Shloka 20
कृष्णेन विदुरं प्रति आगमन-हेतु-निवेदनम् / Krishna explains the purpose of his coming to Vidura
नेदमद्य युधा शक््यमिन्द्रेणापि सहामरै: । इति व्यवसिता: सर्वे धार्तराष्ट्रा जनार्दन
naidam adya yudhā śakyaṁ indreṇāpi sahāmaraiḥ | iti vyavasitāḥ sarve dhārtarāṣṭrā janārdana ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “O Janārdana, all the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra have resolved thus: ‘Today, this cannot be accomplished by battle—not even by Indra himself, even with the gods at his side.’”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical danger of obstinate resolve: when a party becomes fixed in its stance, it may acknowledge the futility of violence yet still cling to confrontation. It implicitly contrasts mere power (even divine) with the deeper question of rightful means and moral legitimacy in conflict.
Vaiśampāyana reports to Janārdana (Kṛṣṇa) the settled attitude of the Dhārtarāṣṭras (Kauravas): they have concluded that their objective cannot be achieved through battle, even with Indra and the gods—yet the statement functions as a marker of their hardened, fateful determination amid the escalating crisis.