Vaisampayana said,—­“O thou of eyes like lotus-petals, thus asked by the king, they replied at that time unto Yudhishthira the just in these words,—­Being conversant with the dictates of morality, thou art, O king, worthy to perform the grand sacrifice of Rajasuya.  After the Ritwijas and the Rishis had told these words unto the king, his ministers and brothers highly approved of the speech.  The king, however, possessed of great wisdom, and with mind under complete control, actuated by the desire of doing good unto the world, again resolved the matter in his mind, thinking of his own strength and means, the circumstances of time and place and his income and expenditure.  For he knew that the wise never come to grief owing to their always acting after full deliberation.  Thinking that the sacrifice should not be commenced, pursuant to his own resolution only, Yudhishthira, carefully bearing upon his shoulder the weight of affairs thought of Krishna that persecutor of all sinners as the fittest person to decide the matter, in as much as he knew him to be the foremost of all persons, possessed of immeasurable energy, strong-armed, without birth but born amongst men from Will alone.  Reflecting upon his god-like feats the son of Pandu concluded that there was nothing that was unknown to him, nothing that he could not achieve, and nothing that he could not bear, and Yudhishthira, the son of Pritha, having come to this settled resolution soon sent a messenger unto that master of all beings, conveying through him blessings and speeches such as one senior in age might send to one that is younger.  And that messenger riding in a swift car arrived amongst the Yadavas and approached Krishna who was then residing in Dwaravati.  And Achyuta (Krishna) hearing that the son of Pritha had become desirous of seeing him, desired to see his cousin.  And quickly passing over many regions, being drawn by his own swift horses, Krishna arrived at Indraprastha, accompanied by Indrasena.  And having arrived at Indraprastha, Janardana approached Yudhisthira without loss of time.  And Yudhisthira received Krishna with paternal-affection, and Bhima also received him likewise.  And Janardana then went with a cheerful heart to his father’s sister (Kunti).  And worshipped then with reverence by the twins, he began to converse cheerfully with his friend Arjuna who was overjoyed at seeing him.  And after he had rested awhile in a pleasant apartment and had been fully refreshed, Yudhishthira approached him at his leisure and informed him all about the Rajasuya sacrifice.

“Yudhishthira said,—­’I have wished to perform the Rajasuya sacrifice.  That sacrifice, however, cannot be performed by one’s wishing alone to perform it.  Thou knowest, O Krishna, even thing about the means by which it may be accomplished.  He alone can achieve this sacrifice in whom everything is possible, who is worshipped everywhere and who is the king of kings.  My friends and counsellors approaching me have said that I should