Shloka 16
Udyoga Parva Adhyāya 92: Kṛṣṇasya sabhāpraveśaḥ
Krishna’s Entry into the Royal Assembly
नमां ब्रूयुरधर्मिष्ठा मूढा हासुहृदस्तथा । शक्तो नावारयत् कृष्ण: संरब्धान् कुरुपाण्डवान्,संसारके पापी, मूढ़ और शत्रुभाव रखनेवाले लोग मेरे विषयमें यह न कहें कि श्रीकृष्णने समर्थ होते हुए भी क्रोधसे भरे हुए कौरव-पाण्डवोंको युद्धसे नहीं रोका (इसलिये भी मैं संधि करानेका प्रयत्न करूँगा)
na māṃ brūyur adharmiṣṭhā mūḍhā hāsuhṛdas tathā | śakto nāvārayat kṛṣṇaḥ saṃrabdhān kuru-pāṇḍavān ||
Let not the unrighteous, the deluded, and those of hostile disposition say of me: “Though capable, Kṛṣṇa did not restrain the enraged Kurus and Pāṇḍavas from war.” Therefore I too will strive to bring about reconciliation.
(वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even one who is powerful and capable is expected to attempt restraint and reconciliation; otherwise hostile critics may accuse him of neglecting dharma. The verse highlights moral accountability: the duty to try to prevent destructive conflict when possible.
In the lead-up to the great war, the speaker expresses concern that people will blame Kṛṣṇa for not stopping the furious Kurus and Pāṇḍavas. This motivates a renewed effort toward peace and settlement rather than allowing war to proceed unchecked.