In the midst of the vast ocean, the victorious chariot of the wielder of the discus, Krishna, departed, drawn by noble horses as Dāruka, his devoted charioteer, looked on in awe, O brāhmaṇa. At that moment, the divine weapons—the discus, the mace, the bow Śārṅga, the quiver, the conch, and the crown—circled around Lord Hari in reverence, and then, shining brilliantly, departed along the path of the sun. Soon, none of the Yādavas remained alive except for the great-souled Krishna and Dāruka, O great sage. As the two walked together, they came upon a remarkable sight: Rāma, also known as Balarama, was seated at the root of a tree, and from his mouth a great serpent was emerging. This radiant serpent, having completed its sacrifice, departed for the ocean, honored by the Siddhas and by other serpents as well. Then, as an offering was made, the ocean itself approached Balarama, and he entered the waters, worshipped by the foremost of serpents. Witnessing Balarama’s departure, Krishna turned to Dāruka and spoke: “Go and report all that has happened to Vasudeva and Ugrasena. Tell them of Balarama’s departure and the destruction of the Yadavas. As I am now established in yoga, I too shall relinquish this body.” He instructed Dāruka further, “Inform the people of Dvaraka, and Ahuka, that the ocean will soon flood the entire city. Therefore, all must await Arjuna’s arrival, and none should remain in Dvaraka once the Pandava has departed. All must leave together with him, wherever that Kaurava goes. When you meet Arjuna, deliver my words: ‘With your strength, you must protect these people who are under my care.’ You, along with Arjuna, must take the people from Dvaraka, and Vajra, when he has gone, will become king of the Yadus.” Thus instructed, Dāruka bowed repeatedly to Krishna, circumambulated him many times in deep reverence, and departed to fulfill his command. He went to Dvaraka, informed Arjuna of all that had transpired, and the wise Vajra was installed as king. Meanwhile, the blessed Govinda, whose very essence is Vasudeva, entered into the supreme Brahman, sustaining himself in all beings. He united his self with the Self in the transcendent state, and the supreme Purusha entered the fourth, ultimate state. Honoring the words of the sage Durvasa, the Yadu hero became absorbed in yoga, sitting with his foot placed upon his knee, O noble one. At that time, a hunter named Jara approached, carrying a single iron arrow, forged from the remnant of the fatal mace. Seeing Krishna’s foot, which appeared to him as the foot of a deer, Jara aimed and struck it with that very arrow, O best of the twice-born. But as he drew near, he beheld not a deer, but a man of divine form, bearing four arms. Overcome with remorse, he bowed repeatedly and begged forgiveness: “Unknowingly I have done this, mistaking you for a deer. Forgive my sin; only you can save me, who am consumed by this act.” The Lord, ever compassionate, spoke gently to him: “Let there not be even the slightest fear for you. By my grace, O hunter, go to heaven, the abode of the gods.” As soon as Krishna uttered these words, an aerial chariot descended from the heavens; Jara ascended it and, by the Lord’s grace, departed to the celestial realms. When the hunter had gone, the blessed one, uniting his self with the Supreme Self, entered the state of Brahman—imperishable, inconceivable, pure, and pervaded by Vāsudeva. Thus, in Viṣṇu, who is unborn among the immortals, immeasurable, the soul of all beings, Krishna abandoned his human body, transcending the threefold path and merging into the eternal.