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| LORD KRISHNA IMPARTING
THE MESSAGE OF BHAGAVAD GITA TO ARJUNA |
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| BALARAMA PERFORMING YOGA
TO GIVE UP HIS BODY AND RETURN TO HIS REAL SELF OF 'SHESH NAG' |
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| KRISHNA SITTING BY A FIG TREE |
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KRISHNA SHOT BY AN ARROW
PREPARING HIMSELF FOR HIS FINAL DEPARTURE |
In this context what interests us regarding Lord Krishna is his divine message
to Arjuna. In BHAGAVAD GITA, Krishna points out that to
a warrior nothing is nobler than a righteous war and declares that one should
do his duty without any attachment for results. He explains to Arjuna the three
noble paths. First is that of Yoga (knowledge), which means yoking mind and body to achieve perfect
unity beyond the limits of thoughts and language; second
is that of Dharma (righteousness),
which means religious duties and customs, while the third
is that of Bhakti (devotion).
The last one of devotion implies love to a personal God and complete surrender
to Him. This is the path that commands the strongest approval of Krishna. He
says "Have your mind in Me, be devoted to Me, to Me shall you come. Though
I am the unborn, the changeless Self, to save the good and destroy evildoers,
to establish the right, I am born from time to time."
Numerous incidents intervened before the time came for Krishna
to leave the human body and return. Legend says that the gods, headed by Brahma and Shiva approached
Krishna begging him to return, as the latter's mission on earth had been completed.
Krishna promised the gods that within seven nights he would complete the destruction
of Yadavas and return to his perennial home.
Bad omens started appearing in Dwarka;
strong hurricanes, screaming birds wailing cats and dogs, howling jackals and
spirits drew the attention of all Yadavas in Dwarka. Krishna advised the residents
to leave Dwarka and move to Prabhasha, a site further inland. Krishna had now
made last preparations for their annihilation. On the way the Yadavas drank heavily
and struck one another with fatal blows. In a short time no Yadava was left alive
except mighty Krishna and Daruka, his charioteer. Only those left behind at Dwarka
were spared to continue the race of this tribe.
Balarama, the brother and companion
of Krishna, went to the sea shore, performed yoga and left his body returning
to his real self, viz., Shesh Nag, the serpent of eternity. Krishna seated himself
by a fig tree and spread his left leg turning the sole of his foot outward. He
was by mistake struck with a poisonous arrow by a hunter and thus prepared himself
for the final departure. He instructed Daruka, his charioteer, to go to Dwarka
and break the news to the residents. Finally the ocean came up and swallowed
the city of Dwarka engulfing everything except the temple.
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