Vishnupurana 5.28.p5

5.28.p5

Vaysa replied to Arjuna and said, "Think no more my son of the indignity; it does not behold you to grieve. Know that time subjects all beings to similar vicissitude: Time brings out the production and dissolution of all creatures. All that exists is founded on time. Know this, Arjuna, and preserve thy fortitude. Rivers, oceans, mountains, the entire earths, celestials, men, animals, trees, are all created and will all be destroyed by time. Be thou sober, knowing that all that is the effect of time. These mighty works of Krishna, whatever they have been, have been performed to relieve earth of her load; for this he has come down. Oppressed by her load earth has had recourse to the assembly of the celestials and Janārddana, who is identical with time, has descended on that account. This object has now been accomplished: all the kings of the earth have been destroyed; no more remained for him to accomplish. Therefore the lord has departed whither he pleased, his ends being all fulfilled. At the period of creation the god of gods creates; in that of duration he preserves, at the end of all he is the powerful destroyer. Now all is done. Therefore O Arjuna, be not pained by thy defeat; the power of mortals is the gift of time. Bhishma, Karna and other kings have been slain by this alone; this was the work of time; and why should not therefore thy defeat by those inferior to thee occur? In the same manner as through thy devotion to Vishnu these were overthrown by thee, so has thy discomfiture by cursed thieves been brought about by time. That divinity, assuming various shapes, preserves the world; and in the end the lord of creatures destroys it. O son of Kunti, on the occasion of thy good fortune, the illustrious Janārddana was thy help; in thy decline thy enemies have been favoured by Kesava. Who will now believe, that thou didst alone defeat Bhishma and other Kauravas. Who would believe peasants have defeated thee? Know it for certain, O son of Pritha, that it is but the sport of the Universal Hari that the Kauravas have been slain by thee and thou hast been vanquished by herdsmen. As regards the women for whom thou dost grieve and who have been carried off by the thieves, hear from me an ancient story that will explain why this has happened.