End of Yadavas

            35 years have passed after the great Kurukshetra war. With the successful Ashvameda Yaga, Yudhistra was crowned as the mighty emperor of the whole world. People all over the world were living in prosperity and every kingdom shared a friendly relation with their neighboring Kingdoms. The fields were filled with greenery and the water lands were filled with rain waters. Every house had food grains stored for every season. Such was the wealth under the reign of King Yudhistra. The land and the clouds never disappointed the farmers. Even the seas helped the people in trading. With dharma on earth, peace, happiness, safety and goodness filled the life of the people.

          Dwaraka, the city of the Yadavas was filled with richness. King Ugrasena ruled the city and the Yadavas had a happy and peaceful life. With years, a pride – “Krishna, the foremost Yadava was responsible for the Pandavas to win the war” grew in the hearts of the Yadavas. The respect that every Yadava get when they travel outside Dwaraka made them more conceit. They started to be more self-focused and also egoistic. The youths behaved arrogantly. Even the sons and Grandsons of Krishna too behaved superciliously. Krishna and Balram were not able to control their sons and Grandsons. This motivated the citizens of Dwaraka too to behave in the same manner.

          One day, Sage Vishwamitra, Sage Kanva and Sage Naradha came to Dwaraka while they were on their way to Pindasura Lake. Knowing this, trying to play prank on the sages, Jambavathi’s son Samba, disguised as pregnant women, visited the sages with his friends.

          “Bless this woman, sages. I am pregnant and I would like to know about the baby. Is it going to be a boy or a girl?” – Samba played his part of the prank.

          The sages realized that it’s Krishna’s son, Samba. Raged on the prank played, Sage Vishwamitra cursed- “It’s not going to be a boy or girl, Samba! It’s going to be an iron rod, heir of Krishna!It’s an iron rod, that’s going to be responsible for the annihilation of Vrishnis and the Andhakas. You cruel and wicked hearted Yadavas, except for Balram, you all will be slaughtered by the same iron rod that Samba will be giving birth to. You are all so much into pride! Lost your senses! You all will die the same way, fully drowned in pride and deprived of senses.”

          The saints left the place and informed about the misconduct of Samba and the curse to Krishna. Krishna, on hearing the words of the sage recalled the curse of Gandhari. “So, the curse has started working!”- Krishna thought to himself and informed his brother Balram and other Yadava kings about it.

“Brother, this is destined and it will happen. I do not wish to act in any other way. I will go by what is destined.”- Krishna spoke in a distressed voice.

          In the meantime, Samba and his friends informed everything to King Ugrasena. Everyone spent the night sleepless, thinking about the iron rod.The next day started with the start for bad omen. Samba gave birth to an iron rod, as cursed. He brought it to the court. King Ugrasena and others gathered saw it as a messenger of death.

Seeing the rod and the fear in everyone’s pair of eyes, King Ugrasena spoke, “Get some people and powder this iron rod. Cast it into the Prabhasa Sea. I don’t want even the dust of it to be in the city.”

Krishna, Balram and Vabhru who were also present spoke not a word, for they knew that somehow the curse will find its way and come back to them. Krishna spoke in a concerned voice, “Fate and curse are holding hands with time. Do you think it is possible to stop? One thing about destiny is, Ugrasena, that we cannot change it. The curse was for all the Yadava men. We should do something to at least protect the innocent women and children. They will be safe only if the men behave in good way. So, we need new and strict rules in the city.”

Balram nodded in acceptance to Krishna’s words and spoke, “Ugrasena, act immediately. No wine or other liquors should be manufactured or sold among the Vrishnis and the Andhakas. Have a check on the behaviors of the men. Make sure they only go to job and return home, safe. No harsh discussions, gambling or wagering and strictly no consumption of alcohol. From now on, the Vrishnis and Andhakas will be following the rules. Every soul of Vrishnis and Andhakas is bound to these rules. Spread the word.”

The words spread and the citizens, worried of their extinction and petrified of Balram, behaved well and even the sales of stocked alcohol too was stopped in the city. The Yadavas strived in every way possible to stop their annihilation. While they were trying to prevent the curse from happening, the curse took another form. The powdered iron rod that was thrown into the sea washed ashore in the Prabhasa Sea and it started growing into Erka grass. The Erka grass grew strong and sharp.

