War in Ancient India c12.53

c12.53

Yet another striking illustration is also found in the *Mahābhārata*. Instructed by Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīma and Arjuna and Nakula to act in such a way that there might be peace with the enemy and to do such other things as he considered proper and even fruitful to the Kurus, Kṛṣṇa set out as an ambassador. But Sahadēva and Sātyaki preferred war, for nothing but killing Duryodhana would bring them peace of mind. Draupadī sounded the same note. Then Kṛṣṇa started for Indraprastha and in the meantime Duryodhana proposed to make him captive while there. This course Dhṛtarāṣṭra opposed, saying that he was an ambassador and therefore it was improper to make him captive. Kṛṣṇa arrived and was duly honoured. He spoke the words of a friend wishing for peace. The terms of the message amounted to asking the Kurus to give up half the kingdom or, if that was not possible, to cede five villages, or to fight in the last resort. Duryodhana would not agree in spite of good advice from his elders, and offered only war. Taking leave of all of them Kṛṣṇa speedily returned to Upaplavya where the Pāṇḍavas heard him and prepared for the battle.