"O Krishna, the first work, of installing thee as the king of cows, is now over. Listen now to the next object of my coming here (71). Slaying speedily Kansa, the wretch of a horse Keshi, and Aristha, always committing mischief do thou engage in governing thy own kingdom (72). From thy father’s sister, a portion of my energy is born as a son by name Arjuna. Contracting friendship with him do thou always protect him (73). Thou shalt favour him and he, too, acting on thy advice and following thee, will acquire great fame (74). He will be the foremost of bowmen among the descendants of Bharata and will take after thee. And without thy help he alone will never be pleased with his work (75). This future war of Bharata²³⁹ depends on him and thee the foremost of men. When you both will be united all the kings will be slain (76). O Krishna, I have spoken to the gods and Rishis, that the son, begotten by me on Kunti, will be an adept in the use of weapons, the foremost of archers and the greatest of the Kurus. All the warrior-kings will speak of his learning (77-78). Ever abiding by the duties of a Kshatrya he alone will be able to kill one Akshouhini of kings skilled in fighting (79). Save thee there is none among the kings or gods who will be able to weaken the power of his bow or follow the path of his weapons, O lord (80). O Govinda, he will be thy friend and help in battle. Therefore at my request, do thou instruct him in spiritual knowledge (81). Thou dost know well Arjuna and all the worlds. So thou shouldst always regard and take care of him as thou dost me (82). If thou dost protect him in the great battle Death will not be able to extend its influence over him (83). O Krishna, know Arjuna as me and me as identical with thy own self. As I am at one with thee, so is Arjuna (84). I am thy elder brother and therefore thou didst, in the days of yore, acquiring the three worlds from Bali with thy three footsteps, install me in the sovereignty over the gods (85). I know thee as fond of truth, as having truth for thy prowess and as identical with truth. And because thou art bound to the gods by a promise they have engaged thee in this work of the destruction of their enemies (86). O Krishna, Arjuna, the son of thy father’s sister, is my son. As he did become thy companion in the days of yore²⁴⁰ and so now he will contract friendship with thee (87). O Mādhava, as a bull carries a burden, so thou shalt always take care of him when either living in his house, your house or while fighting with the enemies in the battle-field (88). When Kansa will be slain by thee, ever observant of the real purpose of things there will take place a great war of the kings (89). Arjuna will vanquish those heroic men of superhuman deeds and thou shalt adorn him with glory (90). O Keshava, if truth, myself and the celestials are thy favourites thou shouldst carry out whatever I have said" (91).