many arms. Regarding himself an offender, and filled with fear, he touched the feet of Keçava.23 The high-souled one comforted him and then ascended upwards, filling the entire welkin with splendour.24 When he reached Heaven, Vāsava and the twin Açwins and Rudra and the Adityas and the Vasus and the Viçwedevas, and Munis and Siddhas and many foremost ones among the Gandharvas, with the Apsaras, advanced to receive him.25 Then, O king, the illustrious Nārāyana of fierce energy, the Creator and Destroyer of all,—that preceptor of Yoga—filling Heaven with his splendour, reached his own inconceivable region.26 Krishna then met the deities and (celestial) Rishis and Chāranas, O king, and the foremost ones among the Gandharvas and many beautiful Apsarās and Siddhas and Sāddhyas. All of them, bending in humility, worshipped him.27 The deities all saluted him, O monarch, and many foremost of Munis and Rishis worshipped him who was the Lord of all. The Gandharvas waited on him, hymning his praises, and Indra also joyfully praised him."28
Section V.
Vaiçampāyana said,—"Meanwhile Dāruka, going to the Kurus and seeing those mighty car-warriors, viz., the sons of Prithā, informed them of how the Vrishnis had slain one another with iron bolts.1 Hearing that the Vrishnis along with the Bhojas and Andhakas and Kukuras had all been slain, the Pāndavas, burning with grief, became highly agitated.2 Then Arjuna, the dear friend of Keçava, bidding them farewell, set out for seeing his maternal uncle. He said that destruction would soon overtake everything.3 Proceeding to the city of the Vrishnis with Dāruka in his company, O puissant king, that hero beheld that the city of Dwārakā looked like a woman reft of her husband.4 Those ladies who had, before this, the very Lord of the universe for their protector, were now lordless. Seeing that Pārtha had come for protecting them, they all set up a loud wail.5 Sixteen thousand ladies had been wedded to Vāsudeva. Indeed, as soon as they saw Arjuna arrive, they uttered a loud cry of sorrow.6 As soon as the Kuru
