cast off their grief and thou shalt too satisfy thy duty" (25). Vaishampāyana said:—The powerful Krishna knew everything so without taking any offence at the words of the liberal prince he said "So be it" (26). Hearing the words of Akrura, all the Gopas, headed by Nanda, desired to follow the orders of Kansa (27). Determined upon going to Mathurā the elderly Gopa inhabitants of Vraja dressed themselves. And arranging their presents they all proceeded along (28). Desiring of offering tributes unto Kansa, the heads of the various Gopa clans arranged according to their herds and quality, buffaloes and bull, curd, milk and clarified butter. And with these their tributes they all set out (29–30). Conversing with Krishna and Rohini’s son Akrura spent the night without sleep (31). Thereupon in the dawn resonant with the notes of the birds and after the termination of the night all the rays of the moon were withdrawn. All the luminous bodies disappeared from the welkin covered with the rays of the sun. The earth was soaked with drops of dews driven by the morning breeze. The fading stars fell asleep on their beds of sky and were shorn of lustre. Thus did the night disappear and the sun rose. As if seeing the increasing body of the sun, the moon, of cool rays, withdrew his own form in shame. Thereupon the outskirts of Vraja were filled with cows, the churning vessels were setting up a sound, the young ones were bound down with ropes and the high-ways of Vraja were filled with Gopas. At that time placing on carts their vessels filled with various materials and themselves also getting on them the Gopas set out speedily (32–33). Thereupon Krishna, Rohini’s son, and Akrura, the giver of liberal presents proceeded on chariots like three Patriarchs (39). When they reached the bank of Yamunā Akrura said to Krishna:—"Stop the carriage here and look after the horses (40). Offer with care barley to the horses in the vessel that is on the car and wait for me for a moment (41). Ananta, the king of serpents and the protector of all the worlds, is the lord of the universe. Therefore going to the river Yamunā, I shall, with celestial _mantras_, worship him (42). When I shall bow unto that mystic lord Ananta, clad in blue a apparel, having an auspicious crown and a thousand heads, nectarine poison will come out of the mouth of that god and I shall drink it like unto the celestials drinking ambrosia (43–44). For the peace of the serpents Shesha will convene a meeting and let me behold that king of serpents endued with prosperity and the very abode of auspiciousness (45). As long as I do not come back from the lake of the king of serpents you both wait here for me" (46). Hearing this Krishna was pleased and said "Go but do not delay; for without you, we shall not be able to wait here" (47).