After the battle of Kurukshetra Gandhari cursed Krishna that the Yadava dynasty was exterminated just like the Kuru dynasty was destroyed in the battle. The Yadavas ruled over Dwarika for thirty-six years. One day, a group of saints reached Dwarika. Samba, Krishna’s grandson, reached there disguised as a pregnant woman and asked, “Tell me, O Sage, whether I would be blessed with a girl or boy.”
After learning everything through his divine eyes the sage got offended and said, “You shall give birth to a pestle that will be the cause of destruction of the entire Yadava dynasty.” Thus the Yadavas fought among themselves due to the curse.
Krishna’s son and his fast friends Satyaki were also killed in the battle. When no weapon was left, the Yadavas plucked out the strong sharp rushes growing there to attack one another. As the rushes were plucked, each became a pestle. The rushes were used with deadly effect. Balarama saw this and was deeply anguished. He went into a yogic trance and gave up his body. Seeing Balarama depart, Krishna wandered into the forest. There, he sat down under a tree and fell asleep.
A hunter named ‘Jara’ was looking for suitable prey. Seeing movement he mistook Krishna’s left shining sole for a deer’s eyes and shot his arrow. It pierced his foot at the instep and went right up through his body, sending Krishna to his heavenly abode. The Yadavas were almost finished. Krishna, Pandavas’ cousin, friend and guide, had gone. The Pandavas did not wish to live any longer in Hastinapura. So, they crowned Abhimanyu’s son, Parikshit, king of Hastinapur.
Then the Pandavas with Draupadi began a long pilgrimage which was their last journey. Somewhere along the way, a dog attached itself to the group. They reached the Himalayas and visited the holy places as they climbed. One by one, they grew exhausted, fell by the wayside and died. Draupadi, Nakula and Sahadeva went first. Then Arjuna and Bhima followed suit. Yudhishthira kept walking along, followed by the faithful dog, which was actually Dharma. All friends, preceptors, mother, brothers wife had left Yudhishthira, except Dharma, Right Conduct. Indra came to take him to heaven in a chariot, but he decided to take the dog. Yudhishthira refused to go without the faithful dog.
