←

Plate 172

The Destruction of the Yadu Dynasty

U'onariving ae Pralhisa, the Yedlus performed terelicious cemonis het Loel Krpahbald recommended. Then, their intelligence covered by Providence, they liberally indulged in

drinking the sweet maireya beverage, which can completely intoxicate the mind. The heroes of the Yadu dynasty became intoxicated from their extravagant drinking and began to feel arrogant. When they were thus bewildered, a terrible quarrel arose among them.

Infuriated, the Yadus seized their bows and arrows, swords, clubs, lances, and spears and attacked one another on the shore of the ocean. Completely abandoning their natural friendship, the Yadus slaughtered one another. When all their bows had been broken and their arrows and other missiles spent, they seized the tall stalks of cane growing on the shore. As soon as they took these cane stalks in their fists, the stalks changed into iron rods as hard as thunderbolts. With these weapons the warriors began attacking one another, and when Lord Kṛṣṇa tried to stop them, they attacked Him as well. In their confused state they also mistook Lord Balarāma for an enemy. Weapons in hand, they ran toward Him with the intention of killing Him. Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma then became very angry. Picking up cane stalks, They moved about within the battle and began to kill with these clubs.

The violent anger of the Yadu warriors, who were overcome by the brāhmaṇas' curse and bewildered by Lord Kṛṣṇa's illusory potency, now led them to their annihilation, just as a fire that starts in a bamboo grove destroys the entire forest.

When all the members of His own dynasty were thus destroyed, Lord Kṛṣṇa thought to Himself that at last the burden of the earth had been removed.

Painting by PARĪKṢIT DĀSA (1982)

The Destruction of the Yadu Dynasty