Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/76

42 members of the Vrishni race. Then as he was journeying from Dwaraka with the women and the children, the old and the decrepit,—remnants of the Yadu race—he was met on the way by a heavy calamity. He witnessed also the disgrace of his bow Gandiva and the unpropitiousness of his celestial weapons. Seeing all this, Arjuna became despondent and pursuant to Vyasa's advice went to and solicited permission to adopt the Sanyasa mode of life. This is the sixteenth Parva called Maushala. The number of sections is eight and the number of slokas composed by Vyasa cognisant of truth is three hundred and twenty.

"The next is Mahaprasthanika the seventeenth Parva.

"In this those foremost among men the Pandavas abdicating their kingdom went with Draupadi on their great journey called Mahaprasthan. In this they met with Agni having arrived at the sea of red waters. In this, asked by Agni himself, Arjuna having worshipped him duly, returned to him the excellent celestial bow called Gandiva. In this, leaving his brothers who dropped one after another and Draupadi also, went on his journey without once looking back on them. This the seventeenth Parva is called Mahaprasthanika. The number of sections in this is three. The number of slokas also composed by Vyasa cognisant of truth is three hundred and twenty.

"The Parva that comes after this you must know is the extraordinary one called Sarga of celestial incidents. Then seeing the celestial car come to take him, moved by kindness towards the dog that accompanied him, refused to ascend it without his companion. Observing the illustrious  steady adherence to virtue, Dharma (the god of justice) abandoning his canine form showed himself to the king. Then  ascending to heaven felt much pain. The celestial messenger showed him hell by an act of deception. Then  the soul of justice heard the  lamentations of his brothers abiding in that region under the discipline of Yama. Then Dharma and Indra showed  (the region appointed for sinners). Then  after leaving his human body by a plunge in the celestial Ganges