In plain words
But when there was no way out, he fought. As Kṛṣṇa was going to the Kauravas as envoy: “Kṛṣṇa! You know everything. There is no need for me to tell You anything in particular. Try to see that the war does not take place,” he asked. Dhṛtarāṣṭra was blind. Moreover, through his excessive attachment to his sons, discrimination had come to nothing in him. Kṛṣṇa knew that he could only do as his sons told him, and that his sons would not do as he told them. Even so, He went to Dhṛtarāṣṭra and tried in every way to persuade him. But it was of no use. He came back from there: “Arjuna! My effort for peace has failed. Be ready for war,” He said. Arjuna voiced his grief at how many innocent people would have to be killed in the war. Then Kṛṣṇa: “Arjuna! Those who come to a war come ready to take lives and to give up their lives; no one comes just to look at the war and go. So there are no innocent ones there,” He said. From there He went to Dharmaja. Dharmaja had no liking for war. But he too had no choice but to agree. Nakula and Sahadeva were very virtuous. Though they were young in years, the wealth of virtue they had was not in the other brothers. When Kṛṣṇa told them to be ready for war, they did not grieve. “Our brother-in-law went to the wicked Kauravas and came back safe. That is enough for us,” they said.
Can nectar be made in the Kālakūṭa poison? Is it good to scatter jasmine flowers in a dreadful forest fire? Can kind counsel be spoken before the wicked? Treasury of virtues! Why any more of these words of peace, Gopāla!
Saying this, Arjuna made ready for war. But by the time he reached the battlefield, a kind of fear came over him. It was not whether he could fight or not; he grieved over how many innocent people would die, and how much parents who had lost their sons would sorrow. “Kṛṣṇa! How can I bear it, killing so many kinsmen and friends, and the sons of my teachers! My eyes are reeling.