Shloka 17
Nakula’s Adaptive Counsel to Kṛṣṇa in the Kuru Assembly (उद्योगपर्व, अध्याय ७८)
यच्चापि परमं दिव्यं तच्चाप्यनुगतं त्वया । विधान विहितं पार्थ कथं शर्म भवेत् परै:
yaccāpi paramaṃ divyaṃ taccāpy anugataṃ tvayā | vidhāna-vihitaṃ pārtha kathaṃ śarma bhavet paraiḥ ||
And that supreme, divine purpose—ordained for the gods’ work and fixed by destiny—you too have fully understood. O son of Kuntī, if such a decree is already set in motion, how could there be any true peace through a pact with the enemy?
अर्जुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
When a divinely ordained course (vidhāna-vihita) is already understood and underway, mere diplomatic compromise with aggressors may not yield real security; ethical action must align with dharma and the larger destined purpose.
In the Udyoga Parva’s negotiations and preparations for war, Arjuna addresses the issue of making peace with the opposing side, arguing that since the divine decree and larger purpose are known, a genuine, stable peace with the enemies is unlikely.