Shloka 16
Udyoga Parva Adhyāya 92: Kṛṣṇasya sabhāpraveśaḥ
Krishna’s Entry into the Royal Assembly
नमां ब्रूयुरधर्मिष्ठा मूढा हासुहृदस्तथा । शक्तो नावारयत् कृष्ण: संरब्धान् कुरुपाण्डवान्
na māṃ brūyur adharmiṣṭhā mūḍhā hāsuhṛdas tathā | śakto nāvārayat kṛṣṇaḥ saṃrabdhān kuru-pāṇḍavān ||
Janganlah orang yang zalim, yang sesat, dan yang berhati bermusuhan berkata tentang diriku: “Walaupun berupaya, Kṛṣṇa tidak menahan kaum Kuru dan Pāṇḍava yang sedang meluap amarah daripada perang.” Maka, aku juga akan berusaha sedaya upaya untuk mendatangkan perdamaian dan perdamaian semula.
(वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even one who is powerful and capable is expected to attempt restraint and reconciliation; otherwise hostile critics may accuse him of neglecting dharma. The verse highlights moral accountability: the duty to try to prevent destructive conflict when possible.
In the lead-up to the great war, the speaker expresses concern that people will blame Kṛṣṇa for not stopping the furious Kurus and Pāṇḍavas. This motivates a renewed effort toward peace and settlement rather than allowing war to proceed unchecked.