In plain words
After the Mahābhārata war, Kṛṣṇa came up to Dharmaja: ‘Dharmarāja! The war is over. You have won the victory. But you must be crowned,’ he commanded. But Dharmaja would not agree to it. ‘Kṛṣṇa! Is it so that I may rule a kingdom, having killed so many kinsmen, friends, teachers and sons! Whom am I to rule? In what people am I to rejoice when I look on them? For whose sake should I be king? Many kinsmen I have killed; many I have had killed. Am I to have myself crowned king of this kingdom merely for this paltry self-interest? I do not want this kingdom!’ He pleaded with Kṛṣṇa in many ways and would not agree to be crowned. Kṛṣṇa saw that saying any more would be of no use. Nothing happens without a cause. Though God is only the instrument, He takes each thing as an example of its own kind and teaches people many things through many others. At times God's words seem to have little value. The reason is this: because He is so near, because He is so close, they do not give His words their full worth. So He resolved to have Dharmaja told through those the world calls its elders. Gently He took Dharmaja to Bhīṣma, who lay on his bed of arrows. ‘Bhīṣma! Dharmaja holds your words in the highest respect. So give him the heart and the encouragement to be crowned,’ He said. Entrusting Dharmarāja to Bhīṣma, Kṛṣṇa turned back. Bhīṣma turned towards Dharmaja, tears streaming from his eyes: ‘Dharmaja! Will you receive my words with faith?’ he said. Dharmaja took his hands and, bowing low, gave his word that he had never once disobeyed his command and would not disobey it in the future either. ‘Dharmaja! Before the war you needed Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa's words are the very words of the Veda. Today your undertaking has ended in victory for you. But however much a person is our support, however important, however foremost before any undertaking, after the victory is won that person's words, and that person too, are every bit as much our support and as important,’ he said. ‘To criticise them or to forget them once the work is done is not a person's duty. Why do you not take Kṛṣṇa's command upon your head? You regard Kṛṣṇa as an ordinary person. You trust in Him as a kinsman. True. God is indeed a friend and indeed a kinsman, but you do not fully recognise the principle of His power. You are wasting your time with a vision turned only outwards. Turn your vision inwards and think it over well,’ he said. Then Dharmaja said, ‘Grandsire!