Shloka 6
Ulūka’s Provocative