Shloka 7
कृष्ण-दूतविषये दुर्योधनस्य बन्धन-प्रस्तावः — Duryodhana’s Proposal to Detain Krishna
Envoy-Ethics Debate
नतुत्व॑ं धर्ममुद्दिश्य तस्य वा प्रियकारणात् | एतद् दित्ससि कृष्णाय सत्येनात्मानमालभे
na tu tvaṃ dharmam uddiśya tasya vā priyakāraṇāt | etad ditsasi kṛṣṇāya satyenātmānam ālabhe |
ヴィドゥラは自らの身に触れて厳かに誓い、宣言した。「それは正法のためでもなく、また聖なるクリシュナを喜ばせようというためでもない。汝が彼にそれを与えようとするのは、決してそのような心からではない。」
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ethical action must be motivated by dharma and sincere goodwill, not by empty posturing. Vidura uses a truth-oath to underscore moral accountability: when one refuses a just course, it reveals a lack of commitment both to righteousness and to respectful diplomacy.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war negotiations, Vidura addresses the party resisting conciliation. He asserts—under a solemn oath—that they are not prepared to grant Kṛṣṇa’s request out of dharma or to please him, thereby criticizing their intentions and warning of the ethical and political consequences.