Bhagavatham Stories

After learning of Krishna's departure from the material world, the Pandavas were plunged into an ocean of grief that was almost beyond comprehension. For them, Krishna was not merely a relative or friend, not simply an ally in war or a source of practical advice. He was everything to them: their ultimate guide and master, their supreme protector and teacher, the fulfillment of their spiritual aspirations, and the very purpose and center of their existence. Every meaningful thing in their lives derived its meaning from their relationship with Krishna. Yudhishthira, the eldest and most responsible, understood immediately that with Krishna gone, there was absolutely no reason to continue maintaining their kingdom or clinging to their remaining material attachments. The very purpose of their life had been to serve Krishna, to uphold dharma under His guidance, and to work toward the welfare of all beings while remembering the Lord. Now that He had departed, continuing to rule the kingdom and engage in political and military affairs seemed not merely futile but spiritually counterproductive. Clinging to power and possessions would only trap their consciousness further in material identification.

Arjuna particularly felt a sense of complete emptiness and spiritual disorientation that bordered on despair. He approached Yudhishthira and opened his heart about how abandoned and powerless he felt. He explained with perfect clarity that every ounce of his power, every bit of his knowledge and skill, every achievement he had ever accomplished in his entire life existed only because of Krishna's grace and presence. The same hands that had held the Gandiva bow and defeated countless warriors, winning battles against seemingly impossible odds - those hands were now powerless and unable to even protect the widows of Krishna's family from common thieves. The same extraordinary intelligence that had been elevated through hearing the Bhagavad-gita from Krishna Himself, that had understood the deepest philosophical truths about the nature of the self and God - that same intelligence now felt dull, confused, and incapable of making even simple decisions. Arjuna realized with crushing clarity that his individual existence as a person - his identity, his abilities, his accomplishments - was significant and meaningful only in relation to Krishna. Without Krishna, without constant connection to the Supreme Lord, even his great and legendary accomplishments seemed hollow and empty, like beautiful decorations on a corpse.

The chapter provides a detailed description of the symptoms and characteristics of Kali-yuga - the age of quarrel, hypocrisy, and spiritual degradation - that were now manifesting in full force throughout the world because Krishna had withdrawn His physical presence from the earth. Irreligion was increasing at an alarming rate; people were becoming more dishonest and deceptive in their dealings with one another; the duration of human life was rapidly decreasing from what it had been in previous ages; human memory was becoming unreliable, and people's intellectual and spiritual capacity was progressively weakening. Values were deteriorating throughout society - people began respecting and honoring others based primarily on their material wealth rather than their character, wisdom, or spiritual advancement. Religious principles and spiritual practices were being neglected and replaced with selfish material pursuits. Crime, violence, and conflict were increasing. Even the natural elements seemed disturbed - droughts, floods, and unseasonable weather became more common.

Recognizing all these symptoms of Kali-yuga and understanding completely that their spiritual purpose in life had been fulfilled, the Pandavas made the momentous decision to retire from worldly affairs permanently. Yudhishthira called for a grand assembly and formally crowned Parikshit, his grandson and the son of Abhimanyu, as the new emperor of the world. Parikshit was the rightful heir - born through Krishna's protection in his mother's womb, bearing the spiritual mark of Krishna's blessings. After performing all the necessary rituals and coronation ceremonies, Yudhishthira gave away all of his possessions in charity. The vast treasures of the kingdom were distributed to learned brahmanas and to the poor. The palaces and buildings were given to those who needed them. Nothing was retained for their personal use or security - the Pandavas completely stripped themselves of material possessions and proprietorship.

The five Pandava brothers - Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva - along with their beloved wife Draupadi, the queen who had suffered so much alongside them through all their trials, left the capital city and began their final journey toward the Himalayas. They wore only simple bark cloth, the traditional garment of renunciates who have abandoned worldly life. They vowed to maintain complete silence, giving up all speech and communication with the world they were leaving behind. They walked with a determination to never look back - neither physically turning their eyes backward nor mentally dwelling on what they had abandoned. Every step forward was a step deeper into meditation on Krishna, a progressive withdrawal of consciousness from the material world and fixing of the mind on the Supreme Lord. This chapter demonstrates the proper consciousness that must eventually characterize the life of all sincere devotees - understanding that life's truest purpose is exclusively serving Krishna and maintaining Krishna consciousness, and that when circumstances change and the direct opportunity for physical service changes form, one should renounce material attachments completely and prepare for the final journey home to the Lord, with Krishna consciousness as the sole focus and foundation of one's existence.