"How can we, O Madhava, preserve both our own interests and our virtue? With whom but you, O slayer of Madhu and best of men, can we take counsel in this difficult matter? What other friend do we have, O Krishna, who is as dear to us as you are, who is so devoted to our welfare, who is so well acquainted with the course of every action, and who is so well versed in the truth?" Vaishampayana continued: "To this address Janardana replied to the righteous Yudhishthira, saying: 'I will go to the court of the Kurus for the sake of you both. If, without sacrificing your interests, I can bring about peace, O king, I shall gain great religious merit and reap great rewards. Then I shall also save from the snares of death the Kauravas and the Srinjayas, blazing with wrath, the Pandavas and the sons of Dhritarashtra, and indeed this whole earth.' Yudhishthira said: 'I do not wish you, O Krishna, to go to the Kurus, for Suyodhana will never act in accordance with your words, even were you to give him the best of counsel. All the kshatriyas of the world, obedient to Duryodhana's commands, are gathered there. I do not like that you, O Krishna, should enter their midst. If any harm should come to you, O Madhava, to say nothing of happiness — nothing, neither divinity itself nor even dominion over all the gods, would please us.' The Holy One said: 'I know, O king, the wickedness of Dhritarashtra's son, but by going there we shall be free of blame before all the kings of the earth. Like all other animals before a lion, all the kings of the earth, united together, are unable to withstand me in battle when I am roused to fury. And if they should indeed do me any harm, I shall devour all the Kurus — this too is my intent. My journey there, O Partha, will not be fruitless, for even if our purpose is not achieved, we shall at least be free of all reproach.' Yudhishthira said: 'Do, O Krishna, as you think best. Blessed are you — go to the Kurus. I hope to see you return successful and prosperous. When you go to the Kurus, bring about, O Lord, such a peace that all the sons of Bharata may live together with cheerful and contented hearts. You are our brother and friend, as dear to me as Vibhatsu himself. Such has been our closeness with you. You know us, you know our adversaries, you know what our aims are, and you also know what should be said. You, O Krishna, will speak to Suyodhana such words as will serve our benefit. Whether peace is established through what may seem sin or through any other means, O Keshava, speak such words as may prove of benefit to us.'"