Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 123 — Bhīṣma–Droṇa–Vidura Upadeśa to Duryodhana
Keśava-vākya aftermath
अशक्ता: सर्व एवैते प्रतियोद्धुं धनंजयम् । “तात! तुम्हारे निकट जो यह समस्त राजाओंकी सेना एकत्र हुई है, यह तथा भीष्म, द्रोण, कर्ण, कृपाचार्य, सोमदत्तपुत्र भूरिश्रवा, अश्वत्थामा और जयद्रथ--ये सभी मिलकर भी अर्जुनका सामना करनेमें समर्थ नहीं हैं || ४८-४९ हू ।।
aśaktāḥ sarva evaite pratiyoddhuṃ dhanañjayam | ajeyo hārjunaḥ saṅkhye sarvair api surāsuraiḥ | mānuṣair api gandharvair yuddhe ced āhitaḥ |
Vaiśampāyana dijo: Todos estos guerreros reunidos son incapaces de hacer frente a Dhanañjaya (Arjuna). En batalla, Arjuna es inconquistable aun si todos los dioses y los asuras se unieran; del mismo modo, es invencible para los hombres y los gandharvas. Por eso, no pongas tu mente en la guerra: no persigas un conflicto que no puede ganarse y que sólo multiplicará la destrucción.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The passage emphasizes prudent, dharmic counsel: do not initiate or persist in a war when the outcome is foreseeably disastrous and unjustifiable. Recognizing an opponent’s overwhelming strength is used to argue for restraint and avoidance of needless slaughter.
Vaiśaṃpāyana reports a warning that the assembled forces cannot successfully oppose Arjuna. Arjuna is described as invincible even to divine and semi-divine beings, and this assessment is used to discourage the decision to go to war.