarded in the ocean by Samba, later it was swallowed by a fish that was caught by the fisherman and delivered to the hunter.  It was during the hours of dusk, the hunter witnessed the reflection of sun rays on the yellow garment of Krishna and mistook as deer, and he shot the sharp arrow on the right foot of Krishna.”

Sreevathsangam Ghanashyamam Thapthahataka Varchasam | Kausheyambarayugmena Pariveetham Sumangalam || Sundharasmithavakthrabjam Neelakunthala Manditham | Pundareekabiramaksham Spuran Makara Kundalam || Kati Suthra Bhramasuthra Kireeta Katakangadhai: | Haranoopuramudhrabhi: Kausthubena Virajitham || Vanamala Pareethangam Moorthimadhbhir Nijayudhai: | Krithorau Dhakshine Padhamaseenam Pankajarunam ||

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 352 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  200

King Pareekshith speaks “ Oh! Mahabhaga, the women of cowherds could not take their eyes off from the marvelous appearance of Krishna, they were in trance listening to his melodious music on flute and his compassionate eyes arrested the attention of the Vrajeshwaris.   The illustrious Rishis and Sages, constantly listening to the glorious myths and his passionate sport of Krishna captured the attention of Krishna through their ears and the countless poets enticed by the passionate sports of Krishna, and the illustrious Kings who were fervent devotees of Krishna fought against him in the greatest battle of Kurukshetra and attained the lotus feet of Krishna.  Oh! Bhramin, it is unfortunate that having the supreme Lord Krishna as the chief of Yadhava, the Vrishnis failed to follow the advice of him and protect their clan, finally, they had to meet their destruction at the curse of illustrious Rishis.”

In Dwaraka, the Vrishnis watched silently at Krishna leaving the palace, many people were left the palace in extreme disappointment and agony remembered the words of Krishna that the Dwara will submerge in the water in no time, the Vrishnis looked at each other in extreme distress and left the palace.  They have realized that no prowess left with them; they have lost Krishna and Balarama forever and no one to protect them.  The people of Dwaraka, women, elderly people, and children arrived in Prabhasa Theertha.  It was the evening hours, the Vrishnis took pleasure in the intoxicating drink and completely lost their consciousness; they recollected the stories from Mahabharath, in that Krishna left his powerful Narayanisena with the Kauravas and stood all alone with the Pandavas.  In that battle many warriors of Kaurava were killed, Vrishinis were discussing the loss of Abimanyu and numerous warriors in the battle, finally they had a huge argument, engaged in fierce clash and killed each other, like the untamed herds of elephant in the woods.  They found the absence of weapons to attack each other, eventually, they took hold of the sword-like grasses from the seashore and fought with that forgot all their relationship, sons were killed fathers, brothers killed brothers and in-laws, there was no relationship left between them, they fiercely fought each other.  Soon, Krishna intervened and requested the children to stop was handled him harshly by the children, Balarama who could not bear the attack on Krishna, rushed to the scene was threatened to kill.  Balarama understood the children have lost their consciousness, so it is meaningless to talk to them, left the scene in extreme disappointment.

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 351 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  199

Namosthuthe Mahayogin Prapannamanushadhi Mam | Yadha Thvath Charanambhuje Rathi: Syadhanapayini||

The over-dependence and attachment cause’ extreme mental agony and distress, it is not that people or things cause’ distress, it is the approach of the individual towards people, wealth, fame; money causes extreme fear and anxieties.  The spirituality is the practice of unfasten those redundant thoughts caused by the attachments and over-dependence to people, wealth, money, richness, fame, etc.  Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran teaches to unfasten the material life and bondage, and lead a serene life, it is a marvelous technique to adopt while living in the material comforts without getting attached to it, or do not lament over in the absence of people and comforts.  Udhdhava who was pious and highly intelligent lived all his life for Krishna and served the clan of Vrishni, with the hope that everything he had seen and heard will remain the same always.  Suddenly, Udhdhava could not bear to see the Vrishni clan meets its destruction, and Krishna returning to the supreme abode.  Uddhava lost all his hopes and mental strength, seeing Krishna leaving before his eyes.  It was neither Krishna nor the destruction of Vrishnis traumatized Udhdhava, it was his attachment and over-dependence to Krishna and Vrishnis pushed him in extreme distress.  Later, Krishna unfastens all those illusions of Udhdhava and advised him to elevate his soul contemplating upon supreme Lord.  Therefore, the practice of spirituality is an individual effort; no one is capable to elevate the soul of others, all those should be practiced and followed by the individual who yearns to get relieved from the cycles of repeated births.  The constant practice of meditation, Pranayama, listening and reading the glorious myths of supreme Lord would purify the intellect; gradually it would remove the interest in worldly matters and bondage.   The interest in worldly matters and bondage does not require any practice, the intellect capture the taste, smell, appearance, nature of people, situations, etc as its own.  The spirituality requires an intense practice of mind and intellect to concentrate on the supreme soul which is the source of the functioning of the Universe and its living beings, which has no appearance or sound, the regular practice of meditation helps to unfasten the redundant thoughts about the material world and people, it brings the serenity of mind. Thus, Udhdhava received supreme knowledge from Krishna and left to Badarikashrama at his instruction. Krishna silently walked on the shores of Prabhasa watching the battering waves.

