मैत्रेय उवाच। स्वंस्वं वै भुंजतां तेषां कलहः किंनिमित्तकः । संघर्षो वा द्विजश्रेष्ठ तन्ममाख्यातुमर्हसि
Maitreya said: O best of brāhmaṇas, as each was enjoying his own, what was the cause of their quarrel? And what was the reason for their conflict? Please tell me this.
श्रीपराशर उवाच। मृष्टं मदीयमन्नं ते न मृष्टमिति जल्पताम् । मृष्टामृष्टकथा जज्ञे संघर्षकलहौ ततः
Śrī Parāśara said: As they argued, 'My food is delicious, yours is not,' a dispute arose over what was tasty or not, and from that came conflict and quarrel.
ततश्चान्योन्यमभ्येत्य क्रोधसंरक्तलोचनाः । जघ्नुः परस्परं ते तु शस्त्रैर्दैवबलात्कृताः
Then, with eyes reddened in anger, they approached one another and struck each other with weapons, compelled by the force of fate.
क्षीणशस्त्राश्च जगृहुः प्रत्यासन्नामथैरकाम्
When their weapons were exhausted, those who were close at hand seized stalks of eraka grass.
एरका तु गृहीता वै वज्रभूतेव लक्ष्यते । तया परस्परं जघ्नुस्संप्रहारे सुदारुणे
The eraka grass, when grasped, appeared like thunderbolts; with these, they struck one another in a most dreadful fight.
प्रद्युम्नसांबप्रमुखाः कृतवर्माथ सात्यकिः । अनिरुद्धादयश्चान्ये पृथुर्विपृथुरेव च
Pradyumna, Sāmba, Kṛtavarmā, Sātyaki, Aniruddha and others, as well as Pṛthu and Vipṛthu,
चारुवर्मा चारुकश्च तथाक्रूरादयो द्विज । एरकारूपिभिर्वज्रैस्ते निजघ्नुः परस्परम्
Cāruvarmā, Cāruka, and likewise Akrūra and others, O brāhmaṇa, struck one another with the eraka stalks that had become like thunderbolts.
निवारयामास हरिर्यादवांस्ते च केशवम् । सहायं मेनिरेरीणां प्राप्तं जघ्नुः परस्परम्
Hari tried to restrain the Yādavas, but they regarded Keśava as an ally of the eraka grass and struck one another.
कृष्णोऽपि कुपितस्तेषामेरकामुष्टिमाददे । वधाय सोपि मुसलं मुष्टर्लौहमभूत्तदा
Even Kṛṣṇa, angered at them, took up an eraka stalk in his fist; for the purpose of destruction, that stalk became an iron club.
जघान तेन निश्श्षोआ!न्यादवानाततायिनः । जघ्नुस्ते सहसाभ्येत्य तथाऽन्येपि परस्परम्
With that, he struck down the wicked Yādavas; and as others rushed upon each other, they too slew one another.
ततश्चार्णवमध्येन जैत्रोऽसौ चक्रिणो रथः । पश्यतो दारुकस्याथ प्रायादश्वैर्धृतो द्विज
Then, in the midst of the ocean, the victorious chariot of the discus-wielder departed, drawn by horses, as Dāruka looked on, O brāhmaṇa.
चक्रं गदा तथा शार्ङ्गं तूणीशंखोसिरेव च । प्रदक्षिणं हरिं कृत्वा जग्मुरादित्यवर्त्त्मना
The discus, mace, bow Śārṅga, quiver, conch, and crown, after circling Hari, departed by the path of the sun.
क्षणेन नाभवत्कश्चिद्यादवानामघातितः । ऋते कृष्णं महात्मानं दारुकं च महामुने
In a moment, none of the Yādavas remained alive except for the great-souled Kṛṣṇa and Dāruka, O great sage.
चंक्रम्यमाणौ तौ रामं वृक्षमूले कृतासनम् । ददृशाते मुखाच्चास्य निष्क्रामंतं महोरगम्
As they walked, they saw Rāma seated at the root of a tree, and from his mouth a great serpent was emerging.
निष्क्रम्य स मखात्तस्य महाभोगो भुजंगमः । प्रययावर्णवं सिद्धैः पूज्यमानस्तथोरगैः
Emerging from the sacrifice, that great serpent departed for the ocean, honored by the Siddhas and likewise by the other serpents.
