This chapter describes Krishna's departure from Indraprastha. After Maya starts construction on the foundation of the Great Palace, Krishna desires to leave for home. He meets the five Pandavas, Pritha, Subhadra, Draupadi and Dhaumya and bids them farewell. He then greets the brahmanas and the citizens of Indraprastha before leaving.
Yudhishtira himself takes the reins from Daruka and drives the chariot, while the Pandavas follow behind. They accompany Krishna for a distance of a yojana or two miles from Indraprastha.
Krishna reaches Dwaraka and meets his parents, the chieftain Ugrasena as well as his own children and finally goes to Rukmini.
The royal family staying in the "inner apartments" of the Pandava palace include Dhaumya, the head priest of the Pandava household. Krishna does not bid farewell to the sons of Draupadi. However, he does bid a tearful farewell to his half-sister, Subhadra. Though the two are at least fifteen to sixteen years apart in age, Krishna exhibits affection towards her.
Krishna is shown sporting the banner of Garuda on his chariot here.
The children of Krishna mentioned in this chapter are Pradyumna, Shamba, Nishata, Charudeshna, Gada, Aniruddha and Bhanu. Who is the Aniruddha mentioned here. Is he the son of Pradyumna? While this is not entirely impossible, it is certainly questionable as Pradyumna might have been too young to marry at this point in time.
The other question is the identity of Daruka. Are Satyaki and Daruka one and the same. In popular culture, Satyaki is shown to be the charioteer of Krishna. So is Daruka. But Satyaki's prowess at battle points toward the possibility that Satyaki was another Vrishni/Andhaka noble or warrior. In this chapter, it is said that Krishna returns to Dwaraka "followed by Satyaki." If Satyaki was the charioteer he would not be following Krishna.
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