and the famous Subhadra, and the wives of the relatives of the Pandavas, all weeping piteously.  Meeting Krishna, Kunti, that daughter of the Bhoja race, said unto him, O foremost of monarchs, these words in a voice chocked with tears, ’O Vasudeva, O mighty-armed hero, Devaki by having borne thee, has come to be regarded as an excellent genetrix.  Thou art our refuge, and our glory.  This race (of Pandu) depends upon thee for its protector.  O Yadava hero, O puissant one, this child of thy sister’s son, has come out of the womb, slain by Aswatthaman.  O Kesava, do thou revive him.  O delighter of the Yadavas, even this was vowed by thee, O puissant one, when Aswatthaman had inspired the blade of grass into a Brahma-weapon of mighty energy.  Indeed, O Kesava, thy words were even these, I shall revive that child if he comes out of the womb dead.—­That child, O son, has been born dead.  Behold him, O foremost of men.  It behoveth thee, O Madhava, to rescue Uttara and Subhadra and Draupadi and myself, and Dharma’s son (Yudhishthira), and Bhima and Phalguna, and Nakula, and the irresistible Sahadeva.  In this child are bound the life-breaths of the Pandavas and myself.  O thou of the Dasarha race, on him depends the obsequial cake of Pandu, as also of my father-in-law, and of Abhimanyu too, blessed be thou, that darling nephew of thine who was so very like unto thee.  Do thou accomplish today what will be beneficial to all these.  I urge thee earnestly, O Janarddana.  Uttara, O slayer of foes, always repeats the words said unto her by Abhimanyu.  Without doubt, O Krishna, those words were highly agreeable to her.  O thou of the Dasarha race, Arjuna’s son said unto this daughter of Virata,—­Thy son, O blessed girl, will go to my maternal uncles.  Taking up his residence with the Vrishnis and Andhakas, he will obtain from them the science of arms, indeed, diverse wonderful weapons and the whole of the science of politics and morality.  Even these were the words, O son, that that slayer of hostile heroes, viz., the son of Subhadra, that irresistible hero, said unto Uttara. from his affection for her.  O slayer of Madhu, bowing our heads unto thee, we pray thee for making those words of Abhimanyu true.  In view also of the time that has come, do thou accomplish what is highly beneficial.  Having said these words unto that hero of the Vrishni’s race, Pritha of large eyes, raised her arms upwards and with the other ladies in her company, fell down on the Earth.  All of them, with eyes rendered muddy by tears, repeatedly exclaimed, saying, ’Alas, the son of Vasudeva’s nephew has been born dead.’  After Kunti had said so, Janarddana took hold of her, O Bharata, and gently raising her from the Earth, comforted her as follows.’”

SECTION LXVII