Jara

Jara was a hunter (vyādha) who lived in the wilds. His arrow struck the foot of Bhagavān Kṛshṇa as Bhagavān Kṛshṇa lay on the earth in deep mahāyoga. Jara took the foot for a deer and loosed his arrow. In this way the śāpa (curse) that the ṛshis had spoken came true.

When Jara came near, he saw a Purusha and not a deer. He fell in fear at the feet of Bhagavān Kṛshṇa. Bhagavān Kṛshṇa comforted him and then rose to His supreme abode.

Foretold by the ṛshis

The ṛshis Viśvāmitra, Kaṇva and Nārada were provoked at Dvārakā. They spoke their śāpa on the Vṛshṇis. They said that Balarāma would leave his body in the sea. They also said that Bhagavān Kṛshṇa, lying on the earth, would be struck by a hunter named Jara. So Jara was named from the start as the means by which Bhagavān Kṛshṇa would lay aside His earthly form. This is told in the Mahābhārata, Mausala Parva, Chapter 1.

The arrow at Prabhāsa

The Vṛshṇis killed one another. Balarāma went into the sea in the form of a great white serpent. Then Bhagavān Kṛshṇa drew in His senses, entered mahāyoga and lay down in a lonely place.

The hunter Jara came to that spot, looking for game and intent on deer. He took the foot of Bhagavān Kṛshṇa, who was deep in yoga, for a deer. He pierced it with an arrow and hurried forward to seize his prey.

When he came close, he saw a Purusha dressed in yellow silk, with many arms, shining with great tejas (radiance). Jara was seized by fear. He thought he was an offender, and he fell down and held the feet of Bhagavān Kṛshṇa. The mahātmā (great soul) comforted him. Then Bhagavān Kṛshṇa filled the space between earth and sky with the splendour of His tejas and rose on high to His own ineffable abode. Indra, the Aśvins, the Rudras, the Ādityas, the Viśvedevas, the ṛshis and siddhas, and the foremost gandharvas and apsarases came forth to welcome Him. This is told in the Mahābhārata, Mausala Parva, Chapter 4.

Jara’s part

Jara was the appointed means by which the śāpa of the ṛshis came true, and by his act Bhagavān Kṛshṇa returned to His eternal abode. His deed was the working of Kāla, and Bhagavān Kṛshṇa Himself did not wish it otherwise. The kindness of Bhagavān Kṛshṇa to the trembling hunter shows that even the one who was the means of His passing was met with grace. The Mahābhārata, Mausala Parva, Chapters 1 and 4, gives this account.

Sources

• Mahābhārata, Mausala Parva, Chapters 1, 4