16.008
The death of Vasudeva. The coronation of Vajra.
Vaiśampāyana said.
Thus, when addressed by his maternal uncle, the scorcher of foes Bībhatsu (Arjuna), with a troubled mind and dejected heart, spoke to Vasudeva. (16-8-1)
O uncle, I am not able to look for long at the earth deprived of the chief of the Vṛṣṇis and the Madhus, O lord. (16-8-2)
The king, Bhīmasena, Sahadeva, the son of Pāṇḍu, Nakula, and Yājñasenī—all six of us are of one mind. (16-8-3)
O best of knowers of time, this is the time that surely occurs at the king's transition. Know that this time has arrived. (16-8-4)
O subduer of foes, I will collect and lead the wives of the Vṛṣṇis, as well as the children and elders, to Indraprastha in every way. (16-8-5)
Having thus spoken these words to Dāruka, Dhanañjaya said: "I wish to see the ministers of the Vṛṣṇi heroes; do not delay." (16-8-6)
Having spoken thus, Arjuna, the heroic one, entered the Sudharmā, the assembly hall of the Yādavas, grieving for the great warriors. (16-8-7)
All the ministers, Brāhmaṇas, and merchants, having surrounded him as he was seated there, duly approached and attended him. (16-8-8)
Seeing them all, with downcast minds, modest and inattentive, Pārtha (Arjuna), himself even more dejected at that time, spoke these words. (16-8-9)
I myself shall lead the Vṛṣṇi and Andhaka people to Śakraprastha. But the ocean will flood this entire city. (16-8-10)
Prepare the vehicles and the various gems. Vajra, this (person), will be your king at Śakraprastha. (16-8-11)
On the seventh day, indeed, when the spotless Sun has arisen, we shall all go outside; all of you, be ready without delay. (16-8-12)
Thus addressed by him, those citizens, eager for their own success, quickly made preparations at the instruction of Partha, who was of unwearied action. (16-8-13)
That night, Pārtha (Arjuna) stayed in Keśava's (Krishna's) abode, suddenly overcome by great grief and delusion. (16-8-14)
When the next day dawned, then Vasudeva, the powerful son of Shura, full of great splendor, having controlled his self, attained the supreme path. (16-8-15)
Then there arose a great and terrible sound in the house of Vasudeva, with women wailing and weeping. (16-8-16)
All the women, with their hair dishevelled and their ornaments and garlands cast off, struck their chests with their hands and wailed pitifully. (16-8-17)
Devakī, Bhadrā, Rohiṇī, and also Madirā, all foremost among women, resolved to follow their husband in marriage. (16-8-18)
Then, O Bhārata, Pārtha (Arjuna) caused Śauri (Kṛṣṇa) to be taken out by a great chariot drawn by men, adorned with many garlands. (16-8-19)
O best of men, the citizens, all the inhabitants of Dvārakā, afflicted by pain and sorrow, followed him here and there. (16-8-20)
His umbrella related to the horse-sacrifice and the shining fires, and in front of his chariot the priests went. (16-8-21)
Splendidly adorned, the queens followed that hero, surrounded by thousands of women and brides in their thousands. (16-8-22)
But the place that was dear to him during his lifetime, there they prepared and performed his funeral rite for the great-souled one. (16-8-23)
The noble women, the four wives, ascended after him—the heroic son of Śūra—into the funeral fire, going to the world of their husband. (16-8-24)
The son of Pāṇḍu set fire to him, accompanied by four women, using sandalwood and various perfumes. (16-8-25)
Then there arose the sound of the blazing fire, and the chant of the Sāma hymns, and also the wailing of the men. (16-8-26)
Then, led by Vajra, all the young sons of the heroic Vṛṣṇi clan, together with the women, performed the water oblation for the great-souled ones. (16-8-27)
Phalguna, whose dharma was uncorrupted, having ensured that righteous duty was performed, went to where the Vṛṣṇis were destroyed, O best of the Bharatas. (16-8-28)
Having seen them fallen in the battle, the Kaurava became exceedingly afflicted with pain and acted at the proper time. (16-8-29)
He performed all the rites at that time for those who were killed by the curse of Brahma, with clubs that had sprung from the eraka grass. (16-8-30)
Then, after searching out the bodies of both Rāma and Vāsudeva, men who fulfilled their duties caused them to be cremated. (16-8-31)
The Pāṇḍava, having performed the funeral rites for them according to the rule, departed on the seventh day, quickly mounting the chariot; with horse-yoked chariots, and also with vehicles yoked with cows, donkeys, and camels. (16-8-32)
The women, belonging to the heroes of the Vṛṣṇi lineage, weeping and afflicted by grief, followed the great-souled son of Pāṇḍu, Dhanañjaya (Arjuna). (16-8-33)
But the servants of the Andhakas and Vṛṣṇis, the horsemen and charioteers, and those without warriors, the old and children, the townsmen and countryfolk also—these, then, surrounded the women and departed at the command of Pārtha (Arjuna). (16-8-34)
The elephant riders mounted on elephants, which resembled mountains, went forth; together with foot soldiers and those equipped with excellent weapons, they advanced. (16-8-35)
All the sons of the Andhakas and Vṛṣṇis were devoted to Pārtha; and the Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras also were greatly wealthy. (16-8-36)
Sixteen thousand women of Vāsudeva, having placed at the front Vajra—the grandson of wise Kṛṣṇa—departed. (16-8-37)
