Shloka 7
Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 72 — Bhīmasena’s counsel on conciliation and Duryodhana’s disposition
न पर्यायो$स्ति यत् साम्य॑ त्वयि कुर्युविशाम्पते । बलतवत्तां हि मन्यन्ते भीष्मद्रोणकृपादिभि:,अतः प्रजानाथ! ऐसा कोई उपाय नहीं है, जिससे (वे आपको आधा राज्य देकर) आपके प्रति समता (सन्धि) स्थापित करें। भीष्म, द्रोण और कृपाचार्य आदि उनके पक्षमें हैं, इसलिये वे अपनेको आपसे अधिक बलवान् समझते हैं
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | na paryāyo 'sti yat sāmyam tvayi kuryur viśāmpate | balavattāṃ hi manyante bhīṣma-droṇa-kṛpādibhiḥ ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “O lord of the people, there is no course by which they would establish equality with you—no settlement that treats you as an equal. For, with Bhīṣma, Droṇa, Kṛpa and others on their side, they imagine themselves the stronger; therefore they will not concede even a fair share, and peace on just terms becomes unlikely.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
A just peace requires willingness to recognize the other side’s rightful claim; when pride is reinforced by perceived military advantage and powerful allies, equitable settlement becomes impossible, making conflict more likely despite ethical preference for peace.
In the lead-up to war, Yudhiṣṭhira assesses the prospects of a fair compromise and concludes that the opponents will not agree to parity, because they feel emboldened by eminent warriors—Bhīṣma, Droṇa, and Kṛpa—standing with them.