Shloka 12
सहदेव–सात्यकि संवादः
Sahadeva and Satyaki on resolve after failed conciliation
युधिष्ठिरं भीमसेनं बीभत्सुं चापराजितम् । सहदेवं च मां चैव त्वां च रामं च केशव,केशव! अपने शरीरमें मांस और रक्तका बोझ बढ़ानेवाला कौन ऐसा मनुष्य है, जो युद्धमें युधिष्ठि, भीमसेन, किसीसे पराजित न होनेवाले अर्जुन, सहदेव, बलराम, महापराक्रमी सात्यकि, पुत्रोंसहित विराट, मन्त्रियोंसहित द्रुपद, धृष्टद्युम्न, पराक्रमी काशिराज, चेदिनरेश धृष्टकेतु तथा आपका और मेरा सामना कर सके?
yudhiṣṭhiraṃ bhīmasenaṃ bībhatsuṃ cāparājitam | sahadevaṃ ca māṃ caiva tvāṃ ca rāmaṃ ca keśava ||
Nakula said: “Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīmasena, and Arjuna (Bībhatsu), unconquered in battle; Sahadeva and I as well; and you too, O Keśava, along with Rāma—who is that man that would choose to burden his own body with flesh and blood by entering war against such a host?”
नकुल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores deterrence grounded in dharma: a wise person avoids initiating a war whose outcome is ruinous and whose moral burden is heavy. To choose violence against a righteous and powerful coalition is to invite needless bloodshed and ethical culpability.
In Udyoga Parva’s pre-war negotiations and counsels, Nakula speaks forcefully, listing the principal champions aligned with the Pāṇḍavas and Kṛṣṇa. His rhetorical question challenges any opponent’s willingness to face them, aiming to dissuade escalation toward battle.