Krishnavatar Samapti: The Lord Departs

Hunter's arrow fells Krishna

As the cremation fires fade at Prabhasa, Balarama withdraws from the world in deep meditation, his divine essence departing as a great white serpent that returns to the cosmic ocean. Krishna, now utterly alone, sits beneath a banyan tree with his foot casually exposed. A hunter named Jara, mistaking the reddish sole for a deer's ear, looses an arrow tipped with the last fragment of the cursed pestle. In his final moments, Krishna forgives his killer, blesses him, and consciously releases his mortal form, ending the avatar's earthly mission precisely as ordained.

Balarama's Withdrawal

Three days had passed since the massacre. The cremation fires had burned low, the ashes scattered, the survivors organized for the journey they would eventually make to Hastinapura. Krishna had done everything that needed doing, except one thing.

He had not yet spoken with his brother.

Balarama had remained on that distant stretch of beach where Krishna had found him, refusing food, refusing company, refusing to return to the camp where the survivors gathered. When Krishna went to him again, he found his brother sitting in the same position, back against the tree, eyes fixed on the ocean, as if he had not moved at all.

"Brother," Krishna said softly. "Daruka has gone to Hastinapura. Arjuna will come. The survivors will be safe."

Balarama did not respond immediately. When he finally spoke, his voice was distant, as if coming from very far away.

"I remember when we were children in Gokula. Before any of this. Before the wars and the politics and the endless deaths. Do you remember, Krishna? The cows and the butter and the forests? It was simple then."

"I remember."

"I have been thinking about that time. About who I was before I became... this." He gestured vaguely at himself, at the body of a warrior-king, the wielder of the great plough, the elder brother of God. "I was Shesha once. The endless one. The serpent who supports Lord Vishnu in the cosmic ocean. I think... I think it is time to go home."

Krishna understood. He had known this moment would come, had perhaps known it even before the massacre, when he sensed his brother's growing weariness with the mortal world.

"Then go, brother. Your work here is finished."

"And yours?"

"Nearly. There is one thing remaining. But that will come in its own time."

Balarama looked at Krishna at last, really looked, seeing past the human form to what lay beneath.