Shloka 246
Virāṭa-sabhāyāṃ Saṃniveśaḥ — Assembly at Virāṭa’s Hall and Kṛṣṇa’s Diplomatic Counsel
दूत: समर्थ: प्रशमाय तेषां राज्यार्धदानाय युधिष्ठिरस्य । वह दूत ऐसा होना चाहिये, जो उनके जोश तथा रोषको शान्त करनेमें समर्थ हो और उन्हें युधिष्ठिरको इनका आधा राज्य दे देनेके लिये विवश कर सके
dūtaḥ samarthaḥ praśamāya teṣāṁ rājyārdha-dānāya yudhiṣṭhirasya |
シュリー・クリシュナは言った。「使者たる者は、彼らの昂ぶりと怒りを鎮める力を備え、さらにユディシュティラに王国の半分を与えるよう彼らをして従わせねばならぬ。」この偈は、外交をダルマの器として描く。使者の務めは言葉を運ぶだけではなく、敵意を和らげ、正当な和議を取り結ぶことで、倫理にかなった形で戦を防ぐことにある。
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The core teaching is that a true envoy must be skilled in pacifying anger and steering opponents toward a fair compromise; diplomacy is presented as a dharmic duty aimed at preventing needless war and restoring justice (here, securing half the kingdom for Yudhiṣṭhira).
In the opening of Udyoga Parva, as war looms, Śrī Kṛṣṇa outlines what kind of messenger is needed: one who can calm the opposing side’s fury and successfully negotiate a settlement—specifically, persuading them to give Yudhiṣṭhira his rightful share of the kingdom.