*SKANDHA XI. CHAP. 6.*
Brahma and other Devas went to Dvaraka. Addressing Krishna; Brahma said:
-- "All that we prayed for has been done. One hundred and twenty-five
years have passed away since thou didst appear in the line of Yadus.
That line is also well nigh extinguished. Now go back to thy own abode,
if it pleases thee."
Sri Krishna replied: -- "The extinction of the Yadavas has been set on
foot by the curse of the Rishis. I shall remain on Earth, till it is
completely brought about." There were unusual phenomena at Dvaraka. The
elders came to Krishna. He proposed a pilgrimage to Prabhasa. So the
Yadavas made preparations for going to Prabhasa. Uddhava saw the evil
portents and he heard what Sri Krishna said. "I see, O Lord," said he to
Sri Krishna, "thou shalt leave this earth, as soon as the Yadus are
destroyed. I can not miss thy feet even for half a moment. So take me to
thy own abode."
Sri Krishna replied: -- "It is true as you say. My mission is fulfilled.
The Devas ask me to go back. The Yadavas shall be killed by mutual
quarrel. On the seventh day from this, the sea shall swallow up this
seat of Dvaraka. As soon as I leave this earth, Kali shall overtake it
and men shall grow unrighteous. It will not then be meet for you to
remain here. Give up all and free yourself from all attachments and roam
about over this earth, with your mind fixed on me, looking on all beings
with equal eyes. Whatever is perceived by the senses and the mind, know
all that to be of the mind, and so Mayic and transitory. "This is this"
and "this is that" this conception of difference is only a delusion of
him whose mind is distracted (_i.e._ not united to Me). It is this
delusion which causes experiences of right and wrong. It is for those
that have got notions of right and wrong that (the Vedas speak)
differently of the performance of prescribed work (Karma), the
non-performance of prescribed work (Akarma), and the performance of
prohibited work (Vikarma). (This has reference to Varna and Asrama
duties. As long as a man identifies himself with some Varna or Asrama he
looks upon others also as belonging to some Varna or Asrama. He
therefore makes a distinction between men and men. The Varnasrama duties
are prescribed by the Vedas for a man, so long as he entertains ideas of
difference. When he looks equally upon a Brahmana and a Chandala, when
he finds his Lord every where and finds all beings in the Lord within
himself, he becomes a man of the Universe, a Bhagavata. For him the
Vedas do not make any rule. He is above all rules and restrictions. But
the Varnasrama duties are to be respected, so long as one makes any
difference between man and man.) Control thy senses and control thy
mind. See the wide-spread Universe in thyself and see thyself in Me, the
Lord. Learn and digest all that is given in the scriptures. Contented
with self perception, the very self of all other beings, you shall have
no danger from others. You will do no wrong but not because it is
prohibited by the Scriptures, and you will do what is prescribed but not
because it is so prescribed (_i.e._ the sense of right and wrong will be
natural in you, independently of Sastric teachings.) You will exceed the
limits of both right and wrong and do things just like a child. The
friend of all beings, calm and quiet at heart, fixed in wisdom and
direct knowledge, you will see the Universe full of Me and you will not
be drawn back to births."