Arjuna’s Arrival at Prabhāsa
After receiving the heart-breaking news of the destruction of the Yādava dynasty and Kṛṣṇa’s departure, Arjuna, the heroic Pāṇḍava and dearest friend of Lord Kṛṣṇa, journeyed swiftly to Prabhāsakṣetra.
When he arrived, he saw a scene of terrible devastation—the battlefield was littered with the bodies of his beloved friends: Pradyumna, Sāmba, Aniruddha, and many other Yādavas lay slain by their own kin in a ghastly civil war.
His heart broke, and he wept uncontrollably. But even more painful than the loss of warriors was the realization that Kṛṣṇa was gone—His eternal friend, guide, and source of strength, had left the Earth.
Arjuna’s Lament
Arjuna cried out:
“O Lord Kṛṣṇa, without You, this world is a dark void! You were my charioteer, my strength, my wisdom, my very soul! What is left for me now?”
His bow Gāṇḍīva, once so mighty in his hands, now felt powerless. His strength had waned. Arjuna, the great warrior who had defeated thousands, now felt weak and helpless, his arms trembling with sorrow.
Protecting the Yādava Women
Despite his grief, Arjuna remembered his duty. He gathered the Yādava women—the widows, daughters, and wives of the fallen—and prepared to escort them to Indraprastha, where they would be under the care of the Pāṇḍavas.
As they journeyed through the forests, they were attacked by bandits and mlecchas who had heard of the downfall of Dvārakā and came to plunder its riches.
Arjuna, who once defeated mighty armies and wielded the divine bow Gāṇḍīva, now struggled to defend the women. His arrows failed to fly, his weapons refused to obey, and the celestial strength once granted by Kṛṣṇa was now withdrawn.
The bandits stole the ornaments of the women and kidnapped many. Arjuna was filled with unbearable shame and sorrow. He finally realized:
“All my power was not my own. It was Kṛṣṇa’s mercy alone.”
Arjuna’s Reflection on the Lord’s Departure
Arjuna arrived at Indraprastha with the survivors. He recounted to Yudhiṣṭhira and the other Pāṇḍavas all that had happened: the self-destruction of the Yādavas, Kṛṣṇa’s departure, and his own loss of power.
He declared with certainty:
“Kṛṣṇa has now withdrawn His presence. Dharma has declined. The age of Kali has begun.”
Yudhiṣṭhira and the brothers, hearing this, knew that their time too had come to an end. They soon prepared to renounce the world.
Lessons to Be Learned:
- All strength comes from the Lord. When He withdraws His grace, even the greatest hero becomes powerless.
- Attachment to the Lord is the only true shelter in this world. Even the strongest relationships end, but Kṛṣṇa’s love remains eternal.
- The Lord’s presence sustains dharma. With His departure, Kali-yuga begins—an age of confusion, pride, and irreligion.
- Arjuna’s pain teaches us humility, and that even divine devotees must face separation to increase their longing and love.
Origin of the Story: Harivamsa Purana 3 – Chapter 140: Arjuna’s Lament and the Departure of the Yādava Women
