|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 359 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  207

Shuka Bhramam speaks “ Oh! Rajan, in this Kali era, the supreme Lord Vishnu will incarnate as Kalki.  The Jagathpathi would be born to the virtuous Bhramin couple in the village of Shambala, would mount on a horseback, holding Devadaththam/powerful sword, to destroy the wicked on the Earth and once again free the Earth from the influence of the Kali era.  An ignorant will not have the knowledge of the human body that has to face ruin, one day it would become food for the worms or burn into ashes, and during the lifetime he/she engages in various atrocities and undergoes hellish torture while living on the Earth.  The Mother Earth will laugh at the living beings in mockery, seeing their pathetic state, chasing for material well-being and futile effort to own the Earth without even the knowledge of its impermanent nature, and unaware of his own death.  She laughs at the people while preparing to conquer the Earth, without the knowledge that they are constantly chased by Lord Mrithyu, finally disappear from the Earth. The people will constantly chase after material comforts, without getting satisfied in any of the matters, finally get distressed.  The major part of the Earth is surrounded by water, if the Mother earth pulls herself inside the water, the whole world will submerge underwater, Alas! The people in the Kali era will not even exist.  Oh! Rajan, the Earth was ruled by numerous Emperors and wise rulers; they had to leave the Earth empty-handed.  Therefore, we have taken birth on this Earth to elevate our souls while living in the material comforts without getting attached to it. Oh! Rajan, I have narrated the legends of most eminent and powerful rulers on the Earth, after listening to their stories; you should have Vairagya/sense of abandonment, Vignana/wisdom and Viveka/perfect judgment. Oh! Rajan, you must have thoroughly understood whom should you contemplate upon and what should not get attached in the life on Earth.  The people who have not turned their mind and intellect on the supreme soul resides as a soul in living beings, will not attain freedom from the cycles of birth and death. Oh! Rajan, elevate your soul listening to the glorious myths sung in praise of Uththamasloka, on a regular basis that would provide intense devotion at the lotus feet of Supreme Lord Krishna.”

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 358 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  206

King Pareekshith speaks “ Oh! Mune, after the return of the supreme Lord Krishna who is the jewel of the Yadhu clan to his supreme abode, kindly describe the Kings who ruled this kingdom.”

Shuka Bhramam speaks “Oh! Rajan, once the supreme Lord Krishna departed to his abode, the kali era has begun, there were several illustrious Kings who ruled the Earth wisely.   In this Kali era, people will not follow Dharma/righteousness,  Sathyam/truthfulness, Shaucham/austerities, Kshama/endurance, Dhaya/kindness, that are essential for the development of a Kingdom/country.  The people will have a short life span and memory loss; therefore, people will be in extreme fear, insecure, jealous and hatred to each other.  The people will give importance to wealth; the wicked people work together to loot the wealth of others, people will mislead the society and the people with the power of wealth.  The married couple gets over-attached to each other and soaks in the sensual pleasures, take great interest in a physical relationship.  The people will find excessive interest in worldly matters and sensual pleasures with the wrong perception that it will accompany them always.  The people will not follow even basic hygiene, will not take a regular baths, they chase for material well-being, selfish and swollen with pride.  They take great interest in increasing the charm and physical appearance, take an increased interest in hairdos.  There will be unseasonal rains, extreme heat, famine, drought, floods; extreme cold, infectious diseases that will increase rapidly.  The humans will be prepared to commit any sin for wealth and richness.  The people will undergo various infectious diseases and constantly get worried about it. In this Kali era, people will not have good health, and will not follow Varna Ashrama Dharma and Pagandis/insane, demonstrate the Dharma and put the people into trouble.”

Iththam Kalau  Gathapraye  Janeshu Garadharmishu | Dharmathranaya Saththvena  Bhagavan Avatharishyathi || Charachara Guror Vishoreeshwarsya Akhilathmana: | Dharmathranaya Sadhunam Janmakarmapanuththaye ||

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 357 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  205

The Dhwadhasha Skandha of Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran describes the concept of ‘complete surrender’/Ashraya.  The human intellect always seeks for welfare, happiness, and protection, and often gets disappointed in missing any of these comforts, ignorant seek protection and comfort in the members of the family or material things, eventually get over-dependent on it, and lower themselves to the status of a beggar.  The study of spirituality teaches whom to depend? Who’s the provider of comfort and protection of the Jeeva until death?  it educates to lean on the supreme soul who is the cause for the functioning of mind and intellect, protector of the soul while the three states such as sleep, awaken and dream.  The illustrious Yogis and Rishis attained union with the supreme soul and lived in a state of Bhramam/supreme bliss. 

