and Varuna and Kunjara, and Misri and Sankha and Kumuda and Pundarika, and the high-souled Dhritarashtra, and Hrada and Kratha and Sitikantha of fierce energy, and Chakramanda and Atishanda, and that foremost of Nagas called Durmukha, and Amvarisha, and king Varuna himself, O monarch.  Advancing forward and offering him the Arghya and water to wash his feet, and with diverse other rites, they all worshipped the mighty Naga and saluted him by making the usual enquiries.

“After his brother had thus departed from the (human) world, Vasudeva of celestial vision, who was fully acquainted with the end of all things, wandered for some time in that lonely forest thoughtfully.  Endued with great energy he then sat down on the bare earth.  He had thought before this of everything that had been fore-shadowed by the words uttered by Gandhari in former days.  He also recollected the words that Durvasas had spoken at the time his body was smeared by that Rishi with the remnant of the Payasa he had eaten (while a guest at Krishnas house).  The high-souled one, thinking of the destruction of the Vrishnis and the Andhakas, as also of the previous slaughter of the Kurus, concluded that the hour (for his own departure from the world) had come.  He then restrained his senses (in Yoga).  Conversant with the truth of every topic, Vasudeva, though he was the Supreme Deity, wished to die, for dispelling all doubts and establishing a certainty of results (in the matter of human existence), simply for upholding the three worlds and for making the words of Atris son true.  Having restrained all his senses, speech, and mind, Krishna laid himself down in high Yoga.

“A fierce hunter of the name of Jara then came there, desirous of deer.  The hunter, mistaking Keshava, who was stretched on the earth in high Yoga, for a deer, pierced him at the heel with a shaft and quickly came to that spot for capturing his prey.  Coming up, Jara beheld a man dressed in yellow robes, rapt in Yoga and endued with many arms.  Regarding himself an offender, and filled with fear, he touched the feet of Keshava.  The high-souled one comforted him and then ascended upwards, filling the entire welkin with splendour.  When he reached Heaven, Vasava and the twin Ashvinis and Rudra and the Adityas and the Vasus and the Viswedevas, and Munis and Siddhas and many foremost ones among the Gandharvas, with the Apsaras, advanced to receive him.  Then, O king, the illustrious Narayana of fierce energy, the Creator and Destroyer of all, that preceptor of Yoga, filling Heaven with his splendour, reached his own inconceivable region.  Krishna then met the deities and (celestial) Rishis and Charanas, O king, and the foremost ones among the Gandharvas and many beautiful Apsaras and Siddhas and Saddhyas.  All of them, bending in humility, worshipped him.  The deities all saluted him, O monarch, and many foremost of Munis and Rishis worshipped him who was the Lord of all.  The Gandharvas waited on him, hymning his praises, and Indra also joyfully praised him.”