Balarama passes away

Thus Krishna and Satyaki kept insulting each other. Kritavarma heard this. He said to Satyaki - How dare you insult Krishna. You think you have done a great deed by killing Bhurishrava. You have insulted me too. Yes, I fought for the Kauravas.I did not kill the Pandava sons there. It was all done by the son of Drona. Why do you pull my name into that, as a killer? I will kill you now.

Satyaki said See who is feeling the pinch now. I will make an end of you now.
Saying this, Satyaki rushed and killed Kritavarma with his sword.

Seeing this, fight broke out. Groups formed and each started fighting the other. Arrows started flying in the sky. People were killing each other.

Krishna and Balarama stood still, looking at the massacre happening.

Spears went flying, hitting each other. Rocks were hurled at each other. Soon the people who survived exhausted all their weapons.

Krishna pointed out to the clump of grass that had grown where the club had been ground. He asked the people to use that as a weapon. The people, not thinking, did just that. They started hitting each other with the grass. The grass struck the others like iron clubs.

Soon all were dead. Krishna then called Daruka. He said - Go to Dwaraka. Take Braja with you and take him to Mathura. Take the women folk also with you. It is time for me to leave this earth. Seven days from now, will be a full moon of the month of Kartika. Under the Kirttika constellation, that will be the day when the ocean will engulf Dwaraka. Once you have done this, you will then go to Hastinapura. From there, fetch Arjuna for me. Braja is my great grand son. He is the son of Aniruddha and thus the grand son of Pradyumna.

Daruka left with Braja, son of Aniruddha and Usha. He left Braja in Mathura. Then he went back to Dwaraka and gave Krishna's message. Hearing this, all fell in a swoon.
He then went back where Krishna was.

All except Krishna and Balarama were dead. Krishna asked to Daruka to rush to Hastinapura and fetch Arjuna.

Sad at the sight of things, Daruka left for Hastinapura.

Krishna then said to Balarama - Please stay here. I will go to Dwaraka and visit our parents and inform them. Till then, do not move from here.

Krishna went and told his parents - We went to Prabhasa to counter the effects of the ill omens. There all lost their lives. Only myself and Balarama survived. Heave with grief, Balarama has decided not to return back. I myself have decided to quit this life. Forget all longings of this life. Get engrossed in devotion and love of God.

Krishna came back where Balarama was. The brothers hugged each other. Balarama then sat in a yogic pose and gave up his life. 

Krishna and Balarama start their journey for Prabhasa

Where the men had ground the club, there suddenly grew wild grass. The piece of metal that had been thrown in the water, was swallowed by a huge fish. The fish was caught and brought to the royal kitchen. When the fish was cut open, the iron piece was found. A hunter called Jara, asked for the iron piece so that he could form an arrow from that. He was given that piece.

Krishna, meanwhile, went to Balarama. He said We have stayed here for a long time. We have done what we had come to do. There is no point in delaying our departure any longer. It is time for us to leave Dwaraka and return back. Before we go, we need to initiate the destruction of the city. Let us go to Prabhasa for a bath in the waters.

Balarama agreed and both Krishna and Balarama started for Prabhasa with their family members. On the way they saw many ill omens. An earthquake happened. Comets were seen in the sky. Weird noises were heard. Many buildings began falling down. Dogs and Jackals were heard howling. People began running around, looking for their dear ones.

The Gods in the heaven began praying to Krishna. They said You have been on earth for long. This creation is yours. Please find a way to leave this and return.
Krishna said In due course I will be returning back.This Dwaraka was my creation. The destruction of this has been initiated. Once this is gone, I will be back.

Krishna called the young men of the royal family and said - Ill omens have been seen around. Please have a dip in the holy waters of Prabhasa. That will bring relief from the omens.

He then went to Ugrasena and his father and said it was time for him to leave the world.

While only the women stayed back, all the men of Dwaraka went along with Krishna towards Prabhasa.

On the way Krishna asked Satyaki - Tell me how you fought in the great battle along with the Pandavas.

Satyaki said - I fought with all my might. I contributed my part and killed many great warriors. You yourself were there and saw how I fought.

Balarama comes to Kurukshetra

Janmajeya asked the sage - Tell me about the travels of Balarama.
The sage said -
After visiting all the pilgrim spots, Balrama came to the ashrama of the sage Shandilya. There Balarama saw the sage Narada.
Narada told Balarama - You went for a pilgrimage and here the Pandavas and the Kauravas have started fighting. Krishna acted as the charioteer of Arjuna. Bhishma, Drona and Karna are dead. Your nephew Abhimanyu is dead. Duryodhana is the only Kaurava left along with Kripa and Ashwatthama. He is hiding in the Dwaipayana lake. There Bhima and Duryodhana will have a fight using their maces.

