Shloka 23

उलूकदूतवाक्यम् / Ulūka’s Message to the Pāṇḍavas

Devanagari script

अपि द्रोणकृपौ वीरौ भीष्मकर्णावथो पुन: । अथवा सर्व एवैते तिष्ठन्तु वसुधाधिपा:

Transliteration

api droṇakṛpau vīrau bhīṣmakarṇāv atho punaḥ | athavā sarva evaite tiṣṭhantu vasudhādhipāḥ ||

Translation

“দ্রোণ ও কৃপ—এই দুই বীর—এবং আবার ভীষ্ম ও কর্ণও (সামনে) দাঁড়াক; অথবা এই সকল ভূ-অধিপতি রাজাই উপস্থিত থাকুক।”

Word by Word

• अपि: also/even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• द्रोण: Drona
• द्रोण: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कृपौ: Kripa (two persons implied by dual form)
• कृपौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृप
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• वीरौ: two heroes
• वीरौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• भीष्म: Bhishma
• भीष्म: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कर्णौ: Karna (dual form used in coordination)
• कर्णौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• अथो: and then/and also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ + उ

• पुनः: again/further
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः

• अथवा: or else/alternatively
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• एते: these
• एते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तिष्ठन्तु: let (them) stand/remain
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (तिष्ठति)
• Form: Imperative (Lot), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• वसुधा: of the earth
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसुधा
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Singular

• अधिपाः: lords/rulers
• अधिपाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधिप
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Droṇa
• Kṛpa
• Bhīṣma
• Karṇa
• vasudhādhipāḥ (kings)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the weight of counsel and decision-making in times of crisis: when eminent elders and master-warriors are present, their standing (presence and authority) lends legitimacy and gravity to deliberations that will shape the course of war and dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates a moment of arranging or calling for the presence of leading Kuru-side figures—Droṇa, Kṛpa, Bhīṣma, and Karṇa—suggesting an assembly or formal setting where key rulers and commanders are to remain in place for consultation or decision.