“Vasudeva said, Without beholding those heroes, O Arjuna, who had subjugated all the kings of the Earth and the Daityas a hundred times, I am still alive!  Methinks, I have no death!  Through the fault of those two heroes who were thy dear disciples and who were much regarded by thee, also, O Partha, the Vrishnis have been destroyed.  Those two who were regarded as Atirathas amongst the foremost of the Vrishnis, and referring to whom in course of conversation thou wert wont to indulge in pride, and who, O chief of Kurus race, were ever dear to Krishna himselfalas, those two, O Dhananjaya, have been the chief causes of the destruction of the Vrishnis!  I do not censure the son of Sini or the son of Hridika, O Arjuna.  I do not censure Akrura or the son of Rukmini.  No doubt, the curse (of the Rishis) is the sole cause.  How is it that that lord of the universe, the slayer of Madhu, who had put forth his prowess for achieving the destruction of Kesin and Kansa, and Chaidya swelling with pride, and Ekalavya, the son of the ruler of the Nishadas, and the Kalingas and the Magadhas, and the Gandharas and the king of Kasi, and many rulers assembled together in the midst of the desert, many heroes belonging to the East and the South, and many kings of the mountainous regionsalas, how could he remain indifferent to such a calamity as the curse denounced by the Rishis?  Thyself, Narada, and the Munis, knew him to be the eternal and sinless Govinda, the Deity of unfading glory.  Alas, being puissant Vishnu himself, he witnessed, without interfering, the destruction of his kinsmen!  My son must have himself allowed all this to happen.  He was the Lord of the universe.  He did not, however, wish to falsify the words of Gandhari and the Rishis, O scorcher of foes.  In thy very sight, O hero, thy grandson, who had been slain by Ashvatthama, was revived through his energy.  That friend, however, of yours did not wish to protect his kinsmen.  Beholding his sons and grandsons and brothers and friends lying dead, he said unto me these words, O chief of Bharatas race, “The destruction of this our race has at last come.  Vibhatsu will come to this city, Dwaravati.  Tell him what has occurred, this great carnage of the Vrishnis.  I have no doubt that as soon as he will hear of the destruction of the Yadus, that hero of mighty energy will come here without any loss of time.  Know, O father, that I am Arjuna and Arjuna is myself.  That should be done by thee which he would say.  The son of Pandu will do what is best for the women and the children.  Even he will perform thy funeral rites.  This city of Dwaravati, after Arjunas departure, will, with its walls and edifices, be swallowed up by the ocean without any delay.  As regards myself, retiring to some sacred place, I shall bide my hour, with the intelligent Rama in my company, observing strict vows all the while.”  Having said these words unto me, Hrishikesa of inconceivable prowess, leaving me with the children, has gone away to some