Meanwhile in Dwaraka, the changes were vicious. The winds that blew became stronger day by day. Pests multiplied. The leaves dried and trees died. The bats, rats and mice ate the grains in the houses. With days, they even started nurturing on the nails of napping men. The days were getting hotter day by day and even the owls were hooting in daylight. The nights were so dark and noisy, filled with the cries of jackals and dogs and the irking sounds of birds and owls. Yadavas, the best known people for curd, had no milk to even churn anymore. With the rise in food shortage problems, the Vrishnis and Andhakas became more selfish. They forgot to share or offer. Theft and robbery increased. The foods served were not clean. Krishna, Balram and King Ugrasena tried hard to restore things as it was. But the citizens ceased to follow orders. Selfish, cruel, egocentric and full of pride, the citizens committed sinful acts. They stopped honoring Brahmins and sages. They insulted the Brahmins who asked for alms. They started being rude to each other. Husbands betrayed their wives. Fed up on men’s behavior, wives too betrayed their husbands. Men slept till late morning. They had only nightmares. Not a single soul in Dwaraka had pleasant dreams. The people offended their gurus and seniors. They even insulted Krishna and Balram. Yet they never felt embarrassed. The astrologists were unable to get sight of the birth star constellation for any new born Yadava. Even the new moon appeared early at times.

The King lost control on his men. And with situations worsening, the King also lost control on his sons and Grandsons. With time, King Ugrasena lost control on himself too. Not a single order or rule was followed. Insanity captured the people of Dwaraka.

          In front of the people, Krishna’s discus (Sudarshana Chakra), the conch (Panchajanya) and mace (Kaumodaki) ascended among the clouds, into the space. Balram’s plough too was lost among the clouds. Krishna and Balram sensed that they have lost control on their people. The Apsaras took away the chariots of Krishna and Balram.

          On a night, Krishna and Balram were having conversation in Krishna’s room about the bad omens. Looking at the moon, Krishna spoke, “Brother, the present star alignment and omens are exactly similar to that time when King Yudhistra saw the omens when the two armies were arrayed in order for the Kurukshetra war. The 14^th lunation has been made 15^th again, this time too. It’s an indication. Queen Gandhari’s curse has found its course. The 36^th year has come and the bad omens too have lined up in time.”

          “Krishna, I believe I have fulfilled my destiny. With change in time, everything started will find its end. For us, it is now. The sign for annihilation is same like the destruction sign on the battle day. It seems, you handled it at that time and this time too it will be you.” – Balram spoke in a disturbed voice.

          The next day, Krishna summoned all the Yadavas and spoke, “The happenings indicate that the time for the curse has come. I think it’s time the Vrishnis and Andhakas go on a pilgrimage. With the new moon, we all will leave to the Prabhasa Sea for sacred bathing in the sacred waters of the ocean. I want everyone with their families for this pilgrimage.”         

          With orders from Krishna, the people made arrangements for their pilgrimage to the Prabhasa Sea. The Yadavas took with them fruits, meat and other needed edibles. The men even took wine to support the night stay. Glazed in ornaments and beauty, the citizens left for the Prabhasa Sea. They set out together, in chariots, steeds, carts and elephants. With the rituals and the sacred bathing and prayers done, the people built camps near the shore for the night stay. With everyone bringing stored wine that was not used after Balram’s orders, they seemed to have abundant to drink.

          The Yadava men started drinking with the night fall. Those who drunk beyond the limits, lost their senses and started to misbehave. They mixed wine in the food prepared for the Brahmins who performed the rituals. They even gave that food to monkeys. The Yadava men drank a whole lot of wine. Everyone started speaking high of them. They insulted others. The Brahmins left the shore. The women and the children hid inside the tents, away from the drunken men. The men were all in festive mood and they all danced, laughed unreasonably and drank more. The night was filled with liquor, revelries,trumpets, drums and the loud drunken yelling of the men. They all were blazing and vulgar like the ocean that’s extending its shores.
          Except Krishna and Balram, everyone was drunk. With Krishna and Balram nearby, the mighty Pradyumna, Anirudha, Kritavarman, Satyaki, Vabhru, Ugrasena and Samba too started drinking and spoke abusive words. Intoxicated with wine, everyone started criticizing others. Balram left the spot understanding the result of the arguments. He went near the Prabhasa Sea and sat under a tree, in Yogic stance.

