"Pundarikaksha, ** having seen your Visvarupa, I do not wish to see anything else. I ask that I should be blind again," said Dhritarashtra, and he became blind again. "All our efforts have failed. Duryo- dhana is obstinate," said Dhritarashtra to Govinda.

And Krishna rose and, with Satyaki and Vidura on either side of him, left the court.

He went straight to Kunti. He told her what had happened and she asked him to convey her blessings to her sons.

"The time has come," said she, "for that for which a Kshatriya woman brings forth sons. May you protect my sons!"

A Kshatriya mother brings forth children to be sacrificed in war. Purushottamat ++ got into his chariot and sped towards Upaplavya. War became a certainty.

* Krishna.

** Krishna, lotus-eyed.