“And beholding that a very destructive battle was about to take place, there came, O king, into the Pandava encampment, Halayudha, accompanied by Akrura, and Gada and Samva, and Uddhava, and Rukmini’s son (Pradyumna), and Ahuka’s sons, and Charudeshna, and others.  And surrounded and guarded by those foremost warriors of the Vrishni race, resembling a herd of mighty tigers, like Vasava in the midst of the Maruts, the mighty-armed and handsome Rama, attired in garments of blue silk and resembling the peak of the Kailasa mountain, and endued with the sportive gait of the lion and possessed of eyes having their ends reddened with drink, came there (at such a time).  And beholding him, king Yudhishthira the Just, and Kesava of great effulgence, and Pritha’s son Vrikodara of terrible deeds, and (Arjuna) the wielder of Gandiva, and all the other kings that were, rose from their seats.  And they all offered worship unto Halayudha as he came to that place.  And the Pandava king touched Rama’s hands with his own.  And that chastiser of foes, Halayudha, in return, accosting them all with Vasudeva at their head, and saluting (respectfully) both Virata and Drupada who were senior in years, sat down on the same seat with Yudhishthira.  And after all the kings had taken their seats, Rohini’s son, casting his eyes on Vasudeva, began to speak.  And he said, ’This fierce and terrible slaughter is inevitable.  It is, without doubt, a decree of fate, and I think that it cannot be averted.  Let me hope, however, to behold all of you, with your friends, come safely out of this strife, with sound bodies and perfectly hale.  Without doubt, all the Kshatriyas of the world that are assembled together have their hour come.  A fierce melee covering with a mire of flesh and blood is sure to take place.  I said unto Vasudeva repeatedly in private, ’O slayer of Madhu, unto those that bear equal relationship to us, observe thou an equal behaviour.  As are the Pandavas to us, even so is king Duryodhana.  Therefore, give him also the same aid.  Indeed, he repeatedly soliciteth it.  For thy sake, however, the slayer of Madhu regarded not my words.  Looking at Dhananjaya, he hath with his whole heart, been devoted to your cause.  Even this is what I certainly think, viz., that the victory of the Pandavas is sure, for Vasudeva’s wish, O Bharata, is even so.  As regards myself, I dare not cast my eyes on the world without Krishna (on my side).  It is for this that I follow whatever Krishna seeketh to achieve.  Both of these heroes, well-skilled in encounter with the mace, are my disciples.  My affection, therefore, for Bhima is equal to that for king Duryodhana.  For these reasons, I shall now repair to the tirtha of the Saraswati for ablutions, for I shall not be able to behold with indifference the destruction of the Kauravas.

“Having said this, the mighty-armed Rama, obtaining the leave of the Pandavas, and making the slayer of Madhu desist (from following him farther), set out on his journey for the sacred waters.’”