Maitreya, eager to understand the events that had unfolded, asked the venerable Parāśara, “O best of brāhmaṇas, as each was enjoying his own pleasures, what was the cause of their quarrel? What led to their conflict? Please tell me.” Parāśara replied, “As the Yādavas gathered together, a dispute arose among them. Each boasted, ‘My food is delicious, yours is not,’ and from this petty argument about what was tasty or not, conflict and quarrel erupted. Their eyes reddened with anger, and, driven by fate, they approached one another, striking with weapons.” When their weapons were spent, those nearest seized stalks of eraka grass. Miraculously, the eraka grass, when grasped, transformed and appeared like thunderbolts in their hands. With these, they struck each other in a most dreadful fight. Pradyumna, Sāmba, Kṛtavarmā, Sātyaki, Aniruddha, Pṛthu, Vipṛthu, Cāruvarmā, Cāruka, Akrūra, and many others—all these noble Yādavas—struck one another with the eraka stalks, now transformed into weapons of destruction. Hari, the compassionate Kṛṣṇa, tried to restrain the Yādavas, but in their frenzy they saw Keśava as an ally of the eraka grass, and continued to strike one another. Even Kṛṣṇa, angered by their actions, took up an eraka stalk in his fist; for the purpose of destruction, that stalk became an iron club. With it, he struck down the wicked Yādavas, and as others rushed upon each other, they too slew one another. Amidst this chaos, the victorious chariot of the discus-wielder, Kṛṣṇa, departed across the ocean, drawn by horses, as Dāruka looked on. The divine weapons—the discus, mace, bow Śārṅga, quiver, conch, and crown—circled Hari and then departed along the path of the sun. In a moment, none of the Yādavas remained alive except for the great-souled Kṛṣṇa and Dāruka. As they walked, they saw Rāma (Balarama) seated at the root of a tree, and from his mouth a great serpent was emerging. This serpent, emerging from the sacrifice, departed for the ocean, honored by the Siddhas and other serpents. Then, taking the offering, the ocean approached and entered the water, worshipped by the foremost of serpents. Witnessing Balarama’s departure, Kṛṣṇa spoke to Dāruka, “Report all this to Vasudeva and Ugrasena. Tell them of Balarama’s departure and the destruction of the Yādavas. While established in yoga, I too shall relinquish this body.” He continued, “The people of Dvārakā and Ahuka must be told: ‘The ocean will flood this entire city.’ Therefore, all must await Arjuna’s arrival; do not remain in Dvārakā once the Pandava has departed. You must go together with him, wherever that Kaurava goes. After reaching him, tell Arjuna these words from me: ‘With your strength, you must protect these people who are under my care.’ You, along with Arjuna, must take the people from Dvārakā; and Vajra, having gone, will become king of the Yadus.” Thus addressed, Dāruka repeatedly bowed to Kṛṣṇa, circumambulated him many times, and departed as instructed. He went and informed Arjuna in Dvārakā, and the wise Vajra was installed as king. The blessed Govinda, whose essence is Vasudeva, established himself in the supreme Brahman, sustaining himself in all beings. He joined his self with the Self in the transcendent state, and the supreme Purusha entered the fourth state. Honoring the words of the sage Durvasa, the Yadu became absorbed in yoga, placing his foot upon his knee. At that moment, a hunter named Jara arrived, carrying a single iron arrow made from the remnant of the mace. Seeing the foot in the shape of a deer, he aimed and struck it with that arrow. Suddenly, he saw before him a man bearing four arms. Overcome with remorse, he bowed and repeatedly begged for forgiveness, saying, “Unknowingly I have done this, mistaking you for a deer. Forgive my sin, and you are able to save me who am consumed.” The Lord spoke to him gently, “Let there not be even the slightest fear for you; go, by my grace, O hunter, to heaven, the abode of the gods.” Immediately after these words, an aerial chariot arrived; ascending it, the hunter departed to heaven by that grace. When he had gone, the blessed one united his self with the Self and entered the state of Brahman—imperishable, inconceivable, pure, and pervaded by Vāsudeva. In Viṣṇu, unborn among the immortals, immeasurable, the soul of all, he abandoned his human body, transcending the threefold path.