Shloka 74
Ulūka’s Provocation and Keśava’s Counter-Message (उलूकदूत्ये केशवप्रत्युत्तरम्)
तथार्थपतिभिर्भुत्या यत: सृष्टा: प्रजास्ततः । अश्लाघ्यो5यं नरपतिर्युवयोरिति चागतम्
tathārthapatibhir bhṛtyā yataḥ sṛṣṭāḥ prajāstataḥ | aślāghyo 'yaṃ narapatir yuvayor iti cāgatam ||
“আর যেদিন থেকে প্রজার সৃষ্টি হয়েছে, সেদিন থেকেই প্রভু-ভৃত্যের মধ্যে পরস্পরকে যথার্থভাবে বোঝা যায়নি। তাই এই নরপতি (যুধিষ্ঠির) তোমাদের কাছে প্রশংসার যোগ্য না হলেও, তোমরা দু’জন তাকে রাজা মেনে তার আদেশে যুদ্ধের জন্য এখানে এসেছ।”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a recurring ethical weakness in human relationships: dependents often fail to judge their leaders accurately, and leaders likewise misunderstand their dependents. It cautions that loyalty and political alignment may rest on imperfect discernment rather than clear knowledge of merit.
Sañjaya reports a pointed message intended for Virāṭa and Drupada, questioning their decision to accept Yudhiṣṭhira as their king and to come to war on his behalf, even if he were deemed ‘not worthy of praise.’ The statement functions as political pressure and moral critique amid the war preparations.