Vaisampayana continued,--"Thus addressed by the exalted one, Yudhishthira,
beholding both Bhima and Arjuna standing with cheerful faces, replied,
saying--'O Achyuta, O Achyuta, thou slayer of all enemies, say not so.
Thou art the lord of the Pandavas! We are dependent on thee. What thou
sayest, O Govinda, is consistent with wise counsels. Thou never leadest
those upon whom Prosperity hath turned her back. I who stay under thy
command regard that Jarasandha is already slain, that the monarchs
confined by him have already been set free, that the Rajasuya hath already
been accomplished by me. O lord of the universe, O thou best of persons,
watchfully act thou so that this task may be accomplished. Without ye then
I dare not live, like a sorrowful man afflicted with disease, and bereft
of the three attributes of morality, pleasure and wealth. Partha cannot
live without Sauri (Krishna), nor can Sauri live without Partha. Nor is
there anything in the world that is unconquerable by these two, viz.,
Krishna and Arjuna. This handsome Bhima also is the foremost of all
persons endued with might. Of great renown, what can he not achieve when
with ye two? Troops, when properly led, always do excellent service. A
force without a leader hath been called inert by the wise. Forces,
therefore, should always be led by experienced commanders. Into places
that are low, the wise always conduct the water. Even fishermen cause the
water (of tank) to run out through holes. (Experienced leaders always lead
their forces noting the loopholes and assailable points of the foe). We
shall, therefore, strive to accomplish our purpose following the
leadership of Govinda conversant with the science of politics, that
personage whose fame hath spread all over the world. For the successful
accomplishment of one's purposes one should ever place Krishna in the van,
that foremost of personages whose strength consists in wisdom and policy
and who possesseth a knowledge of both method and means. For the
accomplishment of one's purpose let, therefore, Arjuna, the son of Pritha,