Bhagavatham Stories

After the passing of the great Bhishma and the period of mourning that followed, the time came for Lord Krishna to depart from Hastinapura and return to His capital city of Dwaraka. Yudhishthira had now been established as the emperor of the world, the rightful ruler of the Kuru dynasty, and the protector of the principles of dharma. The kingdom began its slow healing from the devastation of war. Yet for the Pandavas, particularly for Arjuna, the thought of Krishna's departure was almost unbearable. They had become so dependent on Krishna's presence, so accustomed to His guidance and protection, that the idea of continuing their lives without the constant availability of His physical form seemed impossible.

During Krishna's time in Hastinapura after the war, He had been the central focus of everyone's attention and devotion. The Pandavas, particularly Arjuna, considered Krishna not merely as a cousin or ally, but as their eternal master, spiritual guide, supreme well-wisher, and the very purpose of their existence. Everything meaningful in their lives revolved around Krishna - His presence gave them strength in times of weakness, wisdom in times of confusion, and assurance that the universe was under control and that dharma would ultimately triumph over adharma. The bond between Krishna and the Pandavas was not merely emotional or social but essentially spiritual - the eternal connection between the Supreme Lord and His sincere devotees who have surrendered completely to His lotus feet.

As Krishna's chariot began to move forward on the road toward Dwaraka, the residents of Hastinapura could not bear to let Him go. Vast crowds emerged from the city to see Him one last time - men, women, and children, all straining to catch a final glimpse of the Lord whose presence had blessed their land and protected their civilization. The ladies of the royal palace stood on their balconies and rooftops, their eyes fixed on Krishna's chariot, their hearts aching with the separation that was about to begin. Some of these women began to sing, expressing their feelings in beautiful verses of poetry. They sang about Krishna's glories, describing how the goddess of fortune (Lakshmi) herself eternally serves Krishna's lotus feet, how He had protected the Pandavas through countless dangers and seemingly impossible situations, how He had lifted Govardhan Hill with His little finger to shelter the residents of Vrindavan from torrential rains, how He had defeated demons and established righteousness on Earth.

The women of Hastinapura's prayers and songs were not merely personal expressions of goodbye - they represented the voice of civilization saying farewell to its greatest protector. In their verses, they expressed wonder and amazement at how the Supreme Lord had chosen to appear among them in a human form, playing the role of an ordinary person, though He is the ultimate object of meditation and worship for all the great sages, yogis, and celestial beings throughout the three worlds. They questioned how the goddess of fortune could ever leave Krishna's association to dwell anywhere else, since even the greatest ascetics practice meditation for thousands of years hoping to achieve just a momentary glimpse of His lotus feet. Through their songs, they revealed an essential truth: that association with Krishna is the greatest treasure in existence, and separation from Him is the most painful experience the heart can endure.

Arjuna's experience during Krishna's departure was particularly profound. He had been Krishna's most intimate disciple, the one to whom the Lord had personally spoken the Bhagavad Gita on the battlefield. The bond between them was characterized by Krishna's perfect knowledge of Arjuna's heart - Krishna understood every doubt, every fear, every aspiration that moved Arjuna's consciousness. Now, watching Krishna's chariot move away, Arjuna felt as if the sun had set in his life and darkness was descending. The words that came from his heart reflected the deepest pain that a devotee can experience: "O Lord, without Your presence, everything seems meaningless. The palace, the kingdom, our families - all seem empty and purposeless without You. Your departure is like the sun setting on a beautiful day, leaving only darkness behind." These words, though expressing grief, also reveal the essential nature of devotional love - a love that cannot tolerate separation from the beloved, a love that makes the presence of the Lord the sole source of meaning and joy in existence.

The chapter concludes by describing the moment when Krishna's chariot disappeared from view in the distance. The Pandavas and the residents of Hastinapura stood watching until the last visible sign of Krishna vanished. Tears of separation flowed from the eyes of all the devotees. Some fell to the ground in their grief, unable to bear the thought of Krishna's absence. Others stood silently, their hearts breaking with the intensity of their love for the Lord. Yet in this separation, there was also a deeper spiritual truth being revealed: that the highest relationship between a devotee and the Lord is characterized by this kind of love - pure love that is untouched by material motivation, love that finds the Lord worthy of complete devotion and dependence, love that survives separation and only grows stronger with time. The Pandavas' example teaches that true spirituality is not about material comfort in the Lord's presence, but about the transformation of the heart that comes from genuine devotion, whether the Lord is physically present or appears to be absent. This chapter beautifully illustrates the relationship between Krishna and His devotees - a relationship characterized by complete dependence, pure love, inability to tolerate separation, and the recognition that Krishna's presence is the fundamental reality that gives meaning to all of existence.