Shloka 9
Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 72 — Bhīmasena’s counsel on conciliation and Duryodhana’s disposition
नानुक्रोशान्न कार्पण्यान्न च धर्मार्थकारणात् । अलं कर्तु धार्तराष्ट्रस्तव काममरिंदम,शत्रुमर्दन नरेश! आप यह न समझें कि धृतराष्ट्रके पुत्र आपपर कृपा करके या अपनेको दीन-दुर्बल मानकर अथवा धर्म एवं अर्थकी ओर दृष्टि रखकर आपका मनोरथ पूर्ण कर देंगे
nā’nukrośān na kārpaṇyān na ca dharmārthakāraṇāt | alaṁ kartuṁ dhārtarāṣṭras tava kāmam ariṁdama śatrumardana nareśa ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “Not out of compassion, not out of pitiable weakness, and not even for the sake of dharma or material advantage will Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons be willing to fulfill your desire. O subduer of foes, O king—do not imagine that they will grant your request from mercy, from self-abasement, or from regard for righteousness and policy.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Yudhiṣṭhira warns against naïve expectations in moral and political conflict: entrenched hostility and ambition are not softened merely by appeals to compassion, humility, or even dharma and pragmatic benefit. Ethical counsel here includes clear-eyed assessment of an opponent’s motives.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war negotiations, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses a king (contextually a Pandava ally/leader in counsel) and cautions that the Dhārtarāṣṭras—Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons led by Duryodhana—will not grant the requested settlement out of mercy or righteousness, foreshadowing the failure of peace efforts.