Evil portents in Dwaraka

36 years passed after the war. That period of peace and happiness was interrupted only by the extraordinary end to the life of Vidura and the tragic death of Dhritarashtra, Gandhari and Kunti. Krishna and his brother, Balarama, spent these years quietly in Dwaraka ruling over the land of the Yadavas.

Then, bad omens started appearing in the Yadava city. Strong wind carrying dust and gravel blew over the city and its surroundings. Comets appeared in the sky and darted in all directions, setting the sky aflame on its path. Birds of prey were spotted circling over the city in anti-clockwise direction (apradakshiNa). The Yadavas reported that they observed rivers flowing in the upstream direction.

Parrots cried in shrill voices, “chee, chee”, as though frightened by unseen danger. Even the gentle swans imitated the deep throated noise, “hmmmm”, of owls creating fear in the minds of the people. Goats were reported to be braying, imitating donkeys. Rats multiplied in large numbers eating everything and chewing even the nail and hair of humans.

Animals started cross-breeding and giving birth to creatures unseen ever before. The normally law abiding citizens of Dwaraka stopped caring for the laws of the land and indulged in vices as it pleased them.

Dense fog appeared all of a sudden covering all the land and the sea. The sun itself was covered by dust for days in a row. The entire sky was engulfed in darkness even at midday, casting shadows resembling dead bodies without heads (kabandha) over the land.

It appeared, as though, the God of death started visiting every house in Dwaraka, unseen and yet creating fear in the minds of inhabitants.

There was panic throughout the land, fearing that a great calamity was about to befall in their midst. Krishna also observed the evil omens and remembered the curse of Gandhari. The predicted time had come for the end of the Yadava races, the Vrishni, Andhaka and all, and of himself.

Bad omens were also sighted in Hastinapura, nurturing fears in the Pandava minds.

The curse

Then, one day the celestial sages Narada, Viswamitra and Kanva paid a visit to Dwaraka. The long years of prosperity and the unchallenged power of the Yadavas had made them haughty. They cared for none, and spared none as targets for amusement.

The visit of the holy sages gave them hope for new entertainment. Some of the sons of Vasudeva (Krishna’s father) thought of a plan to make fun of the sages. They dressed up Samba, the son of Krishna born to Jambavathy (as retold in the story of Syamantaka in the Bhagavata epic, which we have not covered) as a pregnant girl. Then, pretending mock respect, they spoke to the sages. “Holy men, here is the pregnant wife of Babhru. You are wise men who see the future clearly in your minds. We are all eager to know what child she is going to deliver.”

The sages could easily see through the joke played on them and got into a rage because of the arrogance of the Yadavas. They said. “You, Samba, shall give birth to an iron pestle within the next 24 hours. May that be the cause for the end of your entire race!” So saying, the sages stormed out of Dwaraka leaving the stunned Yadavas behind. The matter was promptly reported to Krishna. Krishna knew that nothing could change the fate of his people. Yet, he thought that it was wise to take the necessary precautionary steps. So, he made a proclamation that there should be no intoxicating drinks prepared or consumed in any of the houses within the kingdom from that day. Alcohol was always the main cause for disaster.

The calamitous birth of a “baby”

Soon after the sages left, Samba found himself transformed, by a miracle, into a woman expecting a baby. He also got into labour pains to the consternation of all, and delivered an iron pestle on the very next day, exactly as predicted by the sages. Krishna could foresee the shape of things to come, and yet ordered the pestle to be chiselled into fine pieces and be thrown into the sea, which was carried out immediately.

But, the sin of the Yadavas, of making fun of the powerful sages, could not be washed away that easily. The next high tide brought all the iron filings back and deposited them on the sea shore at Prabhasa. Strangely, people who lived around the place found that fresh grass had taken root there. They grew tall and strong like huge pestles threatening, as though, the Yadava race with impending disaster.

Krishna spent his days in pensive mood ever since the time evil portents started appearing and the day the sages cast their spell over the city. On the fateful day as per his calculation, he suggested a pilgrimage to the sea shore at Prabhassa, thinking probably, that that was the way to keep the impending calamity at bay. All the Yadavas, young and old alike moved to the sea shore at Prabhasa to take a holy dip in the sea there. They went with all the preparations for making food for the day.

(To be continued)