Makaranda Madhukar Anand Mahendale Festshrift

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

Page 64

The Justification of Krsna's Annihilation of His Own Clan
as the lover lightens the weight of the excessive ornaments from his very young beloved; or just as the weight of a desirable thing is easy to carry but, when one has too much of it, it is not so easy to bear; or just as a greedy merchant finds it difficult to lift the weight of a heap of gold that he has suddenly obtained, so also it is difficult for the earth to bear the burden of the Yādavas (VC on 11.6.30). Therefore, the Yādavas are removed because they are too much of a good thing!
SD adds two more reasons. The Yādavas are destroyed because otherwise, seeing their supremacy on earth, the asuras, being filled with hatred, would return again and thus become a renewed burden to the earth. Since there is this apprehension of the return of the asuras, the Yādava clan is destroyed. Secondly, since they have completed their work (krtakārya) on earth, the Yādavas are withdrawn. (SD on 11.1.3).
3. This annihilation is actually the removal of the deities who have entered Krsna's attendants.
On the one hand, some commentators assert that the Yādavas are actually parts (asía) of deities, who are not eligible for immediate salvation (sadyomokṣa). If they were to die in Dvārakā, they would attain salvation, hence Krsna leads them to Prabhāsa, which will bring them the fruit of prosperity (GS, SS on 11.6.35), i. e., the temporary heaven (svarga), health etc. (VD on 11.6.35), but not salvation. On the other hand, some others claim that the Yādavas should be distinguished from the deities who have entered them (e.g., RR on 11.1.1, VD on 11.1.10). According to this latter view, Krsna desires that his Dvārakā should always retain its brilliance, characterized by his eternal retinue (parikara), viz., the Yādavas. Hence through his yogic power he expels from his attendants (such as Pradyumna, Sāmba, etc.) the deities (such as Kandarpa and Kārtikeya), who had entered unseen into his attendants and, taking these deities to Prabhāsa, involves them through his māyā in the battle of the clubs, thus sending them to their temporary heaven (VC, VD on 11.6.35 and on 11.30.5; see also GS, RR on 11.6.35, and VD on 11.1.10). Incidentally, VC and VD remark that, even though Krsna talks about going to Prabhāsa, he actually intends to remain always in Dvārakā in his complete form, together with his attendants (on