When Krishna said this, Ugrasena, out of fear for his son’s misdeeds,
entered lowering his head along with other Yadavas (16). In that
assembly of the Yadus he addressed to the lotus-eyed Krishna the
following poor words, sullied by the vapour of grief and becoming the
occasion (17):—"O my son, your anger has been pacified, your enemy has
been led to the abode of Yama, your glory has followed your own duties
and your name has become celebrated in this world (18). By this action
you have established your glory amongst the pious, terrified your
enemies, made strong the position of the Yādavas and rendered your
friends proud (19). Your glory has spread itself amongst the
neighbouring chiefs and now they will all seek alliance with you and
your friendship (20). O hero, your subjects will be devoted to you, the
Brāhmanas will sing your glories and the ministers, well read in peace
and dissension making, will bow unto you (21). O Krishna, accept this
immortal army of Kansa abounding in elephants, horses, chariots and
infantry (22). O Mādhava, let your men take Kansa’s wealth, corn,
jewels, covers, gold, clothes, women and all that he possessed (23). O
Krishna, the slayer of your enemies, by the Yoga, to which you have
resorted on behalf of the Yādavas, all dissensions have been put a stop
to and the earth has been established. O descendant of Yadu, from you
now will proceed the happiness or misery of the Yadavas (24). Hear, what
they are saying with a depressed heart. If you please, O Govinda, they
may perform the obsequial rites of Kansa, of sinful deeds, who has been
consumed by the fire of your anger. Having performed the after-death
ceremonies of that king who has met with this calamity, I shall, along
with my wife and daughters-in-law, range in the forest with the animals.
To perform the obsequial rites of the dead is the duty of men (26–28).
By performing this, Krishna, people are freed from their social
obligations. Therefore having made his funeral pyre, putting fire to it
and offering oblation of water I shall have discharged debt to Kansa
(29). This is my only prayer, O Krishna. Show me kindness in this
matter. With the performance of his after-death rites let sinful Kansa
attain to a blessed state (30)."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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