Shloka 17
Makara-vyūha and Krauñca-prativyūha at Sunrise (मकरव्यूहः क्रौञ्चप्रतिव्यूहश्च)
प्रीतिमान् हि दृढ़ कृष्ण: पाण्डवेषु यशस्थविषु । तस्माद् ब्रवीमि राजेन्द्र शमो भवतु पाण्डवै:
sañjaya uvāca |
prītimān hi dṛḍhaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ pāṇḍaveṣu yaśasviṣu |
tasmād bravīmi rājendra śamo bhavatu pāṇḍavaiḥ ||
Sañjaya said: “Kṛṣṇa is indeed firmly and wholeheartedly pleased with the illustrious Pāṇḍavas. Therefore, O best of kings, I say this: let there be peace—let a settlement be made—with the Pāṇḍavas.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse elevates reconciliation over escalation: when a righteous and influential figure like Kṛṣṇa is firmly aligned with the Pāṇḍavas, wise kingship favors śama (peace) and negotiated settlement rather than stubborn continuation of hostility.
Sañjaya, speaking to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra, reports Kṛṣṇa’s strong goodwill toward the renowned Pāṇḍavas and urges Dhṛtarāṣṭra to make peace with them—an attempt to avert or limit the catastrophe of war through counsel.