Vaisampayana said,--"Janardana deserving the worship of all, having
lived happily at Khandavaprastha for some time, and having been treated
all the while with respectful love and affection by the sons of Pritha,
became desirous one day of leaving Khandavaprastha to behold his
father. That possessor of large eyes, unto whom was due the obeisance
of the universe, then saluted both Yudhishthira and Pritha and made
obeisance with his head unto the feet of Kunti, his father's sister.
Thus revered by Kesava, Pritha smelt his head and embraced him. The
illustrious Hrishikesa approached his own sister Subhadra
affectionately, with his eyes filled with tears, and spoke unto her
words of excellent import and truth, terse proper, unanswerable and
fraught with good. The sweet-speeched Subhadra also, saluting him in
return and worshipping him repeatedly with bent head, told him all that
she wished to be conveyed to her relatives on the paternal side. And
bidding her farewell and uttering benedictions on his handsome sister,
he of the Vrishni race, next saw Draupadi and Dhaumya. That best of men
duly made obeisance unto Dhaumya, and consoling Draupadi obtained leave
from her. Then the learned and mighty Krishna, accompanied by Partha,
went to his cousins. And surrounded by the five brothers, Krishna shone
like Sakra in the midst of the celestials. He whose banner bore the
figure of Garuda, desirous of performing the rites preparatory to the
commencement of a journey, purified himself by a bath and adorned his
person with ornaments. The bull of the Yadu race then worshipped the
gods and Brahmanas with floral wreaths, mantras, bows of the head, and
excellent perfumes. Having finished all these rites, that foremost of
steady and virtuous persons then thought of setting out. The chief of
the Yadu race then came out of the inner to the outer apartment, and
issuing thence he made unto Brahmanas, deserving of worship, offerings
of vessel-fulls of curd and fruits, and parched-grain and caused them
to pronounce benedictions upon him. And making unto them presents also
of wealth, he went round them. Then ascending his excellent car of gold
endued with great speed and adorned with banner bearing the figure of
Tarkhya (Garuda) and furnished also with mace, discus, sword, his bow
Sharnga and other weapons, and yoking thereunto his horses Saivya and
Sugriva, he of eyes like lotuses set out at an excellent moment of a
lunar day of auspicious stellar conjunction. And Yudhishthira, the king
of the Kurus, from affection, ascended the chariot after Krishna, and
causing that best charioteer Daruka to stand aside, himself took the
reins. And Arjuna also, of long arms, riding on that car, walked round
Krishna and fanned him with a white chamara furnished with a handle of
gold. And the mighty Bhimasena accompanied by the twin brothers Nakula
and Sahadeva and the priests and citizens all followed Krishna from
behind. And Kesava, that slayer of hostile heroes, followed by all the
brothers, shone like a preceptor followed by his favourite pupils. Then
Govinda spoke unto Arjuna and clasped him firmly, and worshipping
Yudhisthira and Bhima, embraced the twins. And embraced in return by
the three elder Pandavas, he was reverentially saluted by the twins.
After having gone about half a Yojana (two miles), Krishna, that
subjugator of hostile towns, respectfully addressed Yudhishthira and
requested him, O Bharata, to stop following him further. And Govinda,
conversant with every duty, then reverentially saluted Yudhishthira and
took hold of his feet. But Yudhishthira soon raised Kesava and smelt
his head. King Yudhishthira the just, the son of Pandu, having raised
Krishna endued with eyes like lotus-petals and the foremost of the
Yadava race, gave him leave, saying,--'Good bye!' Then the slayer of
Madhu, making an appointment with them (about his return) in words that
were proper, and preventing with difficulty the Pandavas from following
him further on foot, gladly proceeded towards his own city, like Indra
going towards Amravati. Out of the love and affection they bore him,
the Pandavas gazed on Krishna as long as he was within sight, and their
minds also followed him when he got out of sight. And Kesava of
agreeable person soon disappeared from their sight, unsatiated though
their minds were with looking at him. Those bulls among men, the sons
of Pritha, with minds fixed on Govinda, desisted (from following him
further) and unwillingly returned to their own city in haste. And
Krishna in his car soon reached Dwaraka followed by that hero Satyaki.
Then Sauri, the son of Devaki, accompanied by his charioteer Daruka
reached Dwaraka with the speed of Garuda."
Vaisampayana continued,--"Meanwhile king Yudhishthira of unfading
glory, accompanied by his brothers and surrounded by friends, entered
his excellent capital. And that tiger among men, dismissing all his
relatives, brothers, and sons, sought to make himself happy in the
company of Draupadi. And Kesava also, worshipped by the principal
Yadavas including Ugrasena, entered with a happy heart his own
excellent city. And worshipping his old father and his illustrious
mother, and saluting (his brother) Valadeva, he of eyes like
lotus-petals took his seat. Embracing Pradyumna, Shamva, Nishatha,
Charudeshna, Gada, Aniruddha and Bhanu, and obtaining the leave of all
the elderly men, Janardana entered the apartments of Rukmini."