The Divine Ascension — the curse of the sages on the Yadava clan, the sublime philosophy of the Uddhava Gita, the fateful arrow of Jara the hunter, and the Lord's glorious return to His supreme eternal abode Goloka Vaikuntha.
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः — Om Peace, Peace, Peace
Maha Prasthan (महाप्रस्थान) marks the final, poignant chapter of Lord Krishna's earthly descent, chronicled in the 11th Skandha of the Srimad Bhagavatam. Fulfilling His cosmic timeline, He facilitated the departure of His clan, imparted His final teachings (the Uddhava Gita), and peacefully returned to His eternal spiritual realm after being struck by an arrow, establishing the onset of Kali Yuga.
Key final events of Lord Krishna's earthly journey
As Gandhari's curse and the curse of sages (who had been insulted by Yadava youths) drew close to fulfillment, internal division broke out among the Yadavas. At Prabhas Patan, a violent clash erupted. They fought with wild reeds that transformed into iron rods due to the curse, leading to the destruction of the clan. This marked the departure of the earthly associates of the Lord prior to His own ascension.
Sensing the final moments of the Lord on Earth, His close devotee and friend Uddhava approached Him with tears, begging to go with Him. Krishna comforted him by delivering the Uddhava Gita. He taught Uddhava the supreme essence of detachment, how to see the Lord's presence in all living entities, and the true meaning of Bhakti Yoga. He commanded Uddhava to go to Badrikashrama to spend his remaining days in meditation.
Krishna sat silently in the forest, meditating under a Peepal tree with His left foot resting on His right knee. A hunter named Jara mistook the reddish, glowing sole of the Lord's foot for the eye of a deer and shot an arrow from a distance. Running to collect his prey, Jara was horrified to see the Lord and fell at His feet weeping. Krishna smiled, blessed him, and explained that this was pre-ordained (recalling Lord Ram's slaying of Vali from behind a tree) and granted Jara liberation.
Without leaving any material remains, Lord Krishna ascended directly to His supreme eternal abode, Goloka Vaikuntha, in His original divine form. Demigods and celestial beings showered flowers, chanting praises as He disappeared. Right after His ascension, the sea surged and completely swallowed the golden city of Dwarka, save for the Lord's temple. Thus ended the Dwapara Yuga, and the age of Kali (Kali Yuga) began.
"Without burning His transcendental body by mystic yogic fire (since His body is completely spiritual and all-auspicious for meditation), Lord Krishna entered His own supreme spiritual abode."