Countless (many thousands, tens and hundreds of millions) of the women of the Bhoja, Vṛṣṇi, and Andhaka clans, whose protectors had been killed, departed. (16-8-38)
That greatly resplendent Vṛṣṇi chariot, appearing like the ocean, was driven by Arjuna, the foremost charioteer and conqueror of enemy cities. (16-8-39)
But when the people had gone out from there, then the ocean, abode of makaras, flooded Dvārakā, which was filled with jewels, with water. (16-8-40)
Having seen that wonderful event, the people dwelling in Dvārakā went even more quickly, exclaiming, "Oh! Destiny!" (16-8-41)
Dhanañjaya (Arjuna), dwelling in forests, delightful places, mountains, and along rivers, led the wives of the Vṛṣṇis. (16-8-42)
Having reached Pañcanada, the wise and exceedingly prosperous Lord made his dwelling in a land rich in cowherds, cattle, and grain. (16-8-43)
Then, O Bhārata, seeing the women being led away by Pārtha (Arjuna) alone, greed arose among the robbers whose leaders had been slain. (16-8-44)
Then the Ābhīras, whose minds were overcome by greed and who performed evil deeds, gathered together and held counsel, being of inauspicious appearance. (16-8-45)
This Arjuna alone, the warrior, having surpassed us, leads both old and young whose leaders have been slain; and these remaining warriors here are without strength. (16-8-46)
Then thousands of rod-armed robbers, bearing hoes, rushed toward that crowd of the Vṛṣṇis. (16-8-47)
With a great lion's roar, driving away others, they attacked for the sake of wealth, being prompted by the progression of time. (16-8-48)
Then, the son of Kuntī, suddenly turning back with his attendants, mighty-armed Arjuna, as if smiling, spoke to them. (16-8-49)
Turn back, you who know unrighteousness, if you do not wish to die; do not grieve now, having been killed and pierced by my arrows. (16-8-50)
Though thus addressed by the hero and repeatedly checked, the deluded ones disregarded his words and again and again approached the people. (16-8-51)
Then Arjuna endeavored with great effort, as if with difficulty, to string the mighty, undecaying divine bow, Gāṇḍīva. (16-8-52)
With difficulty, in the midst of confusion and tumult, he made the bow ready. He thought about the missiles but could not remember even those. (16-8-53)
When he saw that great distortion of strength in his arms in battle, and also the destruction of the divine great weapons, he became ashamed. (16-8-54)
The Vṛṣṇi warriors, including all those riding elephants, horses, and chariots, could not turn back the people who were being carried away. (16-8-55)
But because there were many wives and in the manifold incidents that arose, Pārtha (Arjuna) made efforts here and there for the protection of the people. (16-8-56)
Then, as all the warriors looked on, those foremost women were dragged away from all sides, and others left of their own desire. (16-8-57)
Then, Pārtha, Dhanañjaya (Arjuna), the lord, together with the Vṛṣṇi attendants, calmly killed the robbers with arrows released from the Gāṇḍīva. (16-8-58)
O king, within a moment those straight-moving weapons perished; though once imperishable, they now became exhausted, having fed on blood. (16-8-59)
He, having exhausted his arrows and overwhelmed by grief and sorrow, then struck down the robbers with the tip of his bow, like Indra. (16-8-60)
But, O Janamejaya, even as Pārtha looked on, the noble women of the Vṛṣṇis and Andhakas were carried off from all sides by the barbarians.
But Dhanañjaya (Arjuna), the lord, thought upon fate with his mind. Overcome by pain and grief, he became wholly absorbed in sighing. (16-8-62)
By the destruction of missiles, the diminution of arm-strength, the loss of control over the bow, and the depletion of arrows. (16-8-63)
Pārtha became discouraged, thinking "It is fate." Then, O king, he turned back and said, "This is not present." (16-8-64)
Then he, the great-minded one, having taken the remains of his wife's possessions, with most of his treasures having been taken away, descended to Kurukṣetra. (16-8-65)
Thus, Dhanañjaya (Arjuna), the Kaurava, having brought the wives of the Vṛṣṇis who were left after being taken away, settled them here and there. (16-8-66)
Arjuna, the best of men, took captive the son of Hārdikya, the city of Mārtikāvata, the wife of the Bhoja king, and whatever remained after being seized. (16-8-67)
Then the Pāṇḍava, having taken all the elderly, children, and women left without heroes, settled them in Śakraprastha. (16-8-68)
The righteous one caused Yuyudhana, the beloved son of Satyaki, to be laid to rest in the Sarasvati river, with elders and children leading the way. (16-8-69)
In Indraprastha, the slayer of enemy heroes gave the kingdom to Vajra. However, the wives of Akrūra, although restrained by Vajra, departed. (16-8-70)
Rukmiṇī, then Gāndhārī, Śaibyā called Haimavatī, goddess Jāmbavatī, and indeed, entered into the fire (Jātavedas). (16-8-71)
Satyabhama and the other wives of Kṛṣṇa, O king, who were respected, entered the forest with firm resolve for penance. (16-8-72)
The men dwelling in Dvārakā who had followed Pārtha (Arjuna), Jaya (Yudhiṣṭhira), after duly assigning them their share, gave them food in the stronghold. (16-8-73)
Having done that, when his time had come, Arjuna, with his eyes covered in tears, saw Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana (Vyāsa) seated in the hermitage, O King. (16-8-74)
