Shloka 246
Virāṭa-sabhāyāṃ Saṃniveśaḥ — Assembly at Virāṭa’s Hall and Kṛṣṇa’s Diplomatic Counsel
दूत: समर्थ: प्रशमाय तेषां राज्यार्धदानाय युधिष्ठिरस्य । वह दूत ऐसा होना चाहिये, जो उनके जोश तथा रोषको शान्त करनेमें समर्थ हो और उन्हें युधिष्ठिरको इनका आधा राज्य दे देनेके लिये विवश कर सके
dūtaḥ samarthaḥ praśamāya teṣāṁ rājyārdha-dānāya yudhiṣṭhirasya |
Wika ni Śrī Kṛṣṇa: “Ang sugo ay dapat may kakayahang payapain ang kanilang sigasig at poot, at mapilit silang ipagkaloob kay Yudhiṣṭhira ang kalahati ng kaharian.” Itinatanghal ng taludtod na ito ang diplomasya bilang kasangkapan ng dharma: ang tungkulin ng sugo ay hindi lamang maghatid ng salita, kundi pigilan ang digmaan sa paraang makatarungan—paghinahunan ang galit at makamit ang wastong hatian.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The core teaching is that a true envoy must be skilled in pacifying anger and steering opponents toward a fair compromise; diplomacy is presented as a dharmic duty aimed at preventing needless war and restoring justice (here, securing half the kingdom for Yudhiṣṭhira).
In the opening of Udyoga Parva, as war looms, Śrī Kṛṣṇa outlines what kind of messenger is needed: one who can calm the opposing side’s fury and successfully negotiate a settlement—specifically, persuading them to give Yudhiṣṭhira his rightful share of the kingdom.