How Durvasa Maharshi's Curse Led To Krishna's Death After The Great War?

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Mahabharata war had ended and Pandavas were rightfully ruling their empire whereas in Dwaraka, unpalatable changes occurred and Krishna was a witness to all that. Krishna prefers to ignore it as he knew that Kaliyuga had just set in and it was time for Krishna to leave the earth to his heavenly abode. Yadavas were into vices and spent their time and energy in a totally adharmic way.

Krishna knew that Dwaraka will be submerges as a result of the sins committed by the yadavas. The untold destruction of lives in the war of Mahabharata induced Krishna to end his mortal lifespan on earth as his mission was accomplished. He asks Arjuna to take care of all the bereaved women. Saying thus, Krishna left for the forest along with Balarama.

Arjuna, as he had promised Krishna, accompanied all the yadava women to Hastinapur. Unfortunatley, he had to face ferocious bandits on the way. Due to his oldage, Arjuna, although he fought to the last, could not win over the fierce bandits. The bandits took all the yadava women and went away.

Soon after this, as Krishna left Dwaraka, a huge tide emerged from the sea and swallowed the beautiful city of Dwaraka with one gulp. Even today we can see a huge portion of the submerged dwaraka under the sea. All the survivors incuding Vasudeva were carried away by that giant wave with one mighty sweep.

Krishna and Balarama decided to rest having travelled far into the jungles. Balarama, greatly saddened by the massive destruction, sat down in meditation and quit his last breath and merged into the divine. A thousand headed serpent emerged out of his lifeless cadaver, approached Krishna, offered pranams to him and glided towards the sea. Balarama is believed to be an incarnation of Adisesha who is the celestial bed for Mahavishnu.

Krishna Fulfils Rishi Durvasa's Prophecy About Krishnas Mahaniryana

Krishna also began to think of ways in which he could take leave of earth. At this juncture, it was Durvasas curse that came to his help. One day, Krishna rubbed payasam all over the body of Durvasa as per the Rishis request but missed rubbing his feet with it. Durvasa angrily cursed Krishna saying that since he had missed rubbing his feet, Krishnas death is bound to arrive due to his foot. Krishna had not rubbed his feet because the Rishi had planted his feet on the ground.

A fierce hunter namely Jara came near the place where Krishna reclined in a meditating posture. He mistook Krishnas yogic posture to be that of a deer an d shot an arrow at him which pierced Krishnas heel. Rushing forward, Jara realized that he had hit Krishna with his arrow and felt greatly pained. Krishna comforted him saying that this was how he planned to leave his body and he had a reason in doing so. In his earlier incarnation as Rama, he had killed Vali in a fight. So Vali is now born as Jara and he has taken his revenge by aiming at Krishna and pierced his heel. Krishna also said it was a karma which he had anwered in his current janma.

This is how Lord Krishna left this mortal world. The death of Lord Krishna brings out the very fact that even for the Ruler of the Universe, the laws of Karma remains the same. It is said that the age of Kali Yuga began after the death of Krishna.

The Fate Of Krishna's Queens After His Death

Krishna's father was swept by the waves of the sea to death. Wives of Balaram and Krishna immolated themselves including Rukmini. Arjun did the final rites of Krishna and his kinsmen. A lesson was learnt from the mankind about how terrible the consequences will be if you transgress the rules of dharma.