Page:The Mahabharata (Kishori Mohan Gangopadhyay, First Edition) Volume 16.djvu/39

22 measurable energy and of the illustrious Krishna, I fail to derive peace of mind. The death of the wielder of Cārnga is as incredible as the drying up of the ocean, the displacement of a mountain, the falling down of the vault of heaven, or the cooling property of fire. Deprived of the company of the Vrishni heroes, I desire not to live in this world. Another incident has happened that is more painful than this, O thou that art possessed of wealth of penances! Repeatedly thinking of it, my heart is breaking! In my very sight, O Brāhmana, thousands of Vrishni ladies were carried away by the Ābhiras of the country of the five waters, who assailed us. Taking up my bow I found myself unequal to even string it. The might that had existed in my arms seemed to have disappeared on that occasion. O great ascetic, my weapons of diverse kinds failed to make their appearance. Soon, again, my shafts became exhausted. That person of immeasurable soul, of four arms, wielding the conch, the discus, and the mace, clad in yollow [sic] robes, dark of complexion, and possessing eyes resembling lotus-petals, is no longer seen by me! Alas, reft of Govinda, what have I to live for, dragging my life in sorrow? He who used to stalk in advance of my car, that divine form endued with great splendour and unfading puissance, consuming as he proceeded all hostile warriors, can no longer be seen by me. No longer beholding him who by his energy first burnt all hostile troops whom I afterwards despatched with shafts sped from Gāndiva, I am filled with grief and my head swims, O best of men! Penetrated with cheerlessness and despair, I fail to obtain peace of mind! I dare not live, reft of the heroic Janārddana. As soon as I heard that Vishnu had left the Earth, my eyes became dim and all things disappeared from my vision. O best of men, it behooveth thee to tell me what is good for me now, for I am now a wanderer with an empty heart, despoiled of my kinsmen and of my prowess!'

"Vyāsa said,'The mighty car-warriors of the Vrishni and the Andhaka races have all been consumed by the Brāhmana's curse. O chief of Kuru's race, it behooveth thee not to grieve for their destruction! That which has happened had been