Page:Cradle Tales of Hinduism .djvu/235

KRISHNA PARTE A SARATHI 211 answered that in this matter He thought the claims were equal, since He had seen Arjuna first. He added, moreover, that, in matters of choice, it was customary to let the younger choose first. He desired to refuse no prayer that should be made to Him, but in this case He had two alternatives to propose. He could give to one of the combatants, He said, an army consisting of some tens of thousands of soldiers, ready armed and equipped. To the other He could promise only His own presence, unarmed, and resolved not to fight. Then He waited to let each of the two knights decide his own destiny ; for well did He know that one who had been so blinded by wrath and desire as to strive to keep the possessions of another, could not at the same time be so discriminating as to choose the Divine Person for his sole strength and stay. Even as He had fore- seen, Arjuna, in the faltering voice of devotion, begged for His presence beside him, as his unarmed charioteer, while Duryodhana was fully satisfied that his prayer had been answered when he received the promise of the services of an army of fighting men.

When the hosts of the Pandavas had been duly organised, when their friends and troops were all enrolled, and their plans made for battle, then Krishna went to the court of the Kurus to try and obtain from them overtures of peace. He