Disclaimer: This translation does not guarantee complete accuracy, please confirm with the original page text.
288
The Adipurana states that the departure procession was marked by sorrow, not joy. The queen, with a heavy heart, followed slowly behind her husband. "Hurry, hurry, Devi, suppress your grief. The Lord is being escorted by the gods. He is now within our sight, within our reach." Thus, the elder women of the inner palace consoled Yaswati and Sunanda, who then set out on foot. What more need be said? Having heard the news of the Lord's departure, the ladies of the court, leaving behind their umbrellas, fans, and other paraphernalia, followed in his footsteps. "Let there be no anxiety," said the elders, accompanying the queen. "This is the Lord's command." And so, they blocked the path of the women of the inner palace, just as the mighty ocean restrains the flow of rivers. With a long, hot sigh, the queen, filled with despair, lamented her good fortune and turned back. However, Yaswati and Sunanda, driven by their devotion to the Lord, accompanied by the chief women of the inner palace, followed behind, carrying the offerings for worship. At the same time, King Nabhiraj, surrounded by Queen Marudevi and a hundred kings, set out to witness the Lord's auspicious departure. Emperor Bharat, along with the citizens, ministers, and nobles of his lineage, and his younger brothers, followed behind, carrying great wealth. The Lord ascended into the sky, not too far, so that the people could see him clearly, and began his journey with the auspicious rites mentioned earlier. Thus, the Lord Vrishabhadeva, the World Teacher, reached the vast forest of Siddhathaka.