ith both hands, he is always in the
van of fight. With his energy, O king, he has slain all the troops of
Suyodhana. Listen to me as I tell thee what Mahadeva having the bovine
bull for the device on his standard had recited unto the ascetics on the
breast of the Himavat. His utterances constitute a Purana. The
advancement of greatness, energy, strength, prowess, puissance, humility,
and lineage that are in Arjuna can come up to only a third part of the
measure in which those attributes reside in Krishna. Who is there that
can transcend Krishna in these attributes? Whether that is possible or
not, listen (and judge). There where the illustrious Krishna is, there is
unrivalled Excellence.[585] As regards ourselves, we are persons of
little understanding. Dependent upon the will of others, we are
exceedingly unfortunate. Knowingly we betook ourselves to the eternal
path of death. Thou, however, art devoted to sincerity of conduct. Having
formerly pledged thyself against taking thy kingdom, thou didst not take
it, desirous of maintaining thy pledge.[586] O king, thou makest too much
of the slaughter of thy kinsmen and friends in battle (brought about, as
thou believest, by thyself). Thou shouldst remember, however, O chastiser
of foes, that it is not right to violate a pledge.[587] All those who
have fallen on the field of battle have really been slain by Time.
Verily, all of us have been slain by Time. Time is, indeed, all-powerful.
Thou art fully conversant with the puissance of Time. Afflicted by Time,
it does not behove thee to grieve. Know that Krishna Himself, otherwise
called Hari, is that Time with blood-red eyes and with club in hand. For
these reasons, O son of Kunti, it does not behove thee to grieve for thy
(slain) kinsfolk. Be thou always free, O delighter of the Kurus, from
grief. Thou hast heard of the glory and greatness of Madhava as recited
by me. That is sufficient for enabling a good man to understand Him.
Having heard the words of Vyasa as also of Narada endued with great
intelligence, I have discoursed to thee on the adorableness of Krishna. I
have myself added, from my own knowledge, something to that discourse.
Verily, I have discoursed also on the surpassing puissance of Krishna as
recited by Mahadeva, unto that conclave of Rishis (on the breast of the
Himavat). The discourse too between Maheswara and the daughter of
Himavat, O Bharata, has been recited by me to thee. He who will bear in
mind that di