Krishna from Upaplavya's meeting to Dwaraka returning

            Marital and martial both courtings done at Virata's court

                                                        How now the time for reckoning had come

Duryodhana from his spies the plans of Pandavas learning

         Hurrying with posse the Kaurav rode, help from Hari to extort.

Beeline Bibatsu swift to Shauri's sea-view palace

          Scions of Kuru, arrived they to see Shyam seeming asleep 

                                                                    How close those dread days now come

Suyodhana ahead - to seat at head, his pride of place

          Savyasachin behind, with a bow at His feet,  in reverence deep.

Hrishikesha first on Gudakesha smiling His sight lay

           Enquiring of both visitors, how their journeys were

                                                 How far across the land they had come

Greeting His kinsmen, asked what brought them  this way

         Duryodhana demanded  Krishna's assistance on him confer:

"First come, first served - that is the right view"

      Laughed Krishna: "True, but on Arjuna first did my eyes alight

                                                How close or distant you two have come

I have options of help on offer to both of you

        And the held view is  that the youngest one gets the first bite!

 My weaponless arms or my weaponed army? Choose ye now!"

       Waited his turn, grudging Kaurava older but then...

                                        How fast the friend but slow to foe become

Kaunteya in an instant: "For me - Krishna only -  art Thou!"

      Delighted Duryodhana departed with the finest fighting men

Asked Krishna of Kiritin, what made him choose just Him unarmed

         Arjuna replied: 'I question not that you can slay them all.

            I too solo am capable, to dispatch to Yama, enemies swarmed

    World-renowned Thou art, and by renown You all enthrall 

         I too woo such sheen ; hence You Madhav chosen  have I 

Partha longed for You, since long , to be his saarathi - his Ally!

Smiling Vaasudev spoke warm and sweet

 O Kunti's son! right it is, and also  meet 

That thou measurest thyself with me.

 I will act as thy charioteer; let it so  be!'

----------

Notes

Derived from Mahabharata, KMG translation. https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m05/m05007.htm

Points of interest: Soon after Krishna, along with Balaram and innumerable clansmen, departed for Dwaraka, Arjuna having sent messengers to obtain alliances from other places, set out for Dwaraka [from Upaplavya, so slightly closer to Dwaraka?]. 

Through spies, keeping himself well-informed of all the proceedings of the Pandavas, Duryodhana on the swiftest of horses and accompanied by a small number of his troops, went to Dwaraka[from Hastinapura, so slightly further from Dwaraka?].  Why did Duryodhana feel he needed to take troops with him?

Things are moving swiftly!

The conversation between Krishna and Arjuna[alluded to in my poem, but please do read the original to savour the banter!] is so characteristic of their close relationship, isn't it?

And even more intriguing, this answer of Balaram to Duryodhana: 'Thou shouldst remember, O tiger among men, all that I said at the marriage ceremony celebrated by Vitrata. O thou delighter of the race of Kuru, for thy sake I then contradicted Krishna and spoke against his opinions...'

So how would Duryodhana have known if not for spies? and how would Balaram have known that Duryodhana would know, if not for intelligence networks shared?

https://youtu.be/rvbHZ7zWImU