Shloka 15
भीष्मसेनापत्याभिषेकः
Bhīṣma’s Appointment as Commander-in-Chief
न चापि वयमत्यर्थ परित्यागेन कर्िचित् । कौरवै: शममिच्छामस्तत्र युद्धमनन्तरम्
na cāpi vayam atyartha-parityāgena karhicit | kauravaiḥ śamam icchāmas tatra yuddham anantaram ||
न चापि वयमत्यर्थं परित्यागेन कर्हिचित् । कौरवैः शममिच्छामस्ततो युद्धमनन्तरम् ॥
कृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Peace is desirable, but not at the cost of abandoning dharma through excessive concession. When a just settlement cannot be achieved without surrendering what is right, conflict becomes the unavoidable consequence.
In the Udyoga Parva’s lead-up to the Kurukṣetra war, Kṛṣṇa frames the limits of conciliation: the side he represents will not accept a peace that requires extreme forfeiture to the Kauravas; if such terms are demanded, war follows.