great carnage of the Yadus has been beheld 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
Yadavas without the Yadus beside me. Know that proceeding to the woods I
shall practise penances with Rama in my company." Having said these words,
Krishna touched the feet of his father with his head, and quickly left
his presence. 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 retraced his foot-steps and said unto them,
"Arjuna will come here. That foremost of men will relieve you of your
grief."

"'Proceeding then to the forest, Keshava beheld Rama sitting in a solitary
spot thereof. He also saw that Rama had set himself to Yoga and that from
out his mouth was issuing a mighty snake. The colour of that snake was
white. Leaving the human body (in which he had dwelt so long), that
high-souled naga of a 1,000 heads and having a form as large as that of a
mountain, endued besides with red eyes, proceeded along that way which
led to the ocean. Ocean himself, and many celestial snakes, and many
sacred Rivers were there, for receiving him with honour. There were
Karkotaka and Vasuki and Takshaka and Prithusravas and Varuna and
Kunjara, and Misri and Sankha and Kumuda and Pundarika, and the
high-souled Dhritarashtra, and Hrada and Kratha and Sitikantha of fierce
energy, and Chakramanda and Atishanda, and that foremost of Nagas called
Durmukha, and Amvarisha, and king Varuna himself, O monarch. Advancing
forward and offering him the Arghya and water to wash his feet, and with
diverse other rites, they all worshipped the mighty Naga and saluted him
by making the usual enquiries.

"'After his brother had thus departed from the (human) world, Vasudeva of
celestial vision, who was fully acquainted with the end of all things,
wandered for some time in that lonely forest thoughtfully. Endued with
great energy he then sat down on the bare earth. He had thought before
this of everything that had been fore-shadowed 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 remnant of
the Payasa he had eaten (while a guest at Krishna's house). The
high-souled one, thinking of the destruction of the Vrishnis and the
Andhakas, as also of the p