‘Do you give wealth to the deserving, beget the sons you desire, and render pleasing service to those dear to you? — for King Yudhishthira thirsts for victory.’ While I stood at a distance, Krishna, addressing me with tears, said: ‘This debt, accumulating over time, I have not yet repaid. You have provoked hostilities with this Savyasachin, whose bow is the invincible Gandiva blazing with fiery energy, and whose helper I am. Who, even were he Purandara himself, would dare challenge Partha with me as his ally, unless his span of life were already exhausted? He who is able to defeat Arjuna in battle is indeed able to hold up the Earth with his two arms, to devour all creation in wrath, and to cast the gods down from Heaven. Among gods, asuras, and men, among yakshas, gandharvas, and nagas, I find no one who could meet Arjuna in battle.’