After Karna had taken leave and departed toward the sons of Pandu, Achyuta summoned Satyaki to his chariot. At that very time Vidura, oppressed by the heavy weight of sorrow, approached Kunti, the queen of Pandu, and poured forth his lament. He spoke of the ocean of the Kuru lineage being drained by war, and bewailed that not even one among the Kauravas had heeded the righteous counsels of Krishna. He declared Arjuna to be of incomparable valor, capable alone of reducing them to ashes by the fire of his arrows, and reminded her that the might of the Pandavas had long been known. Though the sons of Pandu were not inclined to harass their own kin and had always preferred peace, they were nevertheless burdened by suffering arising from birth and kinship with the Kauravas. Thus Vidura unburdened his heart to Kunti, foretelling the ruinous consequences of the coming war. After consoling her as best he could, he departed to his abode.
Kunti remained for some time immersed in reflection, surveying in her mind the spreading clouds of war. She questioned herself whether it could ever be the highest virtue to destroy one’s own kin for the sake of wealth and sovereignty, for war is steeped in violence and never free from grief and sorrow. She pondered the fierce and chivalric spirits of Bhishma, Drona, Karna, and Kripa, whose ardor was not easily restrained, and recalled that among them was one born of the Sun, ever burning with anger, pride, and courage against Bhima and Arjuna. She also considered that many other warriors in the Kuru host had little desire for battle. Turning these thoughts again and again in her mind, she resolved to reveal to Karna the truth of his birth and its consequences, hoping to awaken brotherly affection in him, so that bound by love he might turn away from the path of war.
Having thus resolved, Kunti went to the river where Karna was accustomed to perform his daily rites. When she arrived, he was absorbed in meditation. She approached quietly and seated herself behind him. After completing his ritual, Karna looked about in all directions and beheld Kunti. Astonished at the sight of the queen of Pandu, he approached her with humility, bowed low, declared his lineage as that of a charioteer, and spoke his name. He asked the purpose of her visit and sought her guidance on what he ought to do. Then, speaking in private, Kunti addressed him tenderly, telling him that he was not born of low origin. She revealed how, while living in her father’s house, she had invoked the Sun by divine power, and how that god had graciously begotten him. By the law of merit, she said, he was the son of Pandu, unfit to remain in another’s service, worthy of kingship over both Pandavas and Kauravas alike, and destined to rule the earth without restraint. She lamented that he was known to the world as the son of Radha.
These words were affirmed by the Sun himself, who declared them true and acknowledged Karna as her son. Strengthened by this divine assurance, Karna gathered his shaken resolve and spoke firmly to his mother. He said that though her words were true, she must listen to the voice of his own heart. Having been abandoned long ago, he had been deprived of the duties and honors of a warrior, and now she came seeking him as a son for happiness in this world and the next. He declared that by the Sun’s grace his life was not ignoble, yet this truth had remained hidden until now and should not be revealed for the good of all. If he were now to go to the Pandavas as Kunti’s son, people would say he feared their valor and deserted the Kauravas to join the enemy. In the surging ocean of war, he must stand by the lord of the Kurus like a steadfast boat, for it would be unrighteous to abandon him in the midst of danger. He lived by the grace of the Kauravas and this was the hour to repay that debt. Even the wicked, he said, do not desert their allies at the time of war, and compromise would earn him eternal reproach among kings and warriors. Therefore, no appeal clothed in virtue could alter his loyalty or his chosen course.
Karna further vowed, speaking without guile, that he would not fight or slay Dharmaraja, Bhima, Nakula, or Sahadeva. His enmity toward Arjuna alone was beyond cure, and if Arjuna faced him, he would surely kill him, or else attain glory by falling at his hand. If he died, Kunti would still have her sons; if Arjuna died, she would have five. Hearing these words, Kunti, stricken with grief, declared that this must be the decree of fate and could not be undone. She accepted his vow, embraced him, and took her leave, while Karna too departed to his own abode.
Krishna was received with honor in Upaplavya and duly worshipped by the Pandavas, Virata, and other nobles. He praised them for the reverence they showed him. At Dharmaraja’s command, an assembly was convened, in which Krishna spoke of how Duryodhana and his followers had closed their eyes in arrogance and refused to listen to moral and lawful counsel. Ignorant of both their own strength and that of others, they had earlier committed base acts in the royal court. He recounted all that had occurred in the council of the Kurus and then withdrew to rest from weariness. Later that night, Dharmaraja assembled his brothers along with Mukunda and requested a detailed account of Krishna’s words to Duryodhana and the reactions in the assembly.
Krishna replied that he had exhausted every effort to forge peace between the two sides, clearly explaining what was beneficial to both and warning them of the dire consequences of war. At every turn Duryodhana had interrupted him, mocking and ridiculing his counsel with harsh words. Dharmaraja then asked whether the blind king had restrained his son or whether Bhishma, Drona, and the elders had spoken firmly. Krishna answered that the king had indeed tried in many ways to guide his son with good intent, recalling the sacred lineage of Shantanu, the devotion of the Pandavas in serving him, the wealth gained by valor and seized by deceit in the dice hall, and the faithful completion of exile. He had declared plainly that if justice were denied, the Kauravas and even the venerable seers of the house would perish. The elders too had tried patiently to restrain Duryodhana, but he left the assembly in brazen pride, supported by his brothers and allied kings. When he departed abruptly, the king summoned Gandhari, who sought to influence her son toward peace, but Duryodhana rejected all counsel and ordered his forces to march, appointing Bhishma as commander.
Krishna added that not only he, but also revered sages, had tried to turn Duryodhana from his path by persuasion, warning, and every means of conciliation. Even the discourse of peace and the revelation of divine form had failed to move him. The hardened Duryodhana was resolved on war and would not yield even a share of the kingdom. Thus, Krishna concluded, force alone remained, and Dharmaraja should act as he deemed fit with the consent of his brothers. Dharmaraja then addressed them, saying that there was no room for doubt after hearing all that had transpired, and urged them to prepare to confront the enemy.
Turning again to Krishna, Dharmaraja confessed the grief that filled his heart at the thought of destroying the Kuru lineage, and admitted that no clear path remained to avert war. He asked Krishna to determine a course of action that would not violate righteousness. Krishna replied that no alternative remained, for those men had not only ignored virtuous counsel but had even sought to seize and imprison him. In confidence he related the views of Vidura, Drona, and others, spoken in Kunti’s presence, affirming that Dharmaraja stood blameless. War alone was the solution. The brothers listened in silence.
Dharmaraja then spoke to his brothers, recalling that their mother Kunti, mindful of their past sufferings, had consented to this destruction, though his own heart recoiled from slaying kin. He urged them to choose the path most fitting to their conduct and most faithful to righteousness. Thus the air grew charged with impending action, and every mind was burdened with thoughts of virtue and truth. In this manner Krishna’s lucid and resolute exposition revealed the essence of his diplomacy, brief yet profound, directing all efforts toward a single, unavoidable end, the battle.
