Krishna Brings Back Sage Sandipani's Son From Yamaloka : Episode 38

Recap of Previous Episode :

The court of Hastinapura mourns the Pandavas, though the citizens openly accuse Dhritarashtra of conspiracy until Bhishma intervenes. Drupada intensifies his penance through the Rudragni Yagna to gain children capable of destroying Drona. Plans to perform the Pandavas’ funeral rites fail when Vyasa refuses to be disturbed in meditation. Meanwhile, Jarasandha vows revenge against Krishna after being reproached by his daughters.

The Phantom and the Vow of Vengeance

An apparition appears before Jarasandha, father-in-law of Kamsa. He reveals himself as Tirumilan, the true father of Kamsa. He tells Jarasandha that both share asuric nature — Jarasandha, by nature, and he, by birth. He recalls how he once assumed the form of Ugrasena to deceive Aryanari. When she realized the truth, she cursed him: a Yadava-born child would destroy the asura lineage. That child, he says, is Krishna, who has already slain Putana, subdued Kalinga, lifted Govardhana, and killed Kamsa.

Jarasandha dismisses the warning, boasting that he needs no help to destroy Krishna, protected as he is by boons of invincibility. Tirumilan reminds him that even Hiranyakashipu fell despite similar boons and whispers a secret method to defeat Krishna.

Krishna Rescues His Guru Sandipani’s Son

On the shores of Prabhasa, Krishna shoots arrows into the sea, demanding the return of his guru Sandipani’s son, who drowned during a pilgrimage and whose body was never recovered. The Sea King emerges but pleads innocence —he says the boy was swallowed by a demon named Panchajana, who dwells in the depths in the form of a great conch.

Krishna dives into the ocean, confronts Panchajana, and slays him. But when he tears open the demon’s conch-shaped body, the boy is not inside. Krishna then keeps the sacred conch, destined one day to become his divine Panchajanya used in the Mahabharata war to blow and signal victory. To fulfil his promise, Krishna travels further — this time to Yamaloka. There, he demands the boy’s life back from Yama. A dispute arises, until Brahma intervenes and instructs Yama to release the child. Yama complies, and Krishna returns the boy alive to Sandipani as gurudakshina. Overwhelmed, the sage blesses Krishna and Balarama with deep gratitude and pride.The sage bows, but Krishna insists that, as the disciple, he should receive blessings instead.

Dhritarashtra Confronts Shakuni

Meanwhile in Hastinapura, Dhritarashtra demands to know whether his sons truly conspired to kill the Pandavas. He asks directly whether the palace at Varanavata was built of lac. Shakuni reluctantly admits orchestrating the plot but absolves the Kauravas, claiming they acted without full knowledge of his plan.

The Pandavas Continue Their Escape

Far from the kingdom, the Pandavas journey through forests and over mountains, with Kunti resting when exhausted. Bhima often carries her on his shoulders. Kunti prays that her sons remain united always and that no future wife should divide them.