Shloka 18

उलूकदूतवाक्यम् / Ulūka’s Message to the Pāṇḍavas

Devanagari script

विदित: पाण्डवेयानां वासुदेवप्रियेप्सया

Transliteration

viditaḥ pāṇḍaveyānāṃ vāsudevapriyepṣayā

Translation

Vaiśampāyana sprach: Unter den Söhnen Pāṇḍus wurde es bekannt, aus ihrem Wunsch heraus, Vāsudevas Gunst zu gewinnen, (dass ein bestimmter Handlungsweg einzuschlagen sei).

Word by Word

• विदितः: known, well-known
• विदितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विदित (√विद्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पाण्डवेयानाम्: of the sons/descendants of Pāṇḍu (the Pāṇḍavas)
• पाण्डवेयानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डवेय
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• वासुदेव-प्रिय-ईप्सया: by/through the desire to please Vāsudeva
• वासुदेव-प्रिय-ईप्सया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव + प्रिय + ईप्सा
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Pāṇḍavas
• Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The line highlights the ethical-political value of seeking guidance and alliance with a righteous, trusted figure: the Pāṇḍavas’ intention is shaped by their wish to secure Vāsudeva’s goodwill, implying that right action in crisis is strengthened by counsel and support aligned with dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that among the Pāṇḍavas something became established/understood, arising from their wish to obtain Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa)’s favor—setting up the next development in their preparations and negotiations in the Udyoga Parva context.