SATYAKI accompanied Govinda* to Hastinapura. Before setting out on his journey, Krishna had a lone discussion with the Pandavas. Even the mighty Bhima, rather surprisingly, plumped for peaceful settlement.

"Let not the race be destroy ed. Peace is very much to be preferred," said he. The poet Vyasa makes Bhima speak thus in order to show that truly great warriors desire peace, and that to seek peace is not a sign of fear.

But Draupadi could not forget her humilia- tion. Holding her locks in her hand she stood before Krishna, and in a voice quivering with grief, she said: 'Madhu- sudana, look at these tresses of mine and do what honour requires to be done. There can be no peace with honour.

Even if Arjuna and Bhima are against war, my father, old though he is, will go tobattle, supported by my children. Even my father can keep out. My children, with Subhadra's son Abhimanyu, at their head, will fight the Kauravas.