Thus instructed by Vyása, Arjuna went and related to the other sons of Pritha all that be had seen, had experienced, and had heard. When he had communicated to them the message of Vyása, the sons of Páńd́u placed Paríkshit on the throne, and went to the forest.

I have thus narrated to you, Maitreya, in detail, the actions of Vásudeva, when he was born in the race of Yadu.

Footnotes

613:1 The Mahábhárata takes the wives of Krishńa first to Indraprasthá, and there Rukminí and four others burn; but Satyabhámá and others become ascetics, going to perform Tapasya in the forest.

613:2 It is merely said in the Mahábhárata that Vasudeva expired; on which four of his wives burnt themselves.

613:3 The Kali age commenced from the death of Krishńa, according to the usual notions; but it is commonly supposed to commence a little later, or with the reign of Paríkshit.

613:4 The Bhágavata agrees with the text in p. 614 excepting the temple of Dwáraká, and asserting that it still remains, in direct contradiction of the Mahábhárata, which declares that the sea did not spare any part whatever. It is clear, therefore, that when the latter was compiled the temple was not standing, and that it was erected between the date of the compilation and that of the two Puráńas. The present shrine, which is held in great repute, stands at the extremity of the peninsula of Guzerat. It is still an object of pilgrimage; it was so in the reign of Akbar (Ayin Akbari); and has been so, no doubt, from a remote period. The image formerly worshipped there was carried off 600 years ago, and this was most probably subsequent to the date of both the Puráńas; for the idol was a form of Krishńa, called Rańa chor, a popular divinity, unknown in the Pauráńik pantheon. Another image was substituted in place of that which was taken away. Notwithstanding the testimony of our text, and that of the Bhágavata, the originality of the temple is disputed, and a place thirty miles south from Purbandar is said to be the spot where Dwáraká was swallowed up by the ocean. Hamilton, from Macmurdo, &c. I. 662.

614:5 'The country of the five rivers,' the Panjab: rather an out of the way route from Dwáraká to Delhi.

614:6 Ábhíras mean 'herds,' and they are afterwards called by Arjuna, Gopálas, 'herdsmen' The pastoral tribes of the west of India, and particularly those of Afghanistan, almost always combine the character of freebooter with that of shepherd.

615:7 The principal wives of Krishńa, however, according to the Mahábhárata, escaped. The occurrence is described there much in the same way, but more briefly. It is not detailed in the Bhágavata.

616:8 A name of Vyása.