Narrator:
Salutations to the venerable Shri Shri Gupta Sadhak Shyama Khapa. Greetings. We begin today’s program from Shantikunja by offering our respects to Guru Dev Gupta Sadhak Shri Shri Shyama Khapa. Let us all listen to the invaluable words of Guru Dev.
Devotee:
Pranam, Guru Dev. In a previous episode, you spoke about the Kurukshetra War. Many of your disciples and regular viewers are curious to know what happened to the Pandavas and Krishna after the war ended. In what situation did they find themselves?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
You’ve asked a very pertinent question. When the Kurukshetra War ended—the great battle between righteousness and unrighteousness—Krishna went to meet Dhritarashtra and Gandhari. Upon seeing Krishna, Gandhari was consumed by rage. She was a Mahasati (a woman of supreme virtue and chastity), and because she had never looked upon another man or harbored ill thoughts, her words carried immense power.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
In her grief, she cursed Krishna: \"Just as you have caused the destruction of my Kaurava dynasty, I curse you that your Yadu dynasty shall also be destroyed.\" Krishna, knowing the power of a Sati’s word, accepted the curse, realizing the fate that awaited his kin.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Later, the Pandavas became deeply troubled. Their hands were stained with the blood of millions who died in the war. They approached Krishna and asked, \"What should we do now? We no longer wish to stay here; we want to set out on the path to heaven.\"
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Krishna advised them, \"Go to Benares. Sit with the great scholars and pundits there and seek their counsel.\"
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The Pandavas went to Benares. The assembly of pundits suggested only one path for atonement: the Das Ashwamedha Yajna (ten horse sacrifices). The Pandavas agreed. According to the rules of the sacrifice, a horse is set free to roam; if anyone captures it, a battle ensues. However, no one dared to stop their horse. Upon the horse's return, they completed the great sacrifice.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
After the Yajna, they began their journey toward heaven via Kedarnath. When they reached Kedarnath, Lord Shiva (Mahadev) tried to avoid them because of the bloodshed they had participated in. Shiva took the form of a bull and tried to flee. Bhima, however, caught the bull by its hindquarters.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Legend says that the bull's head fell at Pancha Kedar, while the body remained at Kedarnath. The triangular stone slab you see today at the Kedarnath temple is said to be the rear of that divine bull caught by Bhima.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
As they continued their journey toward the gates of heaven, one by one, the Pandavas fell, unable to continue. Only Yudhisthira and a faithful dog reached the gate. At the entrance, Heaven itself initially refused them. A voice said, \"Your hands are stained with blood, and we cannot take you. Look back and see how your brothers are suffering.\"
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yudhisthira replied, \"I have never committed an injustice.\"
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The voice reminded him, \"You spoke a half-truth during the war: 'Ashwatthama hato iti gaja' (Ashwatthama is dead... the elephant). You misled Dronacharya into believing his son was dead. Because of this falsehood, you cannot enter directly.\"
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Eventually, Yudhisthira was allowed in, and interestingly, so was the dog. It is said dogs have a 'third eye' and can see spirits and divine beings, which is why they sometimes bark at night at things invisible to us.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Meanwhile, Krishna realized it was time to leave Mathura and Gokul. He sought to establish his own kingdom and reached Dwarka. He asked the sea to recede so he could build his city. Vishwakarma, the divine architect, built the magnificent city of Dwarka. Krishna became 'Dwarkadhish' (Lord of Dwarka).
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
But Gandhari’s curse was inevitable. The Yadu dynasty eventually destroyed itself through internal strife. This is known as the Musal Parva.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Krishna’s end came while he was resting in a forest. He was sitting on a tree branch with his feet dangling. A hunter named Jara, mistaking Krishna’s moving foot for a bird or a deer, shot an arrow. The arrow struck the sole of Krishna’s foot—his only vulnerable spot. Krishna eventually succumbed to the wound.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
When his body was being cremated, everything burned except for his navel (the Nabhi Brahma). A divine voice instructed his followers: \"This remains will never burn. Cast it into the sea.\" They cast it into the ocean, where it floated until it eventually reached the shores of Puri in Odisha. Krishna appeared in a dream to the King of Puri and said, \"My remains are floating in the sea. Retrieve them and establish them in a temple.\"
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The King sent his strongest soldiers, but the remains (which had taken the form of a log/idol) were so heavy that no one could lift them. Krishna appeared to the King again and said, \"Only you can lift this with your own hands.\" The King went personally, and only then could the remains be moved. This divine core is what resides inside the idol of Lord Jagannath at Puri. Every twelve years, during the Nabakalebara ceremony, this 'Brahma' is transferred from the old idol to the new one by priests who are blindfolded and wear gloves, as no one is permitted to see or touch it directly.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
This marked the end of the three great dynasties: the Kauravas, the Pandavas, and the Yadus. This is the conclusion of the Mahabharata—the Musal Parva.
Narrator:
You have been listening to the words of Guru Dev Gupta Sadhak Shri Shri Shyama Khapa. Please let us know how you liked it. To hear Guru Dev’s invaluable teachings regularly, please subscribe to the Shyama Khapa channel, like, share, and comment. Offering our respects to Guru Dev and sharing his blessings and well-wishes for your prosperity, we conclude today’s program. Stay well. Namaskar.