Shloka 22
Virāṭa-sabhāyāṃ Saṃniveśaḥ — Assembly at Virāṭa’s Hall and Kṛṣṇa’s Diplomatic Counsel
युद्धेन बाधेयुरिमांस्तथैव तैर्बाध्यमाना युधि तांश्व हन्यु: । तथापि नेमेडल्पतया समर्था- स्तेषां जयायेति भवेन्मतं व:
yuddhena bādheyur imāṁs tathaiva tair bādhyamānā yudhi tāṁś ca hanyuḥ | tathāpi neme ’lpatayā samarthās teṣāṁ jayāyeti bhaven mataṁ vaḥ ||
ଯଦି ଧୃତରାଷ୍ଟ୍ରଙ୍କ ପୁତ୍ରମାନେ ଏଭଳି ଯୁଦ୍ଧ ଉତ୍ପନ୍ନ କରି ଏହି ପାଣ୍ଡବମାନଙ୍କୁ ପୀଡ଼ା ଦେବେ, ତେବେ ବାଧ୍ୟ ହେଲେ ପାଣ୍ଡବମାନେ ଯୁଦ୍ଧରେ ଦୃଢ଼ ହୋଇ ସମ୍ମୁଖୀନ ହେବେ ଓ ସେମାନଙ୍କୁ ବଧ କରିଦେବେ। ତଥାପି ସମ୍ଭବତଃ ଆପଣମାନେ ଭାବୁଛନ୍ତି—ଏମାନେ ସଂଖ୍ୟାରେ ଅଳ୍ପ ଥିବାରୁ ସେମାନଙ୍କ ଉପରେ ବିଜୟ ପାଇବାକୁ ସମର୍ଥ ନୁହେଁ।
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Kṛṣṇa warns against the complacent assumption that numerical superiority guarantees victory; when driven to war, the Pāṇḍavas will fight resolutely and can defeat aggressors. Ethical counsel is implied: do not initiate unjust conflict based on arrogance or miscalculation.
In the opening of Udyoga Parva, Kṛṣṇa speaks as a mediator and strategist, cautioning the Kaurava side that if they choose to oppress the Pāṇḍavas through war, the Pāṇḍavas will retaliate effectively despite being fewer.