Shloka 16
कृष्ण-दूतविषये दुर्योधनस्य बन्धन-प्रस्तावः — Duryodhana’s Proposal to Detain Krishna
Envoy-Ethics Debate
शममिच्छति दाशार्हस्तव दुर्योधनस्य च । पाण्डवानां च राजेन्द्र तदस्थ वचन कुरु,राजेन्द्र! दशार्हकुलभूषण श्रीकृष्ण आप, दुर्योधन तथा पाण्डवोंमें संधि कराकर शान्ति स्थापित करना चाहते हैं। अतः उनके इस कथनका पालन कीजिये (इसीसे वे संतुष्ट होंगे)
śamam icchati dāśārhas tava duryodhanasya ca | pāṇḍavānāṃ ca rājendra tad astha vacanaṃ kuru, rājendra |
Vidura berkata: “Wahai Raja, Śrī Kṛṣṇa daripada keturunan Dāśārha menghendaki perdamaian—antara tuanku, Duryodhana, dan para Pāṇḍava—agar keamanan dapat ditegakkan. Maka, wahai raja yang termulia, terimalah dan laksanakanlah nasihat baginda.”
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should prioritize peace and heed wise, impartial counsel—especially when offered by a trusted mediator like Kṛṣṇa—because accepting reconciliation is ethically superior to persisting in pride-driven conflict.
In the lead-up to war, Vidura urges Dhṛtarāṣṭra to accept Kṛṣṇa’s peace initiative, which aims to reconcile Duryodhana and the Pāṇḍavas and avert the impending catastrophe.