मौसल पर्व — वसुदेव का स्वर्गारोहण

Vaishampayana said, Then Daruka, Keshava and Vabhru left that place following Rama. They saw that hero of great energy sitting thoughtfully, reclining his back against at tree, in a solitary place.

Finding Rama of great soul, Krishna ordered Daruka, saying, 'Going to the Kurus, inform Partha of this great carnage of the Yadus.

Let Arjuna come here speedily hearing of the destruction of the Yadavas though the Brahmanas' course.' Thus addressed Daruka, deprived of his senses by sorrow, proceeded on a car to the capital of the Kurus.

After Daruka had departed, Keshava, seeing Vabhru waiting on him, told him these words 'Do you go speedily for protecting the ladies. Let not robbers do them any injury, tempted by the riches.

Thus orderded by Keshava, Vabhru still helpless with wine but cheerless at the destruction of his kinsmen, wen away. He had rested for a while by the side of Keshava, but as soon as he had gone to a distance the ironbolt, attached to a mallet in the hands of a hunter, suddenly sprang of itself upon that solitary survivor of the Yadava family and killed him who also had been included in the curs of the Brahmans.

Seeing Vabhru killed, Keshava of great energy addressed his elder brother and said, 'Do you, O Rama, wait for me her till I put the ladies under the care of kinsmen.

Entering the city of Dvaravati, Janardana said these words to his father, 'Do you protect all the ladies of our house till Dhananjaya comes.

At the skirts of the forest Rama is waiting for me. I shall meet him today. This great destruction of the Yadus has been seen by me even as I beheld before the carnage of those Kshatriyas who were the foremost ones of Kuru's race.

It is impossible for me to see this city of the Yadavs without the Yadus beside me. Know that going to the forest I shall practice penances with Rama in my company.

Having said these words, Krishna touched the feet of his father with his head and quickly left him. Then a loud wail of sorrow arose from the ladies and children of his house,

Hearing that loud sound of wailing uttered by the weeping ladies, Keshava returned and said to them, Arjuna will come here. That foremost of men will relieve you of your sorrow.

Proceeding then to the forest, Keshava saw Rama sitting in a solitary place. He also saw that Rama had set himself to Yoga and that from out his mouth was issuing a powerful snake.

The color of that snake was white. Leaving the human body, that great Naga, of a thousand heads and having a form as large as that of a mountain, endued besides with red eyes, proceeded along the way leading to the ocean.

Ocean himself, and many celestial snakes, and many sacred Rivers were there, for receiving him with honor. There Karkotaka, Vasuki, Takshaka, Prithushravas, and Varuna, Kunjara, Mishri, Shankha and Kumuda, and Pundarika, and the great Dhritarashtra, and Hrada and Kratha and Shitikantha of fierce energy, and chakramanda and Atishanda, and that foremost of Nagas called Durmukha, and Ambarisha, and king Varuna himself, O king. Advancing forward and offering him the Arghya and water to wash his feet, and with various other rites, they all adored the powerful Naga an saluted him by making the usual enquiries.

After his brother had thus gone from the (human) world, Vasudeva of celestial vision, who was fully acquainted with the end of all things, wandered for sometime in that solitary forest thoughtfully. Gifted with great energy he then sat down on the naked earth.

He had thought before this of everything which had been foreshadowed by the words uttered by Gandhari in former days. He also recollected the words that Durvasas had spoken at the time his body was smeared by that Rishi with the residue of the Payasa he had eaten.

The high-souled one, thinking of the destruction of the Vrishnis and the Andhakas, as also of the previous destruction of the Kurus, concluded that the hour (for his own departure from the world) had come. He then controlled his senses (in Yoga).

Knowing the truth of every topic, Vasudeva, though he was the Supreme Deity, wished to die for removing all doubts and establishing a certainty of results, simply for upholding the three worlds and for making the words of Atri's son true.

Having controlled all his senses, speech, and mind Krishna laid himself down in high Yoga. A fierce hunter of the name of Jara then came there, for finding a deer.

The hunter mistaking Keshava, who was stretched on the earth in high Yoga, for a deer, pierced at him at the heel with an arrow and quickly came to that spot for capturing his prey.

Coming up, Jara saw a man dressed in yellow robes, rapt in Yoga, and gifted with many arms. considering himself an offender, and filled with fear, he touched the feet of Keshava.

The high-souled one comforted him and then ascended upwards, filling the entire sky with splendour.

When he reached the celestial region, Vasava and the twin Ashvins and Rudra and the Adityas and and the Vasus and the Visuvedevas, and Munis and Siddhas and many foremost ones among the Gandharvas, with the Apsaras, advanced to receive him.

Then, O king, the illustrious Narayana of dreadful energy, the Creator and Destroyer of all, that preceptor of Yoga-filling Heaven with his splendour, reached his own inconceivable region.

Krishna then met the deities and (celestial) Rishis and Charanas, O king, and the foremost ones among the Gandharvas and many beautiful Apsaras and Siddhas and Saddhyas. All of them bending in humility, adored him.

The celestials all saluted him, O monarch, and many foremost of ascetics and Rishi adored him as the Lord of all. The Gandharvas waited on him, singing his praises, and Indra also joyfully praised him.