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BURNING OF DVĂRAKĀ AND DEATH OF KRŞŅA 299 move; oxen did not move, transfixed by the god, like serpents by a snake-charmer. Then Bala and Upendra themselves pulled the chariot, of which two axles were broken at once, like a piece of a reed, with the sound tadat, taditi. Nevertheless, they got the chariot to the gate by their own strength, wretched in mind from the cries, “ Oh! Rāma, save.” “Oh! Krsņa, save."
The Asura immediately made double-doors in the gate and Rāma broke them like a clay dish with a kick. Nevertheless, the chariot did not go out, as if devoured by the earth; and the god said to Rāma and Kțşņa: “What is this delusion of yours? You were told earlier, indeed, that there was no escape for any one here, except you two.293 For penance was sold by me."
Then the parents said: “O sons, do you go. So long as you two live, all the Yadus live. What is dependent on heroism that has certainly been done for us by you, but this fate, hard to transgress, is very strong. We, bereft of good fortune, did not take initiation at Sri Nemi's feet. Now we shall experience the fruit of our actions." When Rāma and Kļşņa did not go, after being told this, then Vasudeva, Devaki, and Rohiņi said: “ Henceforth, our refuge is Śri Nemi, Teacher of the There Worlds. We shall renounce the four kinds of food.294 Henceforth, we seeking a refuge, have found the refuge taught by the Arhats—Arhat, siddha, sādhu, and dharma. We belong to no one and no one belongs to us.” They, having made an ärādhanā, remained engaged in the namaskāra. Dvaipāyana rained fire on them, like a fire-cloud; and the three, Vasudeva and the others, died and went to heaven.
Rāma and Kṛṣṇa went outside the city to an old garden and continued to watch the city as it burned. The walls of
293 80. As a matter of fact, only Krsna was excepted.
294 85. Aśana, solid food; pāna, drink; khădya, fruit; svādya, betel, ginger, etc., usually taken after a meal. KSK, 3.40, p. 191a; SBE, vol. 22, p. 303.
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