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Lord Krishna's Divine Departure: The Mahaprasthana Explained
Lord Krishna's departure, known as Mahaprasthana, is described in the Mahabharata. After fulfilling his divine mission on Earth—guiding the Pandavas and imparting the Bhagavad Gita—Krishna prepared to leave. He was meditating under a tree when a hunter, mistaking his foot for a deer, accidentally shot an arrow at him. Realizing his mistake, the hunter approached Krishna, who reassured him and accepted the wound. Krishna chose this method to end his earthly life to fulfill prophecies and scriptural predictions. By accepting the arrow's wound, he demonstrated his acceptance of the world's imperfections and the natural course of events. His departure highlighted the teachings of detachment and the impermanence of the physical body, illustrating that the soul is eternal. Additionally, Krishna's reaction to the hunter’s mistake showcased his compassion, forgiveness, and divine grace. This exit marked the completion of his mission and his return to his divine abode, Vaikuntha.
What is Abhayam?
Earth is made up of seven continents. One among them is Plakshadvipa. Idhmajihva was a king of Plakshadvipa. He divided it into 7 parts. Abhayam is one among them. The others are - Shivam, Yamasam, Subhadram, Shantam, Kshemam, and Amritam. It was conquered by Bhimasena during Digvijaya yatra before the Rajasuya yaga of the Pandavas.
Transcript
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You must have heard the Mahabharata story. Bhishmacharya was wounded by Arjuna and he was lying on a bed of arrows. Bhishma is called Bhishma Pitamaha. His position was that of grandfather of both Pandavas and Kauravas. They all respected him. But war is war. He had to take a side, he took Kaurava’s side. Duryodhana was the king then. Bhishma had one power, he would die only when he wants. Arjuna wounded him with arrows. Arjuna himself made a ....
Transcript
(Click here)
You must have heard the Mahabharata story.
Bhishmacharya was wounded by Arjuna and he was lying on a bed of arrows.
Bhishma is called Bhishma Pitamaha.
His position was that of grandfather of both Pandavas and Kauravas.
They all respected him.
But war is war.
He had to take a side, he took Kaurava’s side.
Duryodhana was the king then.
Bhishma had one power, he would die only when he wants.
Arjuna wounded him with arrows.
Arjuna himself made a bed of arrows for him.
It is called Shara-shayya.
Arjuna himself produced a stream of water for Bhishmacharya by piercing earth with an arrow.
So, Bhishmacharya was lying on that bed of arrows, waiting for a good time to leave his body.
At that time, Yudhishtira asked him so many doubts about dharma.
Do you know what dharma means?
How to live correctly, how to live as a good human being.
Bhishmacharya was clearing all his doubts.
At that time, Draupadi was also standing nearby.
She started smiling, a little sarcastically.
Bhishmacharya saw this.
He asked her: why are you smiling?
What are you thinking about?
Draupadi said: no, no. nothing.
Bhishmacharya again insisted: tell me, what is it?
Draupadi said: now you are giving so much advice about what is right and what is wrong, what is good, what is bad.
When I was being harassed by Dusshasana in front of everyone in that sabha, in front of you, where was your sense of righteousness?
Why did you not object?
I was just wondering about this.
Bhishmacharya said: I know that.
I will tell you why: that time, I was dependent on Duryodhana.
I was eating food provided by Duryodhana.
Duryodhana had evil mind.
As I was eating food provided by Duryodhana; Bhishmacharya was member of Duryodhana’s court.
All his needs were met by Duryodhana who was the king at that time.
This is what Bhishmacharya means when he says that he was eating food provided by Duryodhana.
Because of that, my mind also was influenced.
I lost my viveka, my sense of righteousness was affected because I was depending on an evil person for my survival.
My food came from an evil person.
My body, my mind also became impure.
And now, after Arjuna’s arrows pierced my body, all that bad blood created from the evil food that I have taken, all that bad blood has flown out of my body.
My body has become pure again, my mind has become pure again.
Now, I am able to again clearly see what is right and what is wrong.
What is good and what is bad.
This was Bhishmacharyas reply to Draupadi.
See, what a great concept.
When you grow up and start earning for yourself, never make your livelihood doing bad things which can hurt and harm others.
Never work for people who are bad.
We know some organisations, companies, they have only selfish motives, they want only to make profit, they will exploit and cheat others.
You have to be very careful.
Never work for such companies.
Never work for such people.
If your boss is a bad person, an evil person, a wicked person, don’t work for him because after some time, you will also become like him.
This is the kind of great knowledge that our scriptures give us.
Be proud that we have such a treasure of knowledge given by our great sages.
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