Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 17
The Disappearance of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa and the Aftermath in Dvārakā
कथयामास निधनं वृष्णीनां कृत्स्नशो नृप । तच्छ्रुत्वोद्विग्नहृदया जना: शोकविर्मूर्च्छिता: ॥ १६ ॥ तत्र स्म त्वरिता जग्मु: कृष्णविश्लेषविह्वला: । व्यसव: शेरते यत्र ज्ञातयो घ्नन्त आननम् ॥ १७ ॥
kathayām āsa nidhanaṁ vṛṣṇīnāṁ kṛtsnaśo nṛpa tac chrutvodvigna-hṛdayā janāḥ śoka-virmūrcchitāḥ
Dāruka delivered the account of the total destruction of the Vṛṣṇis, and upon hearing this, O Parīkṣit, the people became deeply distraught in their hearts and stunned with sorrow. Feeling the overwhelming pain of separation from Kṛṣṇa, they struck their own faces while hurrying to the place where their relatives lay dead.
FAQs
In Canto 11, Śukadeva describes the Vṛṣṇis’ complete destruction, and the people of Dvārakā become grief-stricken and rush to the place where the bodies of their relatives lie.
Because Kṛṣṇa’s departure is the central cause of their inner shock; the external tragedy of the Vṛṣṇis’ death is experienced through the deeper pain of losing Kṛṣṇa’s personal presence.
It highlights how attachment to the Lord’s presence (bhakti) can become the deepest anchor in crisis—encouraging remembrance of Kṛṣṇa and spiritual community when loss and confusion arise.