The next morning as Krishna gets ready to go, Duryodhana and Sakuni arrive with a message that Dritharashtra is already at the sabha and wants Krishna to join him. Krishna and Vidhura take the same chariot and proceed. Duryodhana, Sakuni, Satyaki and Kruthavarma and other vrishnis follow. Thousands of soldiers carrying swords and barbed missiles march along with the chariot of Krishna. Similarly hundreds of elephants and thousands of horses follow them. People congregate to watch the procession and soon Krishna reaches the palace gates. Conch shells are sounded as he arrives and music is being played on the flute!
Krishna alights and walks towards the sabha, with him are Vidhura and Satyaki. Walking ahead of them are Karna and Duryodhana and at the rear are Kruthavarma and the other vrishni rajas. As soon as Krishna enters, Dritharashtra and Bheeshma get up to receive him and then the thousands of rajas in the sabha show respect by rising from their seats .
Krishna, greets many with smiles, engages in conversations, appropriate to their age, and finally occupies a seat of gold, specially reserved for him. Dussasana offers a seat to Satyaki and others are also seated formally. A little away from Krishna, Karna and Duryodhana sit together on one seat. Sakuni and his son are closeby. Vidura sits close to Krishna on a seat covered with a white deer skin. Krishna is the cynosure of all eyes and there is total silence. It is a serious moment as they wait for Krishna to speak.
Krishna waits for people to settle down and addresses Dhirtharashtra in a loud and firm voice, like the thunder before the rains. 'Maharaja! I am here to try and bring peace between kauravas and pandavas.' He begins with a praise of the kaurava clan; their intelligence, character, kindness, patience, truth and honesty, now vitiated by the behaviour of Duryodhana and others. And about his belief that if Dritharashtra speaks to them, a calamity could be avoided. He in turn promises to speak to pandavas and convince them to follow the path of peace. Adds that if the two groups join together they could rule the world. If not, it is certain that there will be total destruction!
He reminds Dhritharashtra how he had brought up the orphaned sons of Pandu and conveys a message from Yudhisthira. A message which reminds his uncle of the difficulties panadavas have faced all these years. That he is their father and mother put together. And ends with a request for a fair share of the kingdom as they have kept their words and have spent thirteen years in great hardship.
Krishna then recounts the series of events which provoked pandavas and how they had to keep quiet because of their khsatriya dharma and concludes that keeping the interest of both parties, Dhritharashtra should stop his sons. 'Pandavas are bound by their reverence to you; they are also ready to fight a war. It is your decision to choose the one you like!'
While Krishna's words are appreciated by the kings, they keep silent. Dhritharashtra replies that he is in agreement with Krishna, but he is not free to take the decision by himself and suggests that Krishna should talk to and convince Duryodhana, only then there could be peace!
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