Shloka 14
सहदेव–सात्यकि संवादः
Sahadeva and Satyaki on resolve after failed conciliation
काशिराजं च विक्रान्तं धृष्टकेतुं च चेदिपम् । मांसशोणित भभन्मर्त्य: प्रतियुध्येत को युधि,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?
Kāśirājaṁ ca vikrāntaṁ Dhṛṣṭaketuṁ ca Cedi-pam | māṁsa-śoṇita-bhāraṁ martyāḥ pratiyudhyeta ko yudhi, Keśava ||
Nakula said: “O Keśava, who among mortals would choose to fight in battle—only to heap upon his own body the burden of flesh and blood—when facing such champions as the valiant king of Kāśī and Dhṛṣṭaketu, lord of the Cedis?”
नकुल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses a stark image—‘adding flesh and blood to one’s body’—to stress the futility and self-destruction of choosing an unjust or hopeless fight against righteous, well-supported warriors; it underscores prudent judgment within kṣatriya-dharma.
In Udyoga Parva, as war becomes imminent, Nakula speaks to Kṛṣṇa (Keśava), asserting the overwhelming strength of the Pāṇḍava side by naming key allied kings and warriors, implying that opposing them in battle would be reckless.