Shloka 20
विदुरस्य कृष्णं प्रति शमोपदेशः
Vidura’s Counsel to Krishna on the Limits of Peace
कृतार्थ वाकृतार्थ च त्वां वयं मधुसूदन । यतामहे पूजयितुं दाशाह न च शकक््नुम:,“दशाहनन्दन मधुसूदन! आपका उद्देश्य सफल हो या न हो, हमलोग तो आपके सम्मानका प्रयत्न करते ही हैं; किंतु हमें सफलता नहीं मिल रही है
kṛtārthaṁ vākṛtārthaṁ ca tvāṁ vayaṁ madhusūdana | yatāmahe pūjayituṁ daśāhā na ca śaknumaḥ ||
“摩度苏陀那啊，不论你的使命成与不成，我们仍竭力欲以礼敬奉你；然而我们却不能如愿以偿。”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
True respect is not conditional on success; one should honor a righteous envoy or benefactor for the intention and effort aligned with dharma, even if circumstances prevent the desired outcome.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war diplomacy setting, the speaker addresses Kṛṣṇa (Madhusūdana), acknowledging that regardless of whether his purpose is fulfilled, they are trying to honor him properly, but feel unable to do so adequately.