Shloka 22
Virāṭa-sabhāyāṃ Saṃniveśaḥ — Assembly at Virāṭa’s Hall and Kṛṣṇa’s Diplomatic Counsel
युद्धेन बाधेयुरिमांस्तथैव तैर्बाध्यमाना युधि तांश्व हन्यु: । तथापि नेमेडल्पतया समर्था- स्तेषां जयायेति भवेन्मतं व:
yuddhena bādheyur imāṁs tathaiva tair bādhyamānā yudhi tāṁś ca hanyuḥ | tathāpi neme ’lpatayā samarthās teṣāṁ jayāyeti bhaven mataṁ vaḥ ||
Śrī Kṛṣṇa dit : « Si les fils de Dhṛtarāṣṭra provoquent ce conflit et tourmentent ces Pāṇḍava par la guerre, alors, lorsqu’ils seront acculés, les Pāṇḍava tiendront ferme au combat, les affronteront et les abattront. Pourtant, peut-être est-ce là ce que vous pensez : que, parce qu’ils sont moins nombreux, ils ne sont pas capables de remporter la victoire sur eux. »
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Kṛṣṇa warns against the complacent assumption that numerical superiority guarantees victory; when driven to war, the Pāṇḍavas will fight resolutely and can defeat aggressors. Ethical counsel is implied: do not initiate unjust conflict based on arrogance or miscalculation.
In the opening of Udyoga Parva, Kṛṣṇa speaks as a mediator and strategist, cautioning the Kaurava side that if they choose to oppress the Pāṇḍavas through war, the Pāṇḍavas will retaliate effectively despite being fewer.