there.  O mighty-armed one, it is thy duty to dispel, by all means in thy power, the wrath of Gandhari!” Hearing these words of king Yudhishthira the just, the perpetuator of Yadu’s race, summoning Daruka, said, “Let my car be equipped!” Having received Keshava’s command, Daruka in great haste, returned and represented unto his high-souled master that the car was ready.  That scorcher of foes and chief of Yadu’s race, the lord Keshava, having mounted the car, proceeded with great haste to the city of the Kurus.  The adorable Madhava then, riding on his vehicle, proceeded, and arriving at the city called after the elephant entered it.  Causing the city to resound with the rattle of his car-wheels as he entered it, he sent word to Dhritarashtra and then alighted from his vehicle and entered the palace of the old king.  He there beheld that best of Rishis, (Dvaipayana) arrived before him.  Janardana, embracing the feet of both Vyasa and Dhritarashtra, quietly saluted Gandhari also.  Then the foremost of the Yadavas, Vishnu seizing Dhritarashtra by the hand, O monarch, began to weep melodiously.  Having shed tears for a while from sorrow, he washed his eyes and his face with water according to rules.  That chastiser of foes then said these softly flowing words unto Dhritarashtra, “Nothing is unknown to thee, O Bharata, about the past and the future!  Thou art well-acquainted, O lord, with the course of time!  From a regard for thee, the Pandavas had endeavoured to prevent the destruction of their race and the extermination of Kshatriyas, O Bharata!  Having made an understanding with his brothers, the virtuous Yudhishthira had lived peacefully.  He even went to exile after defeat at unfair dice!  With his brothers he led a life of concealment, attired in various disguises.  They also every day got into diverse other woes as if they were quite helpless!  On the eve of battle I myself came and in the presence of all men begged of thee only five villages.  Afflicted by Time, and moved by covetousness, thou didst not grant my request.  Through thy fault, O king, all the Kshatriya race hath been exterminated!  Bhishma, and Somadatta, and Valhika, and Kripa, and Drona and his son, and the wise Vidura, always solicited thee for peace.  Thou didst not, however, follow their counsels!  Everyone, it seems, when afflicted by Time, is stupefied, O Bharata, since even thou, O king, as regards this matter, did act so foolishly!  What else can it be but the effect of Time?  Indeed, Destiny is supreme!  Do not, O thou of great wisdom, impute any fault to the Pandavas!  The smallest transgression is not discernible in the high-souled Pandavas, judged by the rules of morality or reason or affection, O scorcher of foes!  Knowing all this to be the fruit of thy own fault, it behoveth thee not to cherish any ill-feeling towards the Pandavas!  Race, line, funeral cake, and what else depends upon offspring, now depend on the Pandavas as regards both thyself and Gandhari!  Thyself, O tiger among the Kurus,