Shloka 15
Udyoga Parva, Adhyaya 52: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Appraisal of Pāṇḍava Strength and the Case for Restraint
एषा मे परमा बुद्धिर्यया शाम्यति मे मन: । यदि त्वयुद्धमिष्टं वो वयं शान्त्ये यतामहे
eṣā me paramā buddhir yayā śāmyati me manaḥ | yadi tvayuddham iṣṭaṃ vo vayaṃ śāntye yatāmahe ||
ధృతరాష్ట్రుడు అన్నాడు—“ఇదే నా పరమ నిర్ణయం; దీనివల్ల నా మనస్సు శాంతిస్తుంది. మీకూ యుద్ధం కాకపోవడమే ఇష్టమైతే, మనం శాంతి కోసం ప్రయత్నిద్దాం.”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse elevates peace-making over aggression: the ‘best’ intelligence is that which calms the mind and seeks reconciliation. Ethically, it suggests that choosing non-violence and negotiation is wiser than a war that would destroy one’s own family and social order.
In Udyoga Parva’s pre-war negotiations, Dhṛtarāṣṭra addresses the Kauravas, expressing a preference for avoiding war with the Pāṇḍavas and urging that, if they too desire non-war, they should actively pursue peace.