Then there came to Keśava, when he was private and alone, a messenger from the gods, who addressed him with reverence, and said, "I am sent to you, O lord, by the deities, and do thou hear what Indra, together with the Viśwas, Maruts, Ádityas, Sádhyas, and Rudras, respectfully represents.  More than a hundred years have elapsed since thou, in favour to the gods, hast descended upon earth, for the purpose of relieving it of its load. The demons have been slain, and the burden of earth has been removed: now let the immortals once again behold their monarch in heaven. A period exceeding a century has passed: now, if

it be thy pleasure, return to Swarga. This is the solicitation of the celestials. But should such not be thy will, then remain here as long as it may be desirable to thy dependants 6." To this Krishńa replied, "All that thou hast said I am well aware of. The destruction of the Yádavas by me has commenced. The burdens of the earth are not removed until the Yádavas are extirpated. I will effect this also in my descent, and quickly; for it shall come to pass in seven nights. When I have restored the land of Dwáraká to the ocean, and annihilated the race of Yadu, I will proceed to the mansions of the immortals. Apprise the gods, that, having abandoned my human body, and accompanied by Sankarshańa, I will then return to them. The tyrants that oppressed the earth, Jarásandha and the rest, have been killed; and a youth, even of the race of Yadu, is, no less than they, an incumbrance. When therefore I have taken away this great weight upon earth, I will return to protect the sphere of the celestials. Say this to them." The messenger of the gods, having received this reply, bowed, and took his heavenly course to the king of the gods.

The mighty Krishńa now beheld signs and portents both in earth and heaven, prognosticating, day and night, the ruin of Dwáraká 7.

[paragraph continues] Shewing these to the Yádavas, he said, "See; behold these fearful phenomena: let us hasten to Prabhása, to avert these omens." When he had thus spoken to the eminent Yádava, the illustrious Uddhava saluted and said to him, "Tell me, O lord, what it is proper that I should do, for it seems to me that thou wilt destroy all this race: the signs that are manifest declare nothing less than the annihilation of the tribe." Then Krishńa replied to him, "Do you go by a celestial route, which my favour shall provide you, to the holy place Badarikáśrama, in the Gandhamádana mountain, the shrine of Naranáráyańa; and on that spot, sanctified by them, thou, by meditating on me, shalt obtain perfection through my favour. When the race of Yadu shall have perished, I shall proceed to heaven; and the ocean shall inundate Dwáraká, when I have quitted it." Accordingly Uddhava, thus instructed by Keśava, saluted him with veneration, and departed to the shrine of Naranáráyańa 8.