HAVING sent Drupada's brahmana to Hastinapura on the peace mission, the Pandavas sent word, at the same time, to the princes likely to favour their cause to collect their forces and hold themselves in readiness for war. To Dwaraka, Arjuna went himself.

Having understood through his spies the turn events were taking, Duryodhana too did not remain idle. Learning thatVasudeva (Krishna) was back in his home city, he sped to wards Dwaraka in his chariot, as fast as his swiftest horses could take him. The two of them, Arjuna and Duryodhana, thus reached Dwaraka on the same day.

Krishna was fast asleep. Because they were his close relatives, Arjuna and Duryodhana could go into his bedroom. There, they both waited for Krishna towake up. Duryodhana, who went in first, seated himself on a decorated throne-chair at the head of the bed, while Arjuna keptstanding at its foot with arms folded in respectful posture.