Vaishampayana said:—Breathing like a person who has drunk poison, Ugrasena, burning with grief for his son, approached Krishna (1). He saw him there encircled by Yadavas repenting for his sinful destruction of Kansa (2). Hearing the heart-rending lamentations of Kansa’s wives he, censuring his own self in that assembly of the Yādavas, (said) (3):—"Alas, out of my childish freak and under the influence of anger, I have, by the destruction of Kansa, made widows of these thousand women (4). On the death of their husband these women are bewailing so very plaintively that even an ordinary man’s heart, on hearing it, feels compassion (5). Hearing the lamentations of these guileless women, even Kritānta’s (Regent of the dead) heart is filled with pity (6). I had determined before that Kansa, the oppresser of the pious, and always given to vice, should be slain (7). Death is preferable to life unto him who, in this world, is of a degraded conduct, ruthless temper, feeble understanding and whom the people hate (8). Kansa was highly sinful, never liked by the pious and him every one used to hate. What pity should then be felt for him (9)? The ascetics, as a fruit of their virtuous deeds, live in the celestial region. He, who attains to glory in this world, is also like a dweller in heaven (to). If the subjects are self-controlled, observant of their own duties and perform pious deeds, unrighteousness can never touch the king (11). Those, who are wicked, are constrained by Death to reap the proper fruits. The pious attain to auspicious fruits in the next world (12). Many are the agents of impious deeds in these worlds and therefore the gods perfectly protect the pious (13). That Kansa has been slain by me should be considered by you as righteous for I have eradicated (thereby) his mis-deeds (14). Do you now console the sorrowful women, the citizens and the merchants (15)."