Senodyoga Parva — The setting out of Krishna

Vaishampayana said His (Drupada's) priest, having gone towards the city called after the elephant, the Pandavas sent in messengers to the rulers in the several parts.

Having sent messengers elsewhere, the best among men, Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, of race Kuru himself, went to Dwraka.

sons The of Madhu, Krishna and Balarama, in company with the Vrishni race and Andhaka and Bhoja by hundreds, having gone to Dvaravati.

The son of Dhritarashtra, himself a king, by sending scouts, privately, came to know all that had been done by the Pandavas.

Having heard that Madhava was on his way he set out for the city of Dwraka, with a retinue not large and good horses which could be compared to the wind.

That very day had Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, of the race of Pandu, arrived at the beautiful city of the Anartas.

The two sons of Kuru, foremost among men, having reached Dwraka, saw Krishna asleep and went near him as he lay.

And as Govinda lay, Suyodhana entered and sat him down on the floor which he used as a seat near the head of Krishna.

Then did enter the large-minded one, wearing a crown and stood with the hands clasped near the foot of Krishna.

The son of Vrishni, having awakened, first saw the one wearing a crown and welcomed them and did them due honours.

The son of Madhu asked the cause of their coming and Duryodhana said as if in jest-

"It is befitting that you should lend me your help in this war, for your friendship with myself and that with Arjuna are equal.

And, O slayer of Madhu our relations with you are the same and this day I have come first to you.

From the time of our ancestors, good men have befriended him who has been the first to come; and you, O Janardana, are the best person in this world; therefore act after this good example which has always been followed."

Srikrishna said I have not the slightest doubt that you came here first, but Dhananjaya, the son of Pritha has been, O king, first seen by me.

O Suyodhana, yourself having come first and he having been seen by me first, I shall help both of you.

But the holy books lay down that the younger persons should be aided first, therefore I should first assist Dhananjaya, the son of Pritha.

There is that large army of a hundred million of gopas who fight in battle, each of whom is capable of slaying me and who are known as the Narayanas.

Let them, who are hard to vanquish in battle, be the army of one party of you and let myself who shall not fight, having put off my weapons, take the side of the other.

Of these two, O son of Pritha, choose any one after your liking, for have the right of choosing first.

Vaishampayana said Dhananjaya the son of Kunti being thus spoken to by Krishna chose Keshava, who was not to fight in the battle.

(Who was) Narayana himself, the destroyer of those who were not his friends, who had volunteered a birth among men and who was superior to all the Kshatriyas, the gods and the Danavas.

And Duryodhana then chose the whole of that army. And O son of Bharata, having got thousands upon thousands of warriors and knowing (even) that Krishna was lost to him, he became mighty pleased; And O king, Duryodhana having taken that whole army of fearful strength came to the son of Rohini who was of great strength. He submitted to him the whole cause of his coming, upon which the son of Sura said in reply to the son of Dhritarashtra.

O you best among men, it is fitting that what was said by me at the time of the marriage, should be known to you.

O you son of Kuru, for your sake did I speak contradicting what Hrishikesha had said. O king! again and again did I point out that our relations with both of you were equal.

And what I said, Keshava did not accept. I cannot for a moment exist separated from Krishna.

I am no helper of either the son of Pritha or that of Duryodhana; such is the unalterable resolution I have come to after the opinion formed by Krishna.

You are born in the race of Bharata, honored by all rulers of the earth; O you best among men, go and fight in strict accordance with the rules of honour and those of the military class."

Being thus addressed he embraced him who used the plough as a weapon and knowing that Krishna had gone over to the other side he regarded as through a victory had already been achieved in battle.

The son of Dhritarashtra, himself a king, then went to Kritavarma and Kritavarma gave him an army counting an Akshauhini.

The son of Kuru, surrounded by all those troops, which were terrible looking, went forward with a light heart causing delight to his friends.

Duryodhana having departed, the creator of the world, Janardana, with yellow robes on, said to the wearer of the crown-"Knowing that I shall not take any part in the battle, why have you chosen me?"

Arjuna said "There is no doubt that you can slay all of them. O foremost among men, I too, alone, am able to slay them all.

In this world you are an illustrious man and I shall attain to eminence similar to yours by killing them single-handed. I too am a seeker after fame and so will you be surrounded by me.

It has been my desire to have the office of the charioteer filled by you and it is fitting that you should fulfill this desire which has been felt by me for a long time.

Vasudeva said It is fitting, O son of Pritha, that you measure yourself with me. I shall act as your charioteer, let your desire be fulfilled.

Vaishampayana said Being thus rendered glad, the son of Pritha, in company with Krishna and surrounded by the chiefs of the Dasharha race, came back to Yudhishthira.