The Aftermath of the Mahabharata: From Kurukshetra to the End of an Era

Vasudev, Yuyudhana and the five Pandavs survived the battle at Kurukshetra.

Drona’s son Ashvathamma, Kripa, Kritavarma escaped death from the Kaurav’s side and so did Yuyutsu, Dhritrashtra’s son from a maid, who had sought refuge with the Pandavas.

Uttara became mother to Parikshit. The foetus was afflicted by the Brahmastra, invoked by Drona’s son Ashvathamma. But was revived by Vasudev as promised, to carry on the Bharata dynasty which was on its decline.

Grandfather Vyasa asked Yudhisthira to perform the horse sacrifice.

The Pandavas, along with the head priest, go and get Maruttas riches since everything was lost during the battle. The riches were dug out from “ under “.

HORSE SACRIFICE

The horse roamed the length and breadth of earth. Arjun with his celestial weapons was assigned the task of protecting the horse. The kings would advance against Arjun. Yudhisthira had advised him against killing but instead forge alliances. The horse circumambulated the earth, followed by Partha on his white steed.

Arjuna returned to Hastinapur. Preparations were made for the horse sacrifice. All the kings were invited. Sacrificial spot, residences, palaces and roads were built with the help of architects for the visiting kings from different countries. The guests in turn brought jewels, women, horses and weapons.

Yudhisthira was oppressed thinking of Partha and the hardships he had undergone in life. His body had auspicious marks of a warrior.

Vasudev arrived with his brother Balram at the head followed by sons Pradyumna, Samba, Gada, Kritavarma, Nishanta. Dhritrashtra was duly honored by Dharamraj.

Partha’s son Babruvahana, his wives Chitrangada and Ulipi were duly honoured by Kunti, Subhadara and Draupadi.

Grandfather Ved Vyasa advised Yudhisthira to perform the sacrifice with large quantities of dakshina. He would be absolved of his sins especially after killing of relations and warriors at Kurukshetra.

Following the recitation of sacred texts, the animals and birds were tied to their stakes around three hundred in all. Each bird and animal earmarked for a specific god. Supreme among the rishis, Ved Vyasa was also present.

HORSE SACRIFICE

The horse was sacrificed after the due sacred texts and rites by the brahmins. The entrails were plucked and roasted. The Pandavs inhaled the smoke, cleansing all their sins. The remaining sixteen limbs were offered as oblations into the fire.

Yudhisthira offered the entire earth as dakshina to Ved Vyasa that Arjun had won. He offered to retire to the forest. Grandfather returned it back. The Kshatriyas, Brahmins, Vaishyas left accepting Dharamraj’s subjugation.

Yudhisthira was instated as the king, advised by Vidhura, Sanjaya and Yuyutsu. The Pandavs ruled for fifteen years. Dhritrashtra was placed at the head of the family and his advice sought. Vyasa too dwelt with Yudhisthira. All the brothers were advised to respect the father’s older brother irrespective and not suffer the slightest of misery.

Bhima found it difficult to reconcile. Time and again he boasted that his arms were his clubs and had used them to kill the enemy. Though Gandhari ignored the insults, Dhritrashtra found it difficult to absorb and not be affected.

Yudhisthir and the other brothers were unaware of the alleged war of words and sentiments.

Dhritrashtra expressed his desire to retire to the forest along with his wife Gandhari. Some fifteen years had elapsed since the battle at Kurukshetra had taken place.

The once lord of the earth had become frugal. He was all bone and skin. Vyasa advised his grandson. His son had aged, lost all his sons and was heart broken. He wished to retire to the forest and breathe his last. Grant him permission, he advised.

Vidhur and Gandhari too sought permission to leave for the forest.

The people of Hastinapur had forgiven Duryodhan.

Before leaving, Dhritrashtra requested some riches to be given away at the funeral ceremony for the slain Kauravs along with Bhishma, Drona, Kripa and Jayadrath.

Bhima objected. Dhritrashtra had connived with his sons.

Arjun intervened. With the progress of time, the givers had become seekers. Refusal would bring ill fame, argued Partha. Since people would tend to remember the good deeds of Dhritrashtra and his sons and not their crimes.

After giving away donations, Dhritrashtra along with his wife Gandhari left for the forest. He was accompanied by Vidhur and Sanjay.

Kunti too decided to accompany them. She had urged her sons to fight for the kingdom. After achieving the goal, she had decided to abandon everything, the sons accused. The mother had goaded them to come out of their lassitude so that Pandu’s lineage thrived, she explained.

Dhritrastra resided by the banks of river Bhagirathi, lay on kush grass at night, purified in river Ganga performing ablutions and offering oblations to the fire.

The Pandavs were overwhelmed. The elders were old and accoustomed to a comfortable life. They visit them in the forest.

