16.006
The arrival of Arjuna.
Vaiśampāyana said.
Dāruka also, after going to the Kurus and seeing the Pāṇḍavas, the great chariot-warriors, reported that in the Mausala battle the Vṛṣṇis had destroyed each other. (16-6-1)
When the Pāṇḍavas heard that the Vṛṣṇis, along with the Bhojas, Kukuras, and Andhakas, had been destroyed, they were stricken with grief and their minds became filled with fear. (16-6-2)
Then Arjuna, the dear friend of Keśava, addressed them and went to see his uncle, saying: 'This is not so.' (16-6-3)
Having gone to the abode of the Vṛṣṇis with Dāruka, O lord, the hero saw Dvārakā resembling a woman whose husband has died. (16-6-4)
Those who formerly had a protector in the lord of the world, indeed, those became without a protector; then, upon seeing their protector Arjuna, they wailed aloud. (16-6-5)
When Arjuna arrived, there arose a great sound from the sixteen thousand consorts of Vāsudeva. (16-6-6)
But upon seeing those women, Arjuna, the Kuru prince, whose eyes were covered with tears due to the loss of Kṛṣṇa and his sons, was unable to look at them. (16-6-7)
He saw her as adorned with the waters of the Vṛṣṇis and Andhakas, dotted with horses, ships, chariots and lamps, resounding with music and the tumult of chariots, and graced with great mansions, sacred fords, and powerful strongholds. (16-6-8)
Having clusters of gems and aquatic plants, garlanded with fortress walls of diamond, featuring whirlpools of water from street streams, and tranquil pools at street crossings. (16-6-9)
The river of Dvārakā, which had Rāma and Kṛṣṇa as its great crocodiles, was then, seized by the noose of Time and became like the terrifying river Vaitaraṇī. (16-6-10)
Arjuna, intelligent, saw her—deprived by the foremost of the Vṛṣṇis, bereft of prosperity and joy—like a lotus-lake in winter. (16-6-11)
When Pārtha (Arjuna) saw that city of Dvaraka and Krishna's wives, he let out a loud cry, shed tears, and fell to the ground. (16-6-12)
Then Sātrājitī, Satyā, and Rukmiṇī, O lord of men, surrounded Arjuna and, approaching him, began to weep greatly. (16-6-13)
Then, having arisen, those women placed the great-souled one on a golden seat, surrounded him, spoke, and attended upon him. (16-6-14)
Then, after praising Govinda and speaking, the son of Pāṇḍu comforted those women and also went to see his uncle. (16-6-15)
