Duryodhana returned to Hastinapura in high spirits saying to himself:
"Arjuna has made a fool of himself. The great army of Dwaraka will fight on my side
and Balarama's good wishes too are with me. Vasudeva has been left without an army."
"Dhananjaya, why did you choose thus unwisely, preferring me alone
and unarmed to my fully equipped and heroic forces?" asked Krishna of Arjuna with a
smile, when they were alone. Arjuna answered:
"My ambition is to achieve glory even like yours. You have the
power and prowess to face all, the princes of the land and their hordes in battle
single-handed. I too feel I can do it.
So, I desire that I should win the battle with you driving my chariot
unarmed. I have desired this for long and you have today fulfilled my wish."
Vasudeva smiled again and pronounced this benediction: "Are you
trying to compete with me? May you succeed," for he was pleased with Arjuna's
decision. This is the sacred story of how Krishna became Partha's charioteer.
