Sloka: (athranthare)

 

Lord Vasudeva, born to protect the whole world, and always eager to end the misery of his devotees, was addressed by the valiant Pandavas thus.

 

Yudhishtira: (jaya jaya janardana)

 

Victory to you O Janardana, O lotus-eyed,

O Lord Vasudeva, I bow to you with ardour

 

O destroyer of demons, protector of the weak!

To carry out a task, Krishna, I beseech you

 

Though in truth all are equal in your eyes

you are also a servant of your devotees

 

Though it may look ridiculous, please 

go as our emissary to Duryodhana

and tell them soon that the Pandavas

have already done their time 

 

If returning our rightful half of the kingdom

is hard for the son of Dhritharashtra

grant us five villages at will

which I will accept since I desire no war

 

If he has reservations about that too,

doesn’t matter, give us five houses;

if the five of us are given a beautiful house

of our own we will settle for that.