The Liberation of the Pandavas

A concise summary of Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 1 Chapter 15

Sage Suta says that whoever regularly hears or reads the narration of the liberation of the Pandavas will develop devotion to the Lord and gradually attains liberation.

Arjuna was in grief for not being able to associate with his best friend, Lord Krishna in his life because the Lord had finished his earthly incarnation. He returned to Hastinapur from Dwaraka and communicated the message to his kinsmen.

He observed the following changes in him after losing Lord’s friendship:

• He lost the astounding power that could even surprise gods

• He felt the world unpleasant

• He couldn’t put up a fight with infidel cowherd men while protecting the wives of Lord Krishna although he had the same powerful Gandiva bow, chariot, and the horses

Lord Krishna had 16,108 wives of which 8 were principal wives (Astha Lakshmi). The Lord with his magical power was present simultaneously with each wife. The non-principle wives were daughters of heavenly gods who prayed to get the Lord as their husband. The Lord fulfilled their desire by marrying them. Some of these non-principle wives were kidnapped by the infidel cowherd men. As per Vishnu Purana and Brahma Purana, they were cursed by Sage Ashtavakra that they will be kidnapped by rouges even if they get the Lord as their husband. To keep the sages promise, the Lord himself appeared again as the cowherd men and kidnapped them. While some other wives who were Gopis (cowherd girls) returned to their respective positions after getting their desire fulfilled as Lord’s wives.

Arjuna recalled the past incidents where he and his kinsmen received power and protection from the Lord which helped them succeed:

• The power to surpass lusty kings to win Draupadi in the “Pick your groom” contest

• The power to defeat the heavenly king, Indra

• His wife Draupadi was protected when the miscreant gamblers tried to disrobe her

• He and his kinsmen were protected from the wrath of Sage Durvasa

• He was able to put on a fight with magnanimous Lord Shiva which resulted in receiving a weapon from him

• The heavenly king Indra requested his help to kill the demon Nivatakavaca

• The limitless power to be able to cross the ocean of the Kaurava army in the war

• The Lord distracted the minds of great Kaurava generals so that they became ineffective in firing arrows at him

Arjuna missed cracking jokes, frank talks, eating together, and hanging out with Lord Krishna. The Lord tolerated Arjuna’s teasings just like a father excuses his son. He felt empty in his life without the Lord.

Arjuna meditated on the feet of Lord Vasudeva and remembered the Lord’s discourse of Bhagavad Gita. His soul left his body in the meditative state and became free from the cycle of birth and death. Arjuna’s soul regained the association of Super Soul once again.

Queen Kunti focused her devotion on the Lord and freed herself and attained the kingdom of God.

Yudhistira and the remaining brothers enthroned Parikshit and left for the forest to lead a life of austerity and focused their energy on meditating on Lord Narayana. They gradually became free from their material bodies and attained the abode of the Lord.