Page:The Mahabharata (Kishori Mohan Gangopadhyay, First Edition) Volume 16.djvu/33

16 our departure too is at hand. Thou art the foremost of those that are well conversant with the course of time. I shall, however, O chastiser of foes, first remove to Indraprastha the women of the Vrishni race as also the children and the aged.' Having said so unto his uncle, Arjuna next addressed Dāruka, saying,'I wish to see without any delay the chief officers of the Vrishni heroes.' Having uttered these words, the heroic Arjuna, grieving for those great car-warriors (who had been slain), entered the great hall of the Yādavas (where they used to hold their court), called Sudharmā. When he had taken his seat there, all the citizens, including the Brāhmanas, and all the ministers of state, came and stood surrounding him. Then Pārtha, more grieved than they, addressed those grieving and cheerless citizens and officers who were more dead than alive, and said these words that were well suited to the occasion:'I shall take away with me the remnants of the Vrishnis and the Andhakas! The sea will soon engulf this city. Equip all your cars and place on them all your wealth. This Vajra (the grandson of Krishna) will be your king at Cakraprastha! On the seventh day from this, at sunrise, we shall set out. Make your preparations without delay!' Thus addressed by Prithā's son of pure deeds, all of them hastened their preparations with eagerness for achieving their safety. Arjuna passed that night in the mansion of Keçava. He was suddenly overwhelmed with great grief and stupefaction. When morning dawned, Vasudeva of great energy and prowess attained, through the aid of Yoga, to the highest goal. A loud and heart-rending sound of wailing was heard in Vasudeva's mansion, uttered by the weeping ladies. They were seen with deshevelled hair and divested of ornaments and floral wreaths. Beating their breasts with their hands, they indulged in heart-rending lamentations. Those foremost of women, viz., Devaki and Bhadrā and Rohini and Madirā threw themselves on the bodies of their lord. Then Pārtha caused the body of his uncle to be carried out on a costly vehicle borne on the shoulders of men. It was followed by all the citizens of Dwārakā and the people of the provinces, all of whom, deeply afflicted by grief, had