Mahābhārata · Sanskrit Epic
Krishna's Peace Mission
कृष्णस्य शान्तिदूतत्वम्
Mahābhārata · Udyoga Parva · Bhagavad-dūta (उद्योगपर्व) · Intermediate Sanskrit
Moral · धर्मः
शान्तिः सर्वोत्तमा — सत्यं तु त्याज्यं नास्ति।
śāntiḥ sarvottamā — satyaṃ tu tyājyaṃ nāsti.
“Peace is the highest good — but truth must never be sacrificed for it.”
Krishna Sets Out as Ambassador
अज्ञातवासानन्तरम् — पाण्डवाः स्वराज्यं पुनः याचन्ते। दुर्योधनः ग्रामम् अपि दातुं न उद्यतः। पाण्डवाः कृष्णम् शान्तिदूतत्वाय प्रेषयन्। "कृष्ण! हस्तिनापुरं गत्वा शान्तिम् याचस्व। केवलं पञ्च ग्रामाः — एतत् पर्याप्तम्। युद्धं सर्वेषाम् अशुभम् — वयं युद्धम् न इच्छामः।" कृष्णः रथेन हस्तिनापुरम् प्रस्थितः। मार्गे ग्रामीणाः भगवन्तं दृष्ट्वा प्रसन्नाः — "भगवान् आगच्छति!"
After the year of disguise — the Pandavas sought their kingdom back. Duryodhana was not prepared to give even a single village. The Pandavas sent Krishna as their ambassador for peace. "Krishna! Go to Hastināpura and seek peace. Only five villages — that is enough. War is inauspicious for all — we do not want war." Krishna set out in his chariot for Hastināpura. Along the way, villagers saw the Lord and were joyful — "The Lord comes!"
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