Shloka 8
Nārada’s Visit at Indraprastha and Counsel on Concord; Introduction to Sundopasunda–Tilottamā
अथवा कुशला: केचिदुपायनिपुणा नरा: । इतरेतरत:ः पार्थान् भेदयन्त्वनुरागत:,अथवा कुछ ऐसे मनुष्य भेजे जाय, जो उपाय ढूँढ़ निकालनेमें चतुर तथा कार्यकुशल हों और प्रेमपूर्वक बातें करके कुन्तीपुत्रोंमें परस्पर फ़ूट डाल दें
athavā kuśalāḥ kecid upāya-nipuṇā narāḥ | itaretarataḥ pārthān bhedayantu anurāgataḥ ||
Oder man sende einige tüchtige Männer—kundig in Kunstgriffen und wirksam im Handeln—damit sie, mit Worten scheinbarer Zuneigung und Treue, Zwietracht unter den Söhnen Kuntīs (den Pāṇḍavas) säen und sie gegeneinander aufbringen.
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse illustrates an adharma-driven political tactic: exploiting the appearance of affection to fracture unity. It warns, by negative example, that manipulation of trust and engineered discord are ethically destructive even if they seem strategically effective.
Duryodhana proposes sending skilled agents who, through persuasive and seemingly friendly speech, will create internal divisions among the Pāṇḍavas, weakening them without direct confrontation.