Shloka 18
विदुरस्य कृष्णं प्रति शमोपदेशः
Vidura’s Counsel to Krishna on the Limits of Peace
कृतार्था भुज्जते दूता: पूजां गृह्नन्ति चैव ह । कृतार्थ मां सहामात्यं समर्चिष्यसि भारत
kṛtārthā bhuñjate dūtāḥ pūjāṃ gṛhṇanti caiva ha | kṛtārthaṃ māṃ sahāmātyaṃ samarcayiṣyasi bhārata ||
দূতসকলৰ নিয়ম এই যে—কাৰ্য সিদ্ধ হ’লে তেতিয়াহে তেওঁলোকে আহাৰ কৰে আৰু পূজা-সন্মান গ্ৰহণ কৰে। সেয়ে, হে ভাৰত! মোৰ উদ্দেশ্য সিদ্ধ হোৱাৰ পাছত, মোৰ মন্ত্ৰীসকলৰ সৈতে মোক যথোচিতভাবে সন্মান কৰিবা।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse states a norm of diplomatic ethics: an envoy should not accept hospitality or honors until the assigned mission is successfully completed, emphasizing integrity, restraint, and prioritizing duty over personal comfort.
Vaiśaṃpāyana reports a statement about proper treatment of an envoy: the addressee (a Bhārata/Kuru prince) is asked to postpone formal honoring of the speaker and his ministers until the envoy’s objective has been achieved.