Page:The Mahabharata (Kishori Mohan Gangopadhyay, First Edition) Volume 16.djvu/27

10 curse of the Brāhmanas. Beholding Vabhru slain, Keçava of great energy addressed his elder brother and said,'Do thou, O Rāma, wait for me here till I place the ladies under the care of kinsmen.' Entering the city of Dwārāvati, Janārddana said these words unto his father,'Do thou protect all the ladies of our house, till Dhananjaya comes! At the skirts of the forest Rāma is waiting for me. I shall meet him today. This 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 Yādavas without the Yadus beside me. Know that proceeding to the woods I shall practise penances with Rāma 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, Keçava 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, Keçava beheld Rāma sitting in a solitary spot thereof. He also saw that Rāma 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 Nāga, of a thousand 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 Vāsuki and Takshaka and Prithuçravas and Varuna and Kunjara, and Miçri and Cankha and Kumuda