Hindu EpicsStories from the Mahabharata

The Death of Krishna

The divine avatar Krishna leaves the mortal world, fulfilling a curse and signaling a new age.

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Illustration for The Death of Krishna - a stories from the mahabharata Hindu Epics story with moral lessons

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Story Summary

Explore the poignant end of an era in The Death of Krishna. Witness the fulfillment of Gandhari's curse and the beginning of Kali Yuga in this epic tale.

Thirty-six years after the Kurukshetra War, the curse of Queen Gandhari reached its fulfillment. The once-mighty Yadava clan, plagued by internal strife and a divine curse involving an iron bolt, destroyed themselves in a drunken brawl at Prabhasa. Lord Krishna, having witnessed the end of his kinsmen and the departure of his brother Balarama, retreated to the forest of Bhalka to meditate. He sat beneath a tree, resting his foot. A hunter named Jara, mistaking Krishna’s reddish heel for the eye of a deer, fired a lethal arrow. Upon discovering he had struck the Divine, Jara was overcome with grief. Krishna comforted him, revealing that his departure was part of the cosmic plan and a debt from a past life. With a peaceful heart, Krishna abandoned his physical form and returned to his heavenly abode, Vaikuntha. This moment marked the official end of the Dvapara Yuga and the beginning of the current age, the Kali Yuga.

The Moral

The story teaches that everything that takes birth must eventually perish, illustrating the absolute power of Time and the inevitability of Karma.

“Do not grieve, Jara, for you were but an instrument in the hands of Time.”

Fun Fact

According to the Puranas, Krishna's death occurred because his heel was the only part of his body not made invulnerable by the sage Durvasa's magical pudding.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the moral of The Death of Krishna?

The moral is that Time (Kala) governs all existence, and even a divine avatar must eventually submit to the laws of mortality and karma. It emphasizes that while the physical body is temporary, the divine spirit is eternal.

Who killed Lord Krishna according to the legend?

Krishna was accidentally killed by a hunter named Jara, who mistook the Lord's foot for a deer. This event was predestined as a result of Gandhari's curse and a karmic debt from Krishna's previous incarnation as Rama.

Why did Gandhari curse Lord Krishna?

Gandhari, the mother of the Kauravas, cursed Krishna because she held him responsible for the destruction of her lineage during the Kurukshetra War. She predicted that his own clan would perish in a similar fratricidal conflict.

What is the connection between Jara and King Vali?

In Hindu tradition, Jara is believed to be the reincarnation of the monkey king Vali. In a previous life, Lord Rama (Krishna's avatar) killed Vali from a hidden position; in this life, Vali returned as Jara to deliver the final blow to Krishna's mortal form.

What happened to Dwarka after Krishna's death?

Following Krishna's departure, the golden city of Dwarka was submerged by the rising ocean. This symbolized the end of the Yadava dominance and the transition of the world into a new spiritual epoch.

How did Krishna's death start the Kali Yuga?

The moment Lord Krishna left his physical body and returned to Vaikuntha is traditionally marked as the end of the Dvapara Yuga. His departure allowed the spirit of Kali to enter the world, beginning the age of spiritual darkness.