Shloka 18
अध्याय ८७: कृष्णस्य हस्तिनापुरप्रवेशः
Krishna’s Entry into Hastināpura and Court Reception
दूतश्न हि हृषीकेश: सम्बन्धी च प्रियश्न नः । अपाप: कौरवेयेषु स कथं बन्धमर्हति
dūtaś ca hi hṛṣīkeśaḥ sambandhī ca priyaś ca naḥ | apāpaḥ kauraveyeṣu sa kathaṃ bandham arhati ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Hṛṣīkeśa (Kṛṣṇa) benar-benar datang sekarang sebagai utusan. Baginda juga saudara kerabat yang kita kasihi, dan tidak pernah melakukan sebarang kesalahan terhadap putera-putera Kuru. Dalam keadaan demikian, bagaimana mungkin Baginda layak ditangkap dan dipenjarakan?”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores dharma in diplomacy: an envoy—especially a blameless, respected kinsman—should not be harmed or detained. Ethical restraint and respect for diplomatic norms are presented as essential even amid escalating conflict.
As tensions before the Kurukṣetra war intensify, Kṛṣṇa is coming to the Kauravas as a peace envoy. The speaker argues that since Kṛṣṇa is dear, related, and has done no wrong to the Kauravas, the idea of arresting him is unjustifiable.