Makaranda Madhukar Anand Mahendale Festshrift

Author(s): M A Dhaky, Jitendra B Shah
Publisher: Shardaben Chimanbhai Educational Research Centre

Page 58

The Justification of Kṛṣṇa's Annihilation of His Own Clan
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under the influence of liquor (16.4.14-15; 4.31; 4.40).
All this, at first sight, can be construed as an explanation as to why the Yadavas were annihilated. But, on the other hand, Vyasa declares in the text that Kṛṣṇa is able to counteract the curse and destiny, since he is able even to alter the course of the three worlds; yet, even so, he chooses to be indifferent (16.9.24-33). Even Kṛṣṇa's own father Vasudeva' laments that Krsna, the lord of the universe, is indifferent to this calamity (anaya) (16.7.911). He does not want to change fate (Kṛtānta) (16.2.14) It is true that he wants to prevent Yuyudhana from killing more people (16.428) but when, impelled by fate, all the Bhojas and Andhakas surrounded the son of Sini, i.e., Yuyudhana, then Kṛṣṇa, knowing the opposition of Time (Kala) does not get angry [and does not interfere] (16.4.29-30). Commenting on 16.9.33, Nilakantha indicates that Time (Kala), mentioned in this verse, is none other than the Lord Krsna himself (on 16.9.33 16.8.33 in the vulgate). Not only does he not prevent the tragedy, but, becoming angry, he even kills with the iron club [nearly] all the Yadavas, practically leaving no survivors (16.4.34-35; 42-26). Similarly, after Gāndhärī has pronounced her curse, he tells her that she is thereby helping him to bring about what he has already determined to accomplish. The Yadavas will bring about their mutual slaughter. (11.25.44-45)." When the time for Gāndhari's curse taking effect draws near (16.3.19), Krsna desires to make her words come true (16.3.21).
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While there are attenuating circumstances in the passages cited above, the Mbh does not give clear and unambiguous justification of Krsna's destruction of his own relatives. Perhaps it could be pointed out that the Mbh implicitly indicates that the Yadavas reap their just deserts because they commit sins and do not repent; they hate Brahmins, the ancestors (Pitr) and the deities, and disrespect their preceptors (guru). Only Balarama and Kṛṣṇa do not behave like this (16.3.8-9). Nilakantha asserts that the Yadavas perish because they are totally attached to wealth (artha) and sensuality (kāma) (Introduction to Mausalaparvan.) Let us now move on the VIP.
II. The Problem and the Justification in the Visnu Purāṇa and Its Commentator Sridhara",
Under the pretext (vyāja) of the curse of the Brahmins, Kṛṣṇa destroys