Shri Krishna as 'Shantidoot' in Mahabharat

To avoid the loss that will cause because of Mahabharat war Shri Krishna from Pandava side goes to Kaurava to avoid war. While coming to Hastinapur he was grandly welcomed by karna and Duryodhan. Duryodhan thought of making Shri Krishna to enjoy all comforts in Kauravas palace and make Shri Krishna to be on his side. But Shri Krishna knew what was going on in his head. Shri Krishna thought of living in Vidur's house. Duryodhan was angry because of this. Next day when Shri Krishna comes to palace.

There he says if Duryodhan touches Dhrupad's feet and ask for forgiveness then pandavas will for them all. Then Karna says Shri Krishna not to give such solutions and asks him to give any acceptable solutions. Then Shri Krishna says to give pandavas independent rights on 5 villages. Then karna suggests Duryodhan to accept this solution. But Shakuni says” it's trick of Shri Krishna,by giving them independent rights on 5 villages he wants to make them independent. Then they can ask Kauravas for war. Anyhow Shri Krishna wants war between Kauravas and pandavas without Bhishma and Dronacharya on Kaurava side”.

Bhishma, Dronacharya, Dhritarashtra all suggests Duryodhan to accept but Duryodhan says “I can't accept my defeat against pandavas by accepting this solution. I'm not coward to run away from war. I can hug any stinking person but I can't give 5 villages to Pandava. I can cut my head in front of yama but I can't give 5 villages to Pandava. Listen Shri Krishna, leave 5 villages if they wish to stay on needle's tip even that small part of earth also I won't give them”. After this he brings shackles and tries to tie Shri Krishna but he couldn't make out who is Shri Krishna in raj Sabha looks like Shri Krishna including Bhishma, Dronacharya, Dusshasan, Vikarna, Karna, Shakuni, Dhritarashtra.

Shri Krishna went to Hastinapur as a ‘Shanti Doot’ i.e. the Peace messenger, he was received by the king Dhritrashtra and other members of the cabinet such as Vidura, Bhishma, Drona and Duryodhana etc. Shri Krishna was welcomed and was asked to rest in Duryodhana’s chamber for some time but he chose to stay at Vidura’s place (because he considered him as his friend and a neutral person) and later came to the meeting hall for his proposal regarding the imminent war.

He started with a formal appeal to the king to think of the nation and consider the atrocities that the war between Kauravas and Pandavas will bring upon the warriors and their families from each side. He explains that there’s no alternative to peace and everyone must consider it seriously. He appeals to the king and the other dignitaries present there to protect their glorious history and save their lineage from getting devastated in the war.

Shri Krishna states that whatever he agrees to in this peace talk, Pandavas will abide by that so he goes ahead with his proposal by reminding Dhritrashtra of his duties to protect the sons of his younger brother and give them justice. He appeals to him that the king is an embodiment of justice and he must always work towards keeping peace, he must reject any personal agenda and look at a larger picture and do whatever is in the benefit of the overall society.

He proposes that Indraprastha be returned to Pandavas as that is their right and also because they have successfully completed their exile period as per the terms. Duryodhana rejects this proposal blatantly while the king remains silent. Bhishma and Drona try to convince him but as always their words fall on deaf ears. He asks Krishna that if he is a peace messenger then why his tone is ominous and why he’s asking him to return half of his kingdom to Pandavas, who according to him didn’t even complete the exile and who must again go for a 12 year exile.

He asks Shri Krishna that if he has any other proposals part from that then he’ll think over it. To this, Shri Krishna proposes that if Dhritrashtra could grant the rights of 5 villages to the Pandavas that are Kusasthala, Vrikasthala, Makandi, Varnavrata and any other village, he promises on their behalf that Pandavas will graciously accept them and would not initiate the war. Everybody seems happy about this proposal except Duryodhana and he states that he won’t give away even a land equaling the size of a piercing pin,

This enrages Shri Krishna and he talks about his and his brothers’ inevitable death at the hands of Pandavas. Dhritrashtra intervenes and states that he would have given Indraprastha to Pandavas but that is under Duryodhana’s jurisdiction and he’s helpless in this case. Every other dignitary scuffs at this statement and tries to convince Duryodhana to be a little less arrogant and prevent the war from happening. In the end Shri Krishna threatens everyone that this war will bring down hell on every person sitting in that cabinet who’ll fight from the Kauravas side. He asks the King to take his leave but Duryodhana tries to take him as his captive, to which Shri Krishna presents his Godly form which scares everyone off. The peace keeping mission fails and Shri Krishna returns to Pandavas. Jay Shri Krishna