Reading Notes: Mahabharata, Part D, PDE

78. Death of Krishna by Donald A. Mackenzie

In this part, Yama, the god of the dead, made an appearance, marking the arrival of dark omens over the destruction of Dwaraka. A beautiful description was in place of the sighting of Yama: "A horror in human shape was beheld in the night; it was colored yellow and black, its head was bald and its limbs misshapen, and men said it was Yama, the god of the dead. Visions of headless men contending in battle were beheld at sunset. The moon was eclipsed, a dread tempest ravaged the land, and a plague of rats afflicted the city." I thought, personally, that the Mahabharata's descriptions became better over time, and were especially prominent towards the end. Unfortunately, this story was not all beautiful as it was full of bloodshed and chaos. Infighting began between Krishna's men, and he himself joined in to stop them. Krishna eventually left the city and entered the jungle, and suffered one of the most disappointing deaths I have witnessed honestly. It's Krishna - I expected something grand, but no. Krishna was mistaken for a gazelle and was shot by a hunter, reminiscent of Achilles as he was apparently shot in the foot at the only spot where he could be mortally wounded.

The Pandavas had cremated Krishna and Balarama, who both had died in the jungle. The Pandavas were greatly saddened by this. They split the kingdom up. They decided to take the role of hermits. They departed to Mount Meru, but on their way the Pandavas and Draupadi each fell "by the way". Yudhisthir, though, did not fall and instead made it to Mount Meru, where he spoke to Indra. Indra asked that he ascend with him, but he would not without his brothers. I'm not sure what happened next in the PDE due to the phrasing used. Indra said to Yudhisthir, "Thy brethren and Draupadi have gone before thee," which I interpreted as meaning that they were allowed to enter before him. Then he asked that his hound be allowed to enter, but Indra would not allow it. That's when the hound transformed into Dharma, the god of justice, who was Yudhisthir's father. He was proud that Yudhisthir would not leave his hound behind because he was so loyal.