Vidhura had lost his senses. He roamed naked in the forest, all bones and no flesh. He failed to recognise Yudhisthira. Both epitomised eternal Dharma that only spread and was pervasive ( Sanatan or sanatak ). He practiced dhyana, yoga, truth, self control, non violence, generosity and austerities.

Kunti wished to absolve herself of the guilt attached to being an unwed mother to Karna. She explained to Ved Vyasa that sage Durvasa had come to her father seeking alms. He had blessed her with motherhood. Curiosity got the better of her. But was frightened to see a brahmin and begged him to leave. He threatened to destroy Durvasa and her too if she disobeyed. Ved Vyasa absolved her of the crime she had apparently thought to have committed. She was a virgin. Gods possessed the power to enter human bodies through sight, touch, words and intercourse.

With the passage of time they perished.

MOUSALA PARVA

Samba, son of Vasudev and Jambavi was insolent towards rishis. They cursed him. He shall destroy the lineage of Bhojas, Andhakas, Vrishnis except for Rama and Vasudev !

Frightened the king, Ahuka prohibited the consumption of alcohol.

Thirty six years had elapsed since Gandhari had cursed Vasudev. That his entire lineage would be wiped out just like the Bharatas, at his instigation.

The Vrishnis go on a pilgrimage to the shores of an ocean Prabhasa. The Yadavs and Vrishnis were fond of liquor.

In the midst of festivities, all of them got intoxicated. Yuyudhana (Satyaki ) accused Kritavarma of aiding Ashvathamma and killing Draupadi’s sons in sleep. The latter reiterated that he had sliced Bhurishrava’s arms while he was in a state of meditation on the battlefield. It was against the values of a kshatriya. Vasudev cast an angry look at both of them.

Satyaki countered by reminding that Kritavarma had killed Satyabhama’s ( Vasudev’s wife) father for his jewel.

Satyaki promised Satyabhama that he would kill her father’s assailant and accordingly severed Kritavarma’s head. This was the beginning of an end.

The Bhojas and Andhakhas united against Shini’s descendants (Satyaki). Vasudev’s son joined Satyaki in defence. Both were killed by the intolerant and intoxicated tribe. Seeing his son Pradyumana fallen to death, Vasudev was inconsolable. He fought with a clump of erka grass, both terrible and firm like a club. Soon everyone was fighting with the erka grass, killing each other in the process. Vasudev’s sons Samba, Pradyuman, Gada and Anirudha, were killed. Vasudev was enraged. He slew those left. Babru and Daruka, asked him to follow his brother’s footsteps.

Daruka left for Indraprastha to inform Arjun of the great destruction of the Yadavs.

Babru was killed by a hunter’s club shortly after.

Vasudev joined his brother Rama in the forest. Before that he went to Dvaravati and asked his father to protect the women till Arjun arrived. Rama lay dead in a desolate spot in the forest. It was the end of an era. A hunter Jara shot Vasudev in the foot mistaking it to be a deer.

Arjun was drained of all energy. He no longer wished to rule the earth. Shourie Vasudev too left for the supreme destination. His wives Devaki ( Krishna’s mother ), Bhadra (Balaram’s mother ), Rohini and Madira immolated themselves with their husband. Arjun performed the funeral rites of the cousins and uncle.

After seven days Partha traveled with thousands of Andhaka and Vrishni women, children and the old. The entourage was attacked by cowherds( abhiras, mlecchas). There were no men traveling along. Arjuna with great difficulty stringed his Gandhiva. He felt the strength of his arms diminishing. Many women were forcibly taken away, while some left on their own fearing the inevitable.

Partha instated Kritavarma’s son as the king of Martikavat, placing some women of Bhojas and Vrishnis there. King Akura’s wives left for the forest, some women entered the fire. Satyabhama entered the forest.

Partha had become depressed and found no peace. Ved Vyasa explained thus, “ Strength, intelligence, energy and power diminished with adversity. The universe is in turn controlled by Time. Time gives and withdraws. Strong becomes weak, rich becomes poor and vice versa.

Krishna was capable of countering the curse of the Brahmins but did nothing. He wanted to reduce the burden on earth.

The Pandavs decided that it was Time, they too gave up their kingdom and eventually Life, moving to the forest. It was decided by Dharamraj that Parikshit, son of Abhimanyu would be the king of Hastinapur ( Meerut ), Vajra, great grandson of Krishna would be the king of Indraprastha ( Delhi) and Yuyutsu , Dhritrashtra’s son from the maid would be the overlord. Kripa would be the preceptor.

Handing over the kingdom to Yuyutsu, the Pandavs along with Draupadi and a dog left casting away the sacrificial fire that burns in a household, into water. All of them were cheerful as against when they had lost in the game of dice and moved in the forest.

Arjun’s wives Ulipi entered the river Ganga and Chitrangada moved back to Manipur.

Heart broken and reluctant, the Pandav cast away his bow Gandhiva and the quivers into Varuna. Dwarka was submerged in water. The Pandavs encircled the earth practicing yoga, moving from north to east to west.

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