Vishnu born as Vasudeva, when god bore man

Human weil and woes - this too Krishna did share

Fame or shame - fazed not Keshava - he rose or ran

There for the righteous, attentive and sweet His care

~ But on this earthly plane - karma and dharma constrain ~

''Hari, where were you, to save me from playing the fateful game?'' 

Dharmaraj dejected, from Him an answer sorrowing sought.

Madhav replied: ''From my kingdom, to your crowning, gladly I came

But in my absence, Shalva- Sisupalas's ally - a vengeance wrought!

~ In two places at once, my role cannot  be ~

''From Hastinapur returning, alarmed to find my Dvaraka  harmed!

Hailing the defenders, cheerfully I left the city to Ahuka's command  

Sharanga and Sudarshan chakra, my army - behold! Mighty-armed!

Steeds Saibya and Sugriva, sped your Shyam - Shalva's life to demand.''

~ Some I slay straightaway,  others I let ripen to reap ~

 Yudhishthira, eager to know more - Krishna obliges, action replay:

 ''Shalva with aerial attack besieged , heavy artillery on the ground

Dvaraka fortified - cannons, catapults, spikes, spears - bullet spray

  Ugrasen's decree, no wine! - sober Vrishnis alert, valour unbound!''

~ Kings loyal by their people, much loved ~

 ''Storming the enemy, Samba fired volley on volley of snake-spit shaft

Kshemavriddhi, demon of stealth, arrows showered - spell-blinding

Mace awhirl, my son by Jambavati, felled Vegavat, axed his craft

Roaring Samba charged into the host, fighting numbers unminding!''

~ In battle, shines forth mettle ~

''Firing an arrow like the sun,  Pradyumna demon Vivindhya  burned

Swooped the Lord of Sauba, his aerial chariot ear-piercing  laser ray

My son by Rukmini -bow from hand to hand, shoots Shalva churned

But struck Pradyumna's neck - Daruka's son steers chariot from fray''

~ Charioteer his duty, but warrior no wounds would stop ~

''Shalva now your time has come! Crossing streams and deserts stark

Chakrapani his wheels on fire, death to the demonic - danavas fear!

Rockets launch a naval battle - Shalva's  airship slicing like a lethal shark

Come face Yadhunath!  Blaring my shell his doom drew near!''

~ Krishna falls not to your spell of sorrows ~

🌊

Thus did Yudhishthira come to realise that Krishna was needed by many, that Krishna too was a King like him, having duties to protect his people, mete out punishment to his foes, having feelings for his family, and still full of grace towards the friends he was unable to help in time: 

''O king, it is for this reason that I could not come to Hastinapura! O warrior, if I had come, Suyodhana would not have been alive or the match at dice would not have taken place. What can I do now? It is difficult to confine the waters after the dam is broken!" 

~~~~~~