The sage Vaisampayana, answering King Janamejaya, narrated how events unfolded at Upaplavya and Hastinapura. After Sanjaya departed, the son of Dharma, Yudhishthira, summoned his brothers, kinsmen, and loyal lords and spoke thus: the message of Sanjaya shall not sway our resolve. Therefore, let us approach Krishna and entreat him to represent us in the assembly of the Kurus with our rightful demand. By this means, dear ones, close companions, kinsmen, and venerable preceptors may be saved from the peril of death should war arise.
Briefly yet firmly, he explained the objective, the fitness of the envoy, the purpose of the mission, and the fruit desired. These counsels he shared only with the closest, and that short council laid the foundation of future resolve, strategy, and action. Thus, all present clearly grasped matters of grave concern and, without coercion, accepted the means to reach the destined end.
Thereafter, Yudhishthira went to the dwelling of Krishna, who received him with honour. Accompanied by his brothers, his retinue, and Draupadi, he opened his heart, saying: “O Great One, our father Pandu entrusted us to you for our care in difficulty, comfort, and glory, and departed on the heavenly path. You are to us a venerable elder, a friendly guide, an honoured kinsman—like a father, teacher, and commander. Now is the time for you to take up the task of your devoted children.
“I pray, on behalf of all my brothers and kin, that your mediation with the Kurus may avert the need for war with Duryodhana, so that we may rule our rightful share. We ask peacefully for what is ours, though he stands prepared to seize all by battle. Therefore, let the weapon of peace be wielded by you through firm representation. O Krishna, we are your children like Pradyumna and the rest. Save us from sin and grant us our rightful fruit.”
Krishna replied that he would abide by their wish and asked to hear Yudhishthira’s settled view. Thereupon, Yudhishthira said: “Go to Hastinapura and, drawing upon Kuru sources, clear a path for us to move forward. Sanjaya’s words plainly revealed the mind of Dhritarashtra. Sanjaya knows the intricate thoughts of both father and son, who seek to quiet our rightful anger with hollow speech while withholding our share. Though our vows of exile and concealment are fulfilled, righteousness and lineage have been slighted. The blind king, knowing his own ruin, cannot restrain his cunning son—a harm greater than which cannot befall us.”
“It is unwise,” he continued, “to live without direction by pleasing cruel Duryodhana with empty talk of peace while stripped of our inheritance. Others may praise such conduct—even my mother, but my conscience would scorn it as unmanly. Therefore, if my uncle will not grant half our due, press them to give at least five places—Indraprastha, Kusasthala, Vrukasthala, Vasanti, and Varanavata. If even these be refused, let five towns suffice for our livelihood. What I told Sanjaya is true.” Thus, he skilfully laid the path of negotiation.
Krishna marvelled at such restraint and charity in demand, yet perceived that this finely wrought strategy might fall upon smoking ashes because of Duryodhana’s cruel resolve, supported by the blind king. He doubted whether even so small a request would be accepted.
Yudhishthira continued: “I do not wish to leap to fierce and heinous means before gentle and rightful effort. To accept nothing would deprive my kin and followers of sustenance. Only a peaceful sharing of wealth and kingdom can be just. I desire no violence against kin, strangers, or foes, for friends and well-wishers stand on the Kuru side also. To slay them for wealth would bring enduring reproach and a burden of sin, harming both this world and the next.”
He declared that righteous kingship is arduous, and that the duty of a warrior is to balance duty and its opposite, employing stratagems to reach ends, yet never to extinguish lineage. Though war may yield wealth, countless lives are lost; the weak are crushed by the strong; chance overturns skill; and even great warriors may fall while the unfit survive. Victory and defeat alike are uncertain, and defeat is worse than death.
“War breeds grievous consequences,” he said, “whereas those who subdue foes through wise policy live with confidence.” Thus, he hinted at the four ancient means—conciliation, inducement, division, and force—trusting Krishna as master of their use. He added that lasting enmity is like dwelling in a house of hidden serpents, yielding no security. Vengeance breeds further harm, and uprooting hostility at its source is best, for oppression springs from enmity and revenge casts long shadows.
Setting aside theory, he affirmed strict adherence to non-violence to preserve life, wealth, and lineage, declaring that any method saving both sides was acceptable. He urged Krishna to be impartial, to unite righteousness with moral conduct for mutual benefit, to persuade the virtuous like Vidura, and to confront the wicked like Karna and Duryodhana, so that the Kuru assembly might clearly receive the message.
Thus, even while entrusting all to Krishna, Yudhishthira meticulously clarified his needs, demands, methods, intentions, gains, losses, morals, and values, displaying rare leadership and statesmanship. Indeed, the choice of envoy and the charge entrusted to him appeared truly marvellous.
