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234 CRADLE TALES OF HINDUISM The sound of the strife died away in silence, for all the clansmen — save one who was sent to call Arjuna from Hastinapura — had been de- stroyed. Krishna, then, leaving the camp in charge of servants and men-at-arms, and knowing well that the time for His own death had come, returned hastily to the city and called upon His father to assume the direction of affairs, holding the women of the Vrishnis under his protection till the arrival of Arjuna at Dwarka. For Himself, He said, having witnessed again a scene as terrible as the slaughter of the Kurus, and being robbed of His kinsmen, the world had become intolerable to Him, and He should retire to the forest for the life of renunciation. Having so spoken, Krishna touched with His head the feet of Vasudeva, and turned quickly to leave his presence. As he did so, however, a loud wail of sorrow broke from the women and children of His house. Hearing this, the merciful Lord retraced His steps, and, smiling upon them all for the last time, said gently, " Arjuna will come and will be your protector. And all your need shall be met by him." Then He departed from the palace, and made His way to the forest, not to return.

Never again was the Lord Krishna seen of the world He had left behind. Reaching the lowest depths of those wild places, He established Him-