Vaishampayana said Thus addressed, O king, the destroyer of Keshni, greatly possessed by sorrow answered, So be it! These words were uttered with sufficicnt loudness and they pleased all the inmates of the inner apartments of the place.

The powerful Krishna, that foremost of men, by uttering these words, pleased all the people assembled there, like one pouring cold water on a person afflicted with sweat.

He then quickly entered the lying in-room in which your father was born. It was duly sanctificd, O king, with many garlands, of while flowers; with many well-filled waterpots arranged on every side; with char-coal, soaked in clarified butter of Tinduka-wood, and mustard-seeds, o you of mighty arms; with shining weapons properly arranged and several fires on every side. And it was filled with many agreeable and aged dames summoned for waiting.

It was also surrounded by many well-skilled and clever physicians, O you of great intelligence! Gifted with great energy, he also beheld there all articles that are destructive of Rakshasas, duly placed by persons knowing the subject. Seeing the lying-in-room in which your father was born thus equipt, Hrishikesha became very glad and said, Excellent, Excellent!'

When he of Vrishni's racc said so and presented such a chcerful look, Draupadi, going there quickly, addressed the daughter of Virata, saying, O blessed lady, here comes to you your father-in-law, the destroyer of Madhu, that ancient Rishi of inconceivable soul, that unvanquished one.

Virata's daughter, checking her tears said these words in a voice chocked with grief. Covering herself properly, the pincess waited for Krishna like the celestials reverentially waiting for him.

The helpless lady with heart agitated by Sorrow, seeing Govinda coming, bewailed, saying :

O lotus-eyed one, sce us two deprived of our child! O Janardana, both Abhimanyu and myself have been equally killed.

o you of Vrishni's race, O destroyer of Madhu, I seek to please you by bending my head, O hero to you! Do you revive this child of mine who has been consumed by the weapon of Drona's son.

If king Yudhishthira the just, or Bhimasena, or yourself, O lotus-eyes one, had, on that occasion, said, Let the blade of grass destroy the unconscious mother, O powerful one, then I would have been destroyed and this would not have taken place.

Alas, what benefit has been reaped by Drona's son by doing this cruel deed, viz., the destruction of the child in the womb by his Brahma-weapon.

That self-same mother now seeks to please you, O slayer of enemies, by bending her head! Surely, O Govinda, I shall kill myself if this child does not revive.

In him, Orighteous one, I placed many expectations! Alas, when these have been frustrated by Drona's son, what necessity have I, O Keshava, to carry on the burden of life?

I hoped, O Krishna, that with my child on my lap, O Janardana, I would salute you with respect! Alas, O Keshava, that hope has beelu destroyed.

O foremost of all beings at the death of this heir of Abhimanyu of restless eyes, all my hopes have been destroyed.

Abhimanyu of restless eyes, O destroyer of Madhu, was exceedingly dear to you. Behold this child of his killed by the Brahma-weapon.

This child is very ungrateful and very heartless, like his father, for, sce, disregarding the prosperity and affluence of the Pandavas, he has gone to Yama's house.

I had, before this, vowed, O Keshava, that if Abhimanuyu fell on the field of battle, O hero, I would follow him immediately.

I did not, however, keep my vow, cruel that I am and fond of life! If I go to him now, what indeed, will Phalguna's son say?