Shloka 116
विदुरस्य कृष्णं प्रति शमोपदेशः
Vidura’s Counsel to Krishna on the Limits of Peace
न्यमन्त्रयद् भोजनेन नाभ्यनन्दच्च केशव: । तदनन्तर राजा दुर्योधनने विजयी वीरोंमें श्रेष्ठ श्रीकृष्णको भोजनके लिये निमन्त्रित किया; परंतु केशवने उस निमन्त्रणको स्वीकार नहीं किया
nyamantrayad bhojanena nābhyanandac ca keśavaḥ |
Vaiśampāyana sprach: Darauf lud König Duryodhana Śrī Kṛṣṇa—den Vorzüglichsten unter den Helden—zum Mahl; doch Keśava zeigte kein Wohlgefallen und nahm die Einladung nicht an.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Hospitality and gifts are not ethically neutral: when offered to manipulate, conceal wrongdoing, or enlist support for adharma, a righteous person may refuse them. Kṛṣṇa’s refusal models integrity—placing dharma above personal comfort, honor, or political advantage.
During the tense pre-war negotiations, Duryodhana invites Kṛṣṇa to a meal as part of his attempt to win him over or at least soften his stance. Kṛṣṇa (Keśava) does not accept the invitation, signaling his disapproval of Duryodhana’s course and his commitment to a dharmic resolution.