The highest of the revelation was made by the ancient Rishis were all those imaginary relationships in the human lives are formed by the ‘thoughts’/ intellect and mind, due to the existence of the supreme soul, if the mind and intellect did not function properly; none of the relationships would have been formed or exists.  Therefore the intellectuals found that the ‘thoughts’ are the primary cause for the interest in material matters and bondage.  The thoughts that are constructed  about the material well-being, people and comforts bring disappointments in the long run due to its destructive nature as Prakrithi, hence they vested thoughts on the indestructible supreme soul which beyond birth or death, eternal, and changeless.  The thoughts have subtle and fleeting nature as the Prakrithi, therefore it cannot get attached to people or wealth, or fame, or richness for a long time, soon it will find boredom, like the sun rays falling on the Earth does return to its origin.  Spirituality is the practice of all that have learned from scriptures about the subtle nature of the supreme soul reside as the soul in all the living beings, its indestructible nature and the thorough knowledge of material matters and bondage, that have destructible nature of Prakrithi, hence the  practice of  not getting attached to the material well-being and elevate the soul with the constant practice of meditation and Pranayama, eventually attain the union of the soul with the supreme soul, to lead a contented life.

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 356 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  204

The constant practice of meditation, Pranayama, reading scriptures and glorious myths of the supreme Lord, lead to a state of  Jeevamuktha, is the union of the Jeeva with the supreme soul, it is a mental state to accept the sorrows and happiness without getting distressed or excited, same as the spark of Agni merges in the fire.  The body-conscious creates intense fear and anxiety while leaving the mortal coil, the supreme conscious removes the fear of death as if the Jeeva getting rid of its body/attire and conducts its journey with new attire.

Shuka Bhramam speaks “ Oh! Rajan, Thus, the entire living beings on the Earth came to stand still for a moment, the deities experienced intense grief watching the supreme Lord Krishna left his mortal coil.  The supreme Lord Vishnu, who has personified on the Earth as Krishna to perform various passionate sports and elevate the souls, ultimately discarded the body that has assumed to reinstate the righteousness on the Earth. The supreme Lord did not leave even his trace while leaving the Earth he burned his mortal coil in Yogagni, Oh! Rajan, undoubtedly the departure of the supreme Lord Krishna caused intense grief on the people of Vraja and Vrishnis who were constant companion and ardent devotees of him.”

Daruka explained the departure of Lord Balarama and Lord Krishna to the people assembled in Dwaraka.  The situation in Dwaraka got worse than ever before, Vrishinis met self-destruction on the other side the beloved Balarama and Krishna departed to the supreme abode.  The people of Dwaraka could not bear the pain, some of them fallen unconscious and left their Jeeva, the remaining people decided to leave Dwaraka immediately.  Devi Rohini, Devi Devaki, Vasudeva, Rama Pathni, Vasudevapathni, wives of Pradhyumna and Krishna, Devi Rukmini soaked in extreme grief of separation from their beloved Balarama and Krishna; they created a huge pile of burning woods and abandoned their lives in it.  Arjuna was witnessing the heart-breaking incident, could not bear the sorrow, became inconsolable, remembered the inspiring words of Krishna and regained his normal state.  He immediately gathered the people remain in Dwaraka and proceeded to Indraprastha.  Soon the entire city of Dwaraka lashed with heavy downpour and wind, gradually it submerged under the ocean, and thus the entire clan of Vrishnis disappeared from the Earth.  Hail to Dwaraka! Hail to supreme Lord Madhusoodhana!

Whoever listens or recites the various amusements of supreme Lord Vishnu would get relieved from all the sins/guilt, grief, and fear.  Whoever listens and understands the various passionate sport of supreme Lord, would attain intense devotion and faith of Paramahansa/ascetics.

|| 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 ||