उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय ५ (कृष्णनीति: न्यायशम-उपदेशः; विराट-द्रुपदयोः सैन्यसमाह्वानम्)
ततः प्रज्ञावयोवृद्धं पाउ्चाल्य: स्वपुरोहितम् | कुरुभ्य: प्रेषयामास युधिषछिरमते स्थित:
tataḥ prajñā-vayo-vṛddhaṃ pāñcālyaḥ sva-purohitam | kurubhyaḥ preṣayāmāsa yudhiṣṭhira-mate sthitaḥ ||
Luego el rey de los Pāñcālas, conforme al parecer de Yudhiṣṭhira, envió a la corte de los Kurus a su propio sacerdote familiar, anciano en años y consumado en sabiduría. La misión subraya una preferencia dhármica por el consejo, la negociación y la palabra contenida antes de dar un paso irrevocable hacia el conflicto.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Before resorting to force, dharma favors measured counsel and diplomatic outreach through qualified, self-controlled elders whose speech can preserve peace and propriety.
Drupada (the Pāñcāla king), following Yudhiṣṭhira’s advice, sends his venerable royal priest as an envoy to the Kuru side, initiating a formal communication aimed at negotiation in the tense lead-up to war.