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 350 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  198

Bhagavan speaks “ Oh! Udhdhava, an ignorant one, accumulates uncontrollable desires through the Indhriya/sense, and they keep attracted towards it like a magnet, therefore they cannot take away from the attraction from all those material matters easily.  Oh! Udhdhava, the mind, and intellect ‘Ahamkara’ that constantly accumulates interest in worldly matters and desires, undergoes various emotions like Shoka,/grief Moha,/desire Bhaya,/fear Krodha/anger, Harsha/happiness, Lobha/perplexity, Spruha/yearning, Dhaya/kindness, thereby it causes birth and death, even though it is already rooted in the Jeeva and it is difficult to overcome, therefore it should be sliced off with the powerful sword of Gnana/wisdom.  It can be removed with the constant Upasana/practice of worship and meditation.  Oh! Udhdhava, you understand my nature as supreme soul in you,  all those desires of worldly matters were accumulated with the presence of me, like the precious yellow metal/Gold, is used to create stunning pieces of ornaments.  Therefore if you attain the knowledge of the presence of me as a soul in living beings, and I am the source of the functioning of the mind and intellect, you can get rid of the influence of Gunathraya/Rajasik, Sathvik and Thamasik. Oh! Udhdhava, if you practice intense faith and devotion, with the thorough knowledge of the supreme Bhramam which resides as a soul in you it would remove all the weakness and cluster of redundant thoughts, in this way you can attain union with the Bhramam, and remain in a state of supreme bliss and contentment.  Oh! Udhdhava, contemplate upon the supreme soul that has supreme radiance, which is a source of perception and experiences, that has no dual forms, it  illuminates the whole Universe and its living beings with its brilliance, and  has no birth or death.  Oh! Udhdhava, with the constant practice of meditation and sung in praise of me attain union with the supreme soul.”

Udhdhava speaks “Oh! Acchyutha, Oh! Pundareekaksha, you have narrated all those methods to control the senses/self-control, Oh! Bhagavan, I feel it is a little difficult to follow, kindly forgive me for the repetition of the same topic, I have no shelter other than you.  I shall surrender at your lotus feet, I am your sincere servant, I have no one as relative other than you, kindly describe briefly all those we have discussed earlier.”

Bhagavan concludes “Oh! Udhdhava, whoever sincerely follows my advice would win over the fear of death, 1) perform all the duties and responsibilities enthusiastically with a pleasant nature that would make me happy. 2) Practice meditation, Pranayama, and worship 3) surrender your mind and intellect upon me 4) constantly remembers my presence as a soul in you and remains in a state of bliss. 5) Conduct pilgrimage/ visit Theerthas and sacred places 6) live in the association of my devotees who sincerely follow the meditation and religious practices that would help you to elevate your soul. 7) Remember my all-pervasive nature and Oneness-in-All.”

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 349 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  197

Archadhishu Yadha Yathra Shradhdha Mam Thathra Charchayeth | Sarvabhootheshvathmani Cha  Sarvathma Aham Avasthitha: ||Yeam Kriyayoga Padhai: PUman Vaidhikathanthrikai: | Arcchannubayatha: Sidhdhim Maththo Vindhathyabeepsitham ||

Bhagavan speaks, “ Oh! Udhdhava, Kriya Yoga is the worship of an idol, remembering my all-pervasive nature and presence as a soul in all the living beings.  Whoever contemplates me through the process of Kriya Yoga, with the recitation of Vedic chants and Thanthric Vidhya, would attain material well-being as well as the spiritual well-being.  It would change the whole perception of the worshiper and provides material and spiritual benefits.  Oh! Udhdhava, the wealthiest would construct a Mandap/shrine and sanctify the idol, and create a flower garden around it, invite the saintly men and ascetics and pious, sing in praise of praise and circumambulate the idol, in this way they practice devotion.  Oh! Udhdhava, neither criticize or pass sarcastic comments nor praise the practice of others, it is an initial practice for the elevation of the soul.  Oh! Udhdhava, it is not necessary to discuss the auspiciousness or inauspiciousness, nothing is going to remain permanent in the Prakrithi, and good and evil are the nature of Prakrithi.  Oh! Udhdhava, understand all that I have narrated to you, remember my eternal presence as a soul in you, and contemplate upon me, sing in praise of me, do not get attached to anyone, do not praise or criticize them, keep moving like Lord Surya who spread brilliance all over the Earth without getting attached to anything.”

Udhdhava speaks “Oh! Bhagavan, you have described the nature of supreme soul as independent, it is void attachments, it is beyond zone, virtues, time, etc. You have described the nature of body/Prakrithi, it undergoes constant transformation and ruin, and then who is responsible for all those afflictions in life?”