Shloka 7
कृष्ण-दूतविषये दुर्योधनस्य बन्धन-प्रस्तावः — Duryodhana’s Proposal to Detain Krishna
Envoy-Ethics Debate
नतुत्व॑ं धर्ममुद्दिश्य तस्य वा प्रियकारणात् | एतद् दित्ससि कृष्णाय सत्येनात्मानमालभे,मैं सत्यकी शपथ खाकर अपने शरीरको छूकर कहता हूँ कि आप धर्मपालनके उद्देश्य्से अथवा श्रीकृष्णका प्रिय करनेके लिये उन्हें वे सब वस्तुएँ नहीं देना चाहते हैं
na tu tvaṃ dharmam uddiśya tasya vā priyakāraṇāt | etad ditsasi kṛṣṇāya satyenātmānam ālabhe |
Vidura declared on oath, touching his own body as a solemn pledge: “It is not for the sake of dharma, nor out of a desire to please Śrī Kṛṣṇa, that you are willing to grant him this request.”
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ethical action must be motivated by dharma and sincere goodwill, not by empty posturing. Vidura uses a truth-oath to underscore moral accountability: when one refuses a just course, it reveals a lack of commitment both to righteousness and to respectful diplomacy.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war negotiations, Vidura addresses the party resisting conciliation. He asserts—under a solemn oath—that they are not prepared to grant Kṛṣṇa’s request out of dharma or to please him, thereby criticizing their intentions and warning of the ethical and political consequences.