Shloka 9
Nakula’s Adaptive Counsel to Kṛṣṇa in the Kuru Assembly (उद्योगपर्व, अध्याय ७८)
अन्तरेण वध पार्थ सानुबन्ध: सुयोधन: । कुन्तीनन्दन! अपने सगे-सम्बन्धियोंसहित दुर्योधन जबतक मारा नहीं जायगा, तबतक वह राज्यभाग देकर कदापि संधि नहीं करेगा ।। ८ हू ।। न चापि प्रणिपातेन त्यक्तुमिच्छति धर्मराट् । याच्यमानश्व राज्यं स न प्रदास्यति दुर्मति:,धर्मराज युधिष्छिर भी नम्रतापूर्वक संधिके लिये अपना राज्य छोड़ना नहीं चाहते हैं। उधर दुर्बुद्धि दुर्योधन माँगनेपर भी राज्य नहीं देगा
arjuna uvāca | antareṇa vadha pārtha sānubandhaḥ suyodhanaḥ | kuntīnandana! apane sage-sambandhiyoṃ-sahit duryodhana jabatak mārā nahīṃ jāyagā, tabatak vah rājyabhāga dekar kadāpi sandhi nahīṃ karegā || 8 || na cāpi praṇipātena tyaktum icchati dharmarāṭ | yācyamānaś ca rājyaṃ sa na pradāsyati durmatiḥ | dharmarāja yudhiṣṭhira bhī namratāpūrvak sandhi ke liye apanā rājya choṛnā nahīṃ chāhate haiṃ | udhar durbuddhi duryodhana māṅgane par bhī rājya nahīṃ degā |
Arjuna berkata: «Wahai Pārtha, selagi Suyodhana (Duryodhana) tidak dibunuh—bersama para pengikutnya—tiada perdamaian dapat dicapai. Selama Duryodhana masih hidup dengan kaum kerabat dan sekutunya, dia tidak akan berdamai dengan memberikan bahagian kerajaan. Dan Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira) juga tidak mahu melepaskan tuntutan yang sah hanya dengan tunduk menyerah; sedangkan si berhati jahat itu, walau dirayu, tidak akan menyerahkan kerajaan.»
अर्जुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts two moral-political stances: Yudhiṣṭhira’s commitment to dharma and rightful order (not abandoning justice merely through submissive gestures) versus Duryodhana’s obstinate adharma (refusing even a fair share when requested). It implies that peace requires ethical willingness; when one side is incurably unjust, conflict becomes unavoidable.
Arjuna argues that negotiations will fail unless Duryodhana and his supporting faction are removed, because Duryodhana will not concede any portion of the kingdom. He also notes that Yudhiṣṭhira is not prepared to renounce the claim simply by making humble overtures, and that Duryodhana will not yield even when begged—setting the stage for war.