Shloka 18
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय ७७: पुरुषकार–दैवसंयोगः तथा दुष्टमन्त्रपरामर्शस्य राजनैतिक-परिणामः
Human Effort, Contingency, and the Political Effects of Corrupt Counsel
स नाम सम्यग वर्तेत पाण्डवेष्विति माधव । न मे संजायते बुद्धिर्बीजमुप्तमिवोषरे
sa nāma samyag varteta pāṇḍaveṣv iti mādhava | na me sañjāyate buddhir bījam uptam ivoṣare ||
Arjuna dit : «Ô Mādhava, l’idée que Duryodhana se conduirait vraiment avec droiture envers les Pāṇḍava ne naît pas en mon esprit. Toute tentative de paix avec lui est vaine, comme une semence jetée sur une terre stérile.»
अर्जुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Arjuna expresses ethical realism: peace-making requires a counterpart capable of right conduct. When a person is firmly set against dharma, negotiation becomes fruitless—symbolized by seed wasted on barren ground.
In the lead-up to the Kurukṣetra war, Arjuna speaks to Kṛṣṇa (Mādhava), doubting that Duryodhana will ever treat the Pāṇḍavas justly. He argues that efforts toward a treaty with Duryodhana will not bear results.