          Satyaki started insulting Kritavarman, “What a Kshatriya you are! Armed, you attacked and assisted in killing the unarmed sons of Pandavas who were sleeping peacefully. You assisted Aswathama! How did the Yadavas and your family tolerate with such a spineless act of yours?”

          Hearing Satyaki’s words, Pradyumna started laughing cynically. Enraged, Kritavarman pointing his cup at Satyaki, said, “Why are you mocking me, Grandson of Sini? You killed the armless Bhurishrava who took the Praya vow and sat in yogic stance in the middle of battlefield. You call yourself a hero killing someone who is unarmed? Your family tolerated you back then and even now!”

          With that, everyone began arguing on who wronged more during the war and who failed to follow the rules of war. The argument busted the inner anger and rage filled in the hearts of the warriors.

          When Krishna tried to stop everyone, Satyaki spoke, “Do you have any idea on how Kritavarman behaved towards Satrajit for taking the Syamantaka gem from him?” Turning towards Kritavarman, he continued, “You assisted Aswathama in killing the Upapandavas. Because of those sinful acts of yours, I swear, your end is near. Your time has come to die for being responsible for the death of innocent sons of the Pandavas.”

          Raged and inebriated in wine, Satyaki drew his sword and severed the head of Kritavarman at the very sight of Krishna. Seeing Kritavarman lying dead, Yadavas who supports Kritavarman came running towards Satyaki with wrath. Enraged on them, Satyaki began to assault them. Though Krishna tried to stop Satyaki from further damage, Satyaki and the others ceased to listen to Krishna. Pradyumna tried to save Satyaki but the rebellious Andhakas and the Bhojas surrounded Pradyumna and Satyaki. Rushed by wrath filled hearts and blinded sense of reasoning and also as destined by fate, both of them were killed by the Bhojas and the Andhakas.

Seeing his son dead, filled with rage, Krishna took a handful of Erka grass that was waiting there to fulfill its destiny. The moment Krishna held the grass in his hands with anger it turned into a strong iron mace. Intoxicated by the effects of wine, the Yadavas turned towards Krishna to attack him. Krishna slew every single Yadava who came to attack him holding the iron mace. People who supported Krishna slew the others. Struck by fate, the Vrishnis, the Bhojas, the Andhakas, the Kurukas and the Saineyas attacked each other using the Erka grass. The grass turned into mace in the hands of the Yadavas. The warriors slayed their troopers, the sons slew their seniors, the guru killed his disciples and the people too slaughtered the youths brutally.

Ludicrous and senseless because of the wine, the Yadava men slaughtered each other and none thought of running away from the fight. Because of the inexplicable behavior of the Yadavas, the horses and carts ran weirdly. Krishna’s foremost chariot that was tied to the four most splendid steeds Saivya, Sugriva, Meghapushpa and Valahaka was dragged into the ocean by the steeds. Seeing his chariot gone and the people fighting till death, Krishna stood there helpless. The men, the youths and soldiers fell dead in front of Krishna’s eyes. Witnessing Aniruddha, Charudeshna and Samba’s death, Krishna’s fury intensified and with the mace in his hand, he slew every single Yadava who came rushing towards him. With no way to escape from the hands of destiny, Krishna annihilated the Yadavas. Over 5, 00,000 Yadavas laid lifeless in the shores of Prabhasa Sea.

The man who established a new magnificent city for his people, the man who saved the Yadavas from Kamsa, the man who protected the Yadavas like the unbreakable shield, the man who established dharma on this world, the man who loved his citizen like his family, the man who was loved like no other person by all the Yadavas, the man who brought smiles in the faces of the Yadavas, the one and only Krishna who brought fame to the Yadavas murdered the Yadava clan as destined.

The brutality ended in darkness and the women ran towards Dwaraka with their children. After the callous combat, Krishna, Balram, Daruka and Vabhru were the only Yadavas alive on the shore. With that night, the Yadavas found their end because of the pride, ego and arrogance in their heart. Krishna remembered Gandhari’s curse, standing alone in the shores.

PS:

§  Satyaki is also called as Yuyudhana.

§  Vrishnis is a race of Yadavas (Krishna is of Vrishnis).