eady Bhishma and Drona and the lord of the Sindhus have
fallen! Vikartana's son Karna also hath fallen, with his sons, those
great car-warriors! Bhurishrava too, O son of Rohini, and the valiant
chief of the Madras have fallen! Those and many other mighty heroes that
had assembled there, ready to lay down their lives for the victory of
Duryodhana, those kings and princes unreturning from battle, have all
fallen! Listen now to me, O Madhava, about those that are yet alive! In
the army of Dhritarashtra's son, only three grinders of hosts are yet
alive! They are Kripa and Kritavarma and the valiant son of Drona! These
also, O Rama, have from fear fled away to the ten points of the compass!
After Shalya's fall and the flight of Kripa and the others, Duryodhana,
in great grief, had entered the depths of the Dvaipayana lake. While
lying stretched for rest at the bottom of the lake after stupefying its
waters, Duryodhana was approached by the Pandavas with Krishna and
pierced by them with their cruel words. Pierced with wordy darts, O Rama,
from every side, the mighty and heroic Duryodhana hath risen from the
lake armed with his heavy mace. He hath come forward for fighting Bhima
for the present. Their terrible encounter, O Rama, will take place today!
If thou feelest any curiosity, then hasten, O Madhava, without tarrying
here! Go, if thou wishest, and witness that terrible battle between thy
two disciples!'"

Vaishampayana continued, "Hearing these words of Narada, Rama bade a
respectful farewell to those foremost of Brahmanas and dismissed all
those that had accompanied him (in his pilgrimage). Indeed, he ordered
his attendants, saying, 'Return ye to Dwaraka!' He then descended from
that prince of mountains and that fair hermitage called
Plakshaprasravana. Having listened to the discourse of the sages about
the great merits of tirthas, Rama of unfading glory sang this verse in
the midst of the Brahmanas, 'Where else is such happiness as that in a
residence by the Sarasvati? Where also such merits as those in a
residence by the Sarasvati? Men have departed for heaven, having
approached the Sarasvati! All should ever remember the Sarasvati!
Sarasvati is the most sacred of rivers! Sarasvati always bestows the
greatest happiness on men! Men, after approaching the Sarasvati, will not
have to grieve for their sins either here or hereafter!' Repeatedly
casting his eyes with joy on the Sarasvati, that scorcher of foes then
ascended