Shloka 126
Udyoga Parva, Adhyaya 2 — Baladeva’s Counsel on Peace, Restitution, and Court Protocol
तथा हि शक्यो धृतराष्ट्रपुत्र: स्वार्थे नियोक्तुं पुरुषेण तेन । इसलिये जो दूत यहाँसे भेजा जाय, वह धृतराष्ट्रको प्रणाम करके अत्यन्त विनयके साथ सामनीतियुक्त वचन कहे। ऐसा करनेसे ही धृतराष्ट्रपुत्र दुर्योधनको वह पुरुष अपने प्रयोजनकी सिद्धिमें लगा सकता है
tathā hi śakyo dhṛtarāṣṭraputraḥ svārthe niyoktuṃ puruṣeṇa tena | tasmād yo dūta iha preṣyeta sa dhṛtarāṣṭraṃ praṇamya atyanta-vinayena sāmnīti-yuktaṃ vacanaṃ brūyāt | evaṃ kṛte sa puruṣo dhṛtarāṣṭraputraṃ duryodhanaṃ svaprayojana-siddhau niyojayituṃ śaknoti ||
“Oleh itu, sesiapa pun utusan yang dihantar dari sini hendaklah terlebih dahulu menyembah Dhṛtarāṣṭra, lalu dengan kerendahan hati yang setinggi-tingginya menyampaikan kata-kata yang berteraskan pendamaian dan kebijaksanaan berpolitik. Hanya dengan cara demikian utusan itu mampu menggerakkan Duryodhana, putera Dhṛtarāṣṭra, ke arah yang menyempurnakan maksud yang dihajati.”
बलदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Effective persuasion in a tense political situation requires respectful protocol and conciliatory, policy-informed speech; humility and sāman (conciliation) are presented as the most workable means to influence an obstinate power-holder.
Baladeva explains how an envoy should be chosen and how he should speak at the Kuru court: first honor Dhṛtarāṣṭra, then address matters with deep humility and conciliatory strategy so that Duryodhana may be steered toward the desired outcome.