Shloka 19
Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 73 — Kr̥ṣṇa’s Appraisal of Bhīma’s Altered Temper and Reaffirmation of Martial Resolve
तस्मान्मृदु शनैर््रूया धर्मार्थसहितं हितम् । कामानुबन्धबहुल नोग्रमुग्रपराक्रम
tasmān mṛdu śanair brūyā dharmārthasahitaṃ hitam | kāmānubandhabahulaṃ nogram ugraparākrama ||
Aussi, parle-lui avec douceur et graduellement, en des paroles utiles, accordées au dharma et au bien concret. Que ton propos s’accorde pour l’essentiel à ce qu’il désire, et qu’aucune rudesse ne s’y glisse—ô puissant aux prouesses terribles.
भीम उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhima advises that persuasive counsel should be delivered gently and gradually, grounded in dharma and artha (ethical rightness and practical benefit), avoiding harshness, and framed in a way the listener can accept—by aligning much of it with the listener’s inclinations.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war negotiations, Bhima urges Krishna—who is to speak as an envoy/counselor—to address the opposing party with soft, measured, welfare-oriented words, avoiding provocation while still aiming at a righteous and beneficial outcome.