11- The story behind why Krishna died after being shot in the sole of his foot

Advertisement

Bharathi199

Active Member
36 years after the great war ended, Krishna’s life comes to an end too, leaving his beloved friend Arjuna shattered. As per Gandhari’s curse, Krishna’s clan destroys itself fighting against one another. Seeing the people all fighting with each other and kill each other, Balarama gives up his life. Krishna too, understands that the time for him to leave the Earth has come. He is heartbroken at the slaughter of his people and Balarama’s death is the final straw. Krishna wanders into the forest and lies down under a shady tree there.

A hunter who is looking for animals to hunt, spots Krishna’s foot from a distance. He thinks it is an animal of some kind sitting there and he lets loose an arrow that enters Krishna’s body through the sole of his foot and passes through him. This is the cause of Krishna’s death or the end of the Krishna avatar on Earth.

There is an interesting story about why Krishna, who faced all kinds of powerful weapons in the war was finally killed by an arrow hitting the sole of his foot. This story is told by Krishna himself to Yudishtira. They are all with Bhishma, lying on his bed of arrows, after the war is over and Yudisthira is asking Bhishma various questions about dharma and duties. During this time, Krishna talks to Yudishtira about the one time the Sage Durvasa was his guest. As known to everyone Durvasa was a sage who would get angry very easily and curse so every one was afraid to invite the sage home and take care of his needs.

Seeing this, Krishna invited him and he and Rukmini took care of every need of Durvasa’s. During this time, Durvasa would ask them to do many things, some of which were very unusual but they both obeyed the sage without question. On one such occasion, the sage asked for a specific kind of food- porridge or kanji made of broken wheat boiled in milk. When it was given to him, he asked Krishna to smear it all over his own body. Without question, Krishna did so, applying the porridge over his head, body, arms and legs thoroughly. The only part he missed were the soles of his feet.

Durvasa put Krishna and Rukmini to many tests and finally he was so pleased with them that he blessed Krishna saying that as long as humankind has a liking for food, Krishna will always be loved. Durvasa also said that Krishna would live as long as he wished out and that he would not face death by means of any weapons entering his body through any part that had porridge smeared on it. The only part that was clean of porridge were the soles of Krishna’s feet.

Anusasana parva: Part 2:

Link: The Mahabharata, Book 13: Anusasana Parva: Section CLIX

As long, again, O thou of unfading glory, as thou wilt wish to live, so long wilt thou have no fear of death assailing thee through such parts of thy body as have been smeared with the frumenty (wheat porridge) I gave thee! O son, why didst thou not smear that frumenty on the soles of thy feet as well?
 

Novel-reader

Well-Known Member
Very interesting information. I have heard that the hunter is no one else but vaali who have been killed by Rama with his arrow. Is that the information given by the original epics ?
 

Advertisement

Unleash It Here....

Dear Writers, இத்தளத்தில் எழுத விரும்புகிறவர்கள் , [email protected] என்ற மின்னஞ்சலில் தொடர்பு கொள்ளவும்.

New Episodes

Back
Top