and marriage rites have been performed with the Sutas.  Obtaining me, O Krishna, Duryodhana hath, O thou of Vrishni’s race, made this preparations for an armed encounter and provoked hostilities with the sons of Pandu.  And it is for this, O Achyuta, that in the battle (that will ensue), I, O Krishna, have been chosen as the great antagonist of Arjuna to advance against him in a single combat.  For the sake of death, or the ties of blood, or fear, or temptation, I cannot venture, O Janardana, to behave falsely towards the intelligent son of Dhritarashtra.  If I do not now engage in a single combat with Arjuna, this will, O Hrishikesa, be inglorious for both myself and Partha.  Without doubt, O slayer of Madhu, thou hast told me all this for doing me good.  The Pandavas also, obedient as they are to thee, will, without doubt, do all that thou hast said.  Thou must, however, conceal this our discourse for the present, O slayer of Madhu.  Therein lies our benefit, I think, O delighter of all the Yadavas.  If king Yudhishthira, of virtuous soul and well-controlled senses, cometh to know me as the firstborn son of Kunti, he will never accept the kingdom.  If, again, O slayer of Madhu, this mighty and swelling empire becometh mine.  I shall, O repressor of foes, certainly make it over to Duryodhana only.  Let Yudhishthira of virtuous soul become king for ever.  He that hath Hrishikesa for his guide, and Dhananjaya and that mighty car-warrior Bhima for his combatants, as also Nakula and Sahadeva, and the sons of Draupadi, is fit, O Madhava, to rule over the whole earth.  Dhrishtadyumna, the prince of the Panchalas, that mighty car-warrior Satyaki, Uttamaujas, Yudhamanyu, the prince of Somakas who is devoted to truth, the ruler of the Chedis, Chekitana, the invincible Sikhandin, the Kekaya brothers, all of the hue of Indragopaka insects, Bhimasena’s uncle Kuntibhoja of high soul and possessed of steeds endued with the colours of the rainbow, the mighty car-warrior Syenajit, Sanka the son of Virata, and thyself, O Janardana, like an ocean,—­great is this assemblage, O Krishna, of Kshatriyas (that hath been made by Yudhishthira).  This blazing kingdom, celebrated among all the kings of the earth, is already won (by Yudhishthira).  O thou of Vrishni’s race, a great sacrifice of arms is about to be celebrated by Dhritarashtra’s son.  Thou, O Janardana, wilt be the Upadrashtri of that sacrifice.  The office of Adhyaryu also, O Krishna, in that sacrifice, will be thine.  The ape-bannered Vibhatsu accoutred in mail will be the Hotri (his bow), Gandiva will be the sacrificial ladle, and the prowess of the warriors will be the clarified butter (that is to be consumed).  The weapons called Aindra, Pasupata, Brahma, and Sthunakarna, applied by Arjuna, will, O Madhava, be the mantras (of that sacrifice).  Resembling his father, or perhaps, excelling him in prowess, Subhadra’s son (Abhimanyu) will be the chief Vedic hymn to be chanted.  That destroyer of elephant ranks that