Meanwhile, the highly energetic Vasudeva, accompanied by the Vrishnis, came to the city of Hastinapur.

While leaving that city for returning to his own Dwraka, he had been requested by the son of Dharma to come back. Hence, knowing, that the tiine fixed for the Horse-Sacrifice had come, that foremost of men returned to Hastinapur.

Accompanied by the son Rukmini, by Yuyudhana, by Charudeshana, by Shamva by Gada, by Kritavarman, by the heroic Sarana, by Nishatha and by Un-mukha, Vasudeva came, with Baladeva at the head of the train, and with Subhadra also accompanying him.

Indeed, that hero came for seeing Draupadi, Uitara and Pritha and for comforting those renowned Kshatriya-ladies who had been bereft of many of their protectors.

Seeing those heroes come, king Dhritarashtra, as also the great Vidura, received them with due honours.

That foremost of men, viz., Krishna of great energy, worshipped by Vidura and Yuyutsu, continued to live in the Kuru capital.

It was while the Vrishni heroes, ) Janamejaya, were living in the Kuru-city, O king, that your father, that destroyer of hostile heroes, was born.

The royal Parikshit, O monarch, afflicted by the Brahima-weapon of Ashvatthama), upon coming out of the womb, lay still and motionless for he had no life. By his birth he had pleased the citizens but soon piunged them into grief.

The citizens, learning of the birth of the prince, uttered a leonine shout. That noise proceeded to the utmost limit of every point of the compass. Soon, however, that noise ceased,

Krishna, his senses and inind considerably affected, with Yuyudhana in his company, entered speedily the inner apartments of the palace.

He saw his own paternal aunt (Kunti), coming, loudly weeping and calling upon him repeatedly.

Behind her were Draupadi and the famous Subhadra, and the wives of the relatives of the Pandavas, all weeping piteously.

Mecting Krishna, Kunti, that daughter of the Bhoja race, said to him in a voice choked with tears, Oforemost of monarchs.

O Vasudeva, O mighty-armed hero Devaki, by having borne you, has come to be considered as an excellent genetrix! You are our refuge and our glory! This race (of Pandu) depends upon you for its protector.

O Yadava hero, O powerful one this child of your sister's son, has come, out of the womb, killed by Ashvatthama. O Keshava, do you révive him!

O delighter of the Yadavas, this was vowed by you, O powerful one, when Ashvatthaman had inspired the blade of grass into a Brahmaweapon of great energy! Indeed, O Keshava, your words were thcsc; I shall revive that child if he comes out of the womb dead!

That child, O son, has been born deed! Sec him, O foremost of men. You should, O Madhava, 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 arc fettered the life-breaths of the Pandavas and myself! O you of the Dasharha-race, on him depends the obsequial cake of Pandu, as also of my father-in-law, and of Abhimanyu too, blessed be you, that favourite nephew of yours who was so very like you! Do you do today what will be beneficial to all these! I urge you earnestly, O Janardana.

Uttara, O destroyer of enemies, always repeats the words said to her by Abhimanyu. Forsooth, O Krishna, those words were highly agreeable to her.

O you of the Dasharha-race. Arjuna's son said to this daughter of Virata, Your son, O blessed girl, will go to my maternal uncles.

Taking up his quarters with the Vrishnis and Andhakas, he will obtain from them the science of arms, indeed, various wonderful weapons and the whole of the science of polities and morality.

These were the words, O son, that that destroyer of hostile heroes, viz., the son of Subhadra, that irresistible hero, said to Uttara from his love for her.

O destroyer of Madhu, bowing our heads to you, we pray you for making those words of Abhimanyu true! In view also of the time that has come, do you accomplish what is highly beneficial.

Having said these words to that hero of the Vrishni's race, Pritha of large eyes, raised her arms upwards and with the other ladies in her company, dropped down on the Earth.

All of them, with eyes rendered muddy by tears, repeatedly explained, saying, Alas, the son of Vasudeva's nephew has been born dead.

After Kunti had said so, Janardana took hold of her, O Bharata, and gently raising her from the Earth, comforted her as follows.