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Question - 29
Gandhari cursed Krishna that he would perish in wilderness on the 36th year. Is there any specific reason for Gandhari to pick out the 36th year?
Answer:
The number 36 has a special relevance for the welfare of one’s progeny. A 36-year sacrifice (sattra) was in vogue during Mahabharata times. It is known from Pancavimsa Brahmana that the descendants of Sakti had conducted 36 year sattra. Sakti is identified as the father of Parasara whose son was Vyasa. It is further said in the Brahmana text that the one who performs this sattra gets rulership and also ten strong sons. Without doubt this sattra must have been popular with the Kaurava-s, the Pandava-s and the Vrishini-s.
As biological descendants of Vyasa, the Kuru kings could have performed the sattra. Perhaps the Kaurava-s could not complete the 36 year long sattra or else they could have won the war, retained rulership and children. It is doubtful the Pandava-s had completed the sattra in view of the exile they had to undertake. Only the Vrishini-s had survived the war and were expected to prosper more in the years after the war. The Vrishni-s headed by Krishna were very clever in having chosen to support both the warring sides. Whichever side wins the war, the Vrishni-s would bring home the advantages of the winner.
Gandhari’s anger naturally turned towards Krishna who she accused as not having worked enough to avert the slaughter of the Kuru-s. The Kaurava-s lost their progeny, so did the Pandava-s by the time the war ended, but only the Vrishni-s survived! The Vrishni-s were already known for wealth creation and didn’t mind relocating to newer terrains (Dvaraka) to safeguard their wealth, works and resources. Their clan continued to be intact after the war, unlike the Kuru clan which suffered heavy losses. Gandhari’s anger was such that the new 36 year sattra that was likely to be initiated by the Vrishni-s after the war was over should collapse at the penultimate hour, thereby wiping out their progeny and rulership.
This gives rise to the presumption that the Kaurava-s failed to complete the 36 year sattra and lost in the last year of the Sattra. This caused Gandhari to cast a similar doom on Vrishni-s whom she thought would initiate the Sattra for their welfare. It is not known if the sattra was done by the Vrishni-s, but their end came in the 36th year just before the Sun entered Aries with all the planets gathered around it.