ततोर्घ्यमादाय तदा जलधिस्संमुखं ययौ । प्रविवेश ततस्तोयं पूजितः पन्नगोत्तमैः
Then, taking the offering, the ocean approached, and entered the water, being worshipped by the foremost of serpents.
दृष्ट्वा बलस्य निर्याणं दारुकं प्राह केशवः । इदं सर्वं समाचक्ष्व वसुदेवोग्रसेनयोः
Seeing Balarama's departure, Krishna spoke to Daruka: 'Report all this to Vasudeva and Ugrasena.'
निर्याणं बलभद्र स्य यादवानां तथा क्षयम् । योगे स्थित्वाहमप्येतत्परित्यक्ष्ये कलेवरम्
The departure of Balarama, the destruction of the Yadavas—while established in yoga, I too shall relinquish this body.
वाच्यश्च द्वारकावासी जनस्सर्वस्तथाहुकः । यथेमां नगरीं सर्वां समुद्र ः! प्लावयिष्यति
The people of Dvaraka, and Ahuka, must be told: 'The ocean will flood this entire city.'
तस्माद्भवद्भिस्सर्वैस्तु प्रतीक्ष्यो ह्यर्जुनागमः । न स्थेयं द्वारकामध्ये निष्क्रांते तत्र पांडवे
Therefore, all of you must await Arjuna's arrival; do not remain in Dvaraka once the Pandava has departed.
तेनैव सह गंतव्यं यत्र याति स कौरवः
You must go together with him, wherever that Kaurava goes.
गत्वा च ब्रूहि कौंतेयमर्जुनं वचनान्मम । पालनीयस्त्वया शक्त्या जनोऽयं मत्परिग्रहः
After reaching him, tell Arjuna these words from me: 'With your strength, you must protect these people who are under my care.'
त्वमर्जुनेन सहितो द्वारवत्यां तथा जनम् । गृहीत्वा यादि वज्रश्च यदुराजो भविष्यति
You, along with Arjuna, must take the people from Dvaraka; and Vajra, having gone, will become king of the Yadus.
श्रीपराशर उवाच। इत्युक्तो दारुकः कृष्णं प्रणिपत्य पुनःपुनः । प्रदक्षिणं च बहुशः कृत्वा प्रायाद्यथोदितम्
Sri Parashara said: Thus addressed, Daruka repeatedly bowed to Krishna, circumambulated him many times, and departed as instructed.
स च गत्वा तदाचष्ट द्वारकायां तथाऽर्जुनम् । आनिनाय महाबुद्धिर्वज्रं चक्रे तथा नृपम्
He went and informed Arjuna in Dvaraka, and the wise Vajra was installed as king.
भगवानपि गोविंदो वासुदेवात्मकं परम् । ब्रह्मात्मनि समारोप्य सर्वभूतेष्वधारयत् । निष्प्रपंचे महाभाग संयोज्यात्मानमात्मनि । तुर्यावस्थसलीलं च श्तोए!स्म पुरुषोत्तमः
The blessed Govinda, whose essence is Vasudeva, established himself in the supreme Brahman, sustaining himself in all beings; O fortunate one, he joined his self with the Self in the transcendent state, and the supreme Purusha entered the fourth state.
संमानयन्द्विजवचो दुर्वासा यदुवाच ह । योगयुक्तोऽभवत्पादं कृत्वा जानुनि सत्तम
Honoring the words of the sage Durvasa, the Yadu became absorbed in yoga, placing his foot upon his knee, O noble one.
आययौ स जरानाम तदा तत्र स लुब्धकः । मुसलावशेषलोहैकसायकन्यस्ततोमरः
Then, a hunter named Jara arrived there, carrying a single iron arrow made from the remnant of the mace.
स तत्पादं मृगाकारमवेक्ष्यारादवस्थितः । तले विव्याध तेनैव तोमरेण द्विजोत्तम
Seeing the foot in the shape of a deer, he aimed and struck it with that very arrow, O best of twice-born.
ततश्च ददृशो! तत्र चदुर्बाहुधरं नरम् । प्रणिपत्त्याह चैवैनं प्रसीदेति पुनःपुनः
Then he saw there a man bearing four arms, and bowing, he repeatedly begged him for forgiveness.