Shloka 23
यादवक्षयः, बलराम-निर्याणम्, कृष्णस्य उपसंहारः (प्रभासे विनाशः)
यथा गृहीतम् अम्भोधेर् दत्त्वाहं द्वारकाभुवम् यादवान् उपसंहृत्य यास्यामि त्रिदशालयम्
yathā gṛhītam ambhodher dattvāhaṃ dvārakābhuvam yādavān upasaṃhṛtya yāsyāmi tridaśālayam
As I once claimed this ground from the ocean and bestowed the land of Dvārakā, so now shall I return Dvārakā’s land to the sea; having gathered the Yādavas back into Myself, I shall depart to the abode of the gods.
Sri Krishna (as recounted by Sage Parāśara to Maitreya)
Avatara: Krishna
Purpose: Kṛṣṇa will return Dvārakā’s land to the ocean and withdraw the Yādavas into himself, then depart to the divine abode, concluding his earthly līlā.
Leela: Loka-rakshana
Dharma Restored: Re-establishment of ordinary terrestrial order and transition from avatāra-presence to divine realm
Concept: Even the most glorious divine city and clan are withdrawn at the Lord’s will, teaching impermanence and the primacy of the eternal Lord.
Vedantic Theme: Moksha
Application: Practice non-attachment to achievements and institutions, orienting life toward the eternal refuge (Hari).
Vishishtadvaita: The Lord as the ultimate support and end (ādhāra-adhēya) ‘gathers’ beings into himself while remaining the personal refuge.
Vishnu Form: Krishna
Bhakti Type: Shanta
Jagat Karana: Yes
FAQs
It marks the deliberate cosmic withdrawal of Krishna’s manifest city: what was divinely established is divinely dissolved, showing Vishnu’s sovereignty over creation and dissolution.
In the dialogue framework, Parāśara presents it as Krishna’s intentional gathering of His own clan back into His divine order, signaling the close of the Yadava era and the turning of time toward Kali.
Krishna appears not merely as a hero but as the Supreme Lord who both establishes and reabsorbs worlds and lineages—affirming a Vaishnava vision where all powers and destinies rest in Vishnu.