a huge army regardeth, O slayer of Madhu, that his purposes are already achieved.  The foolish son of Dhritarashtra hath arrived at the conclusion that Karna, single-handed, is competent to vanquish his foes.  He will, therefore, never make peace.  Thou, O Kesava, desirest to establish peace and brotherly feelings between the two parties.  But know that all the sons of Dhritarashtra have come to the conclusion that they would not give unto the Pandavas what, indeed, the latter have a right to.  With those that are so resolved thy words will certainly prove vain.  Where, O slayer of Madhu, words, good or bad, are of the same effect, no wise man would spend his breath for nothing, like a singer before the deaf.  As a Brahmana before a conclave of Chandalas, thy words, O Madhava, would command no respect among those ignorant and wicked wretches that have no reverence for all that deserveth reverence.  Foolish, as long as he hath strength, he will never obey thy counsels.  Whatever words thou mayest speak to him will be perfectly futile.  It doth not seem proper to me, O Krishna, that thou shouldst go into the midst of these wicked-minded wretches seated together.  It doth not seem proper to me, O Krishna, that going thither thou shouldst utter words against those wicked-souled, foolish, unrighteous wights, strong in number.  In consequence of their having never worshipped the aged, in consequence of their having been blinded by prosperity and pride, and owing to the pride of youth and wrath, they will never accept the good advice thou mayest place before them.  He hath mustered a strong force, O Madhava, and he hath his suspicions of thyself.  He will, therefore, never obey any counsel that thou mayest offer.  The sons of Dhritarashtra, O Janardana, are inspired with the firm belief that at present Indra himself, at the head of all the celestials, is incapable of defeating them in battle.  Efficacious as thy words always are, they will prove to be of no efficacy with persons impressed with such a conviction and who always follow the impulses of lust and wrath.  Staying in the midst of his ranks of elephants and his army consisting of cars and heroic infantry, the foolish and wicked Duryodhana, with all fears dispelled, regardeth the whole earth to have already been subjugated by him.  Indeed, Dhritarashtra’s son coveteth extensive empire on the earth without any rivals.  Peace, therefore, with him is unattainable.  That which he hath in his possession he regardeth as unalterably his.  Alas, the destruction on the earth seems to be at hand for the sake of Duryodhana, for, impelled by fate, the kings of the earth, with all the Kshatriya warriors, have assembled together, desirous of battling with the Pandavas?  All those kings, O Krishna, are in enmity with thee and have all been deprived of their possessions before this by thee.  Through fear of thee those heroic monarchs have joined together with Karna and made an alliance with Dhritarashtra’s sons.  Reckless of their very lives, all those