Hearing Narada, Balarama left for the lake. The Pandavas and Krishna greeted Balarama. With a sad face with tears in his eyes, Duryodhana also came and greeted Balarama.
Balarama asked Krishna Why did he let the Kauravas get defeated?

Krishna said Listen. You know about the atrocities that Duryodhana brought about, on the Pandavas. Shakuni, with his enchanted dice, won over everything of the Pandavas. Draupadi was made a maid and brought in the court. Her clothes were snatched off. At that time Dhritarashtra stopped the game. Another game happened. Who ever lost would go to the forest for twelve years and then go in hiding for a year. After all this, when the Pandavas asked for their land back, it was refused. I was insulted by Duryodhana when I went to mediate. That is when the war happened. I am not at fault.

Balarama then asked Duryodhana to give their land to them, to which Duryodhana refused. He said he had lost a lot in the war and would now not give anything away. He said I know I was unfair. Abhimanyu was killed by unfair means. I also know that I will be killed by Bhima and the complete kingdom will go to Yudhistira.

Balarama said I will then leave for Dwaraka as my words are not being listened to.

Krishna asked Balarama to wait and watch the fight between Bhima and Duryodhana.

Yudhistira said This is the land of Kurukshetra. Whoever dies here attain heaven. 

Balarama kills Suta

Janmajeya asked Why did Balarama go on a pilgrimage?
The sage -

In the forest Naimisha, Shaunaka and the other sages were reading and reciting the Mahabharata. The sage Suta was reciting the epic and the other sages were listening. Balarama arrived there. All sages except Suta greeted Balarama and offered him a seat. He thought that the sages were always praising and listening to him and he was above all. Thus he did not greet Balarama.
Balarama was hurt and he said he would teach Suta a lesson.
Suta said he was in the process of reciting the Mahabharata and it would be a sin to leave this incomplete.
Balarama was angry. In his anger, he jumped up with his sword and cut off the head of the sage.
All were aghast. The killing of a brahamana was a grave sin. Suta was a learned sage and killing of his was not proper.
Balarama was ashamed at his deed.
Knowing this, Vyasa arrived there. All sages greeted him and received him. They told Vyasa what had happened.
Balarama said He had committed a mistake and wanted to atone for the sin.
Vyasa said Then lead the life of a celibate and go and visit all the pilgrim places. Perform sacrifices and feed brahmanas. Give gifts to the poor.
Saying this Vyasa left.
Suta's son Sauti was there. Balarama went to him and asked him to perform the last rites of his father. Balarama arranged for the ceremony and the gifts. After the ceremony he made Sauti sit in the place of his father to recite the Mahabharata.
After this, Balarama left for his pilgrimage. He had left when the Pandavas and Kauravas had been involved in the game of dice.

Janmajeya asked the sage - What pilgrim spots did Balarama visit?

Balarama hears of the defeat of the Yadava army

Balarama decided to enter the battle when a messenger came to him. The messenger said Subhadra was controlling the chariot and Arjuna was fighting. No one was able to withstand the might of his arrows. The messenger also told Balarama that the chariot belonged to Krishna and Daruka, was in the chariot, tied up.

Balarama then realized that this was all Krishna's doing. Krishna then came there, and in anger, Balarama did not look at Krishna.

Krishna asked what was the matter. Krishna said Arjuna had borrowed the chariot and how was he to know that Arjuna would kidnap Subhadra. Also the chariot is being driven by Subhadra, so why blame me or Daruka.

The messenger asked what he was to do next.

Krishna said he was aware of Arjuna's skill and no one would be able to win over him. It was correct within the kshatriyas to forcibly carry over women and marry them. Is Subhadra was against this, she would not have helped Arjuna, by driving the chariot. If something happened to Arjuna, Subhadra would kill herself. Let a nice sweet person go, talk to Arjuna. That person will bring Arjuna over and Subhadra would married to him as per the rites.

Balarama said Do what you want to do.  Satyaki, go and get Arjuna over. 

Balarama rescues Sambha

Narada went to Dwaraka to inform Krishna about Sambha's capture. He told Krishna what had happened and how Yudhistira had intervened and stopped Sambha from getting killed. Krishna was enraged and decided to go and put an end to this. Balarama then asked Krishna to control himself. He said he would go and get Sambha and Lakshana to Dwaraka.

Balarama went to Hastinapura and sent a message to Duryodhana to release Sambha and send him and Lakshana to Dwaraka.

Duryodhana said this was not acceptable and he was not going to accept Sambha as his son in law.

This enraged Balarama. He jumped down from his chariot, with his plow in his hand. This scared everyone and all the elders asked Duryodhana to agree. Duryodhana then came to Balarama with Sambha and Lakshana.

Balarama returned to Dwaraka with Sambha and Lakshana. 

Balarama does not want Subhadra to marry Arjuna

In the morning, when all the Yadava elders were sitting together, Krishna spoke about Subhadra. He said she was of the age when should be married. He suggested Arjuna as the husband for her. Satyaki and Vasudeva agreed to that. Balarama then said he had thought of someone else for his sister. He said Duryodhana would make a good husband for her.

All were quiet when they heard this. Thinking this as an approval, Balarama sent messengers to Hastinapura, to fetch Duryodhana.

In the evening Satyabhama wanted to know when the wedding of Arjuna and Subhadra would happen. Krishna said that looked bleak, as Balarama had sent for Duryodhana to come and wed Subhadra. Krishna then said he would have to think of something again.

Satyabhama decided to talk to Devaki, her mother-in-law. She told her what had happened and wanted to know what to do next. Devaki sent for Rohini, Balarama's mother. She told her what had happened. Along with Rohini, Devaki then went to Balarama. She said it was her wish that her daughter marry Arjuna.

Balarama said the world knew that the Pandavas were not sons of Pandu but of some Gods. Duryodhana was purely born in the Kuru dynasty and deserved Subhadra.
Rohini said Subhadra's decision also made an importance, and Subhadra wanted Arjuna as her husband.

Balarama said He did not agree if someone other than his wife and mother had said this, the person would have been dead. He said Krishna was a fool. If anyone said something nice to him, he was moved by that. Also, he said, Duryodhana was his disciple, and from that aspect he wanted his sister to marry Duryodhana. Also, Krishna's son was married to Duryodhana's daughter, so why would Krishna have a problem with Duryodhana, when they were directly related.


Hearing this, Janmajeya wanted to know, who was this daughter of Duryodhana, and how did she marry a son of Krishna?

Bhishma and Drona talk about Arjuna

Arjuna went where the bow was. He bowed down before the bow, and went around it three times.
He uttered a silent prayer to Shiva. He lifted the bow with his left hand, and bending the bow, strung it. He pulled the string, and the sound that it made was loud.
Before shooting the target, Arjuna wanted to take the blessings of Drona, his Guru. Doing that was difficult in front of all. He remembered an older saying of his Guru, where he had said if wanted to remember him, he was to shoot two arrows. One arrow was to go to the heaven, one to touch his feet.
Arjuna remembering this, took two arrows and shot them. One went skywards, the other fell at Drona's feet.
Drona wondered if his favorite disciple was somewhere, taking his blessings. He blessed the archer.
Arjuna then bowed before all, specially in front of Bhishma. Drona said the brahmana was asking for his blesseings.
Bhishma said a brahmana would give blessings and not take from him.
Drona said this did not seem to be a genuine brahmana but someone in the guise of one.
Bhishma said he was thinking the sane, the face looked familiar. Let me know if you know who this is., This seems to be someone dear to me.
Drona said I think I know who this is but I am afraid to take the name lest someone hear me say his name. I think the dead one, who got burnt, is alive.
Bhishma said no one would dare say anything, just take the name.
Drona said this form of shooting arrows to take blessings was known only to Partha.
Bhishma's eyes became wet thinking of the Pandavas who had died in the fire. Drona said he felt somehow the Pandavas were alive. Vidura had probably helped them escape.
Happy Bhishma said, if this was Arjuna, he would then definitely win the contest and the hand of Draupadi.
Arjuna then bowed down before Krishna. Krishna said to Balarama, Arjuna was asking for blessings. Balarama said Arjuna would surely win the princess. The defeated kings would attack him, how would he then defeat the kings? Krishna said, that is where he and Balarama would come in, and help the Pandavas.  

Krishna and Balarama talk

The kings started saying that an impossible target had been set to insult them.
Hearing this, Dhristadyumna said all kshatriyas assembled were eligible for the contest and they could try again. He looked at Krishna, who taking a cue got up and started speaking.
Krishna said the task was indeed difficult. Balarama said he would leave as this seemed to a waste of time. Krishna asked him to stay for one day. There was a person on this planet who could easily achieve this. Balarama asked who was this person, who would wed the beautiful Draupadi.

Krishna said the person who would be able to achieve this task was Partha, son of Indra, born of Kunti. Balarama said then let us leave. What was the point of waiting when the person are referring to perished in the fire in Varnavrata.

Krishna said he knew that the Pandavas were not dead and were very much alive. When it was time, they would reveal themselves. The Pandavas were born of Gods and would not be harmed by fire. If you really want to know, they are present at this moment, in this hall.

Balarama then asked Krishna how they had survived and what they had done all this time. He wanted to know where they were. Pointing to the brahmanas, Krishna pointed out to the Pandavas, showing Balarama all of them. He also said that the troubles of Pandavas had been caused by Duryodhana.In time, it would be the Pandavas who would be victorious.