Chapter 6. Delegation of gods led by Brahma visits Dwarka and requests Sri Krishna to return to His Divine abode - Uddhava approaches Sri Krishna on the eve of departure of Prabhasa.
The sixth chapter deals with the
visit of a delegation of all the Gods led by Brahma, including Kumaras, the
Maruts, Adityas, Rudras, and Vishwedevas etc to Dwaraka, the opulent city of Sri
Krishna to meet the Lord. The meeting starts with a beautiful hymn to Sri
Krishna eulogizing Him for his mercies. It ends with a prayer to him to seek His
blessings. Pointing out that the main objective of his Avatara has been
accomplished, the Gods implore the Lord to return to his Abode. Sri Madhvacharya
has pointed out that Brahma entreated the Lord to return to His abode, when the
Lord had already spent 100 samvatsaras and 25 ritus since His appearance. After
Brahma's prayer, the Lord remained (on the earth) for a further period of 2
samvatsaras and 4 months. Thus the duration of Krishnavatara is 106 samvatsaras
and 6 months. Lord Krishna in His reply points out that the race of Yadu,
inclined to take possession of the whole world, has been thus far kept in check
by Himself as the ocean by its shore. The Lord says that only after destroying
this insolent race, a feat that none but the Lord can achieve and which has
already been set in motion by the curse of the Brahmans, will He return to his
Abode.
The sixth chapter concludes with the appearance of grave portents in the city of
Dwaraka, advice of Lord Krishna to the elders to evacuate the doomed city and go
to Prabhasa for performing rites on the sacred waters there. As the populace
makes preparations to leave Dwaraka, Uddhava, intuitively realizes that the Lord
is making preparations for exiting this world. He approaches the Lord and pleads
with him" I cannot bear to abandon Your lotus feet even for half a second. O
Lord, kindly therefore take me along with you". Surely this is the expressed
anguish of devotees who have fully surrendered to the Lord. The sixth chapter
concludes as the Lord is preparing to reply to Uddhava.
Previous :
Chamasa on fate of non-devotees,
Karabhajana on different forms of the Lord and rites for worship prescribed in
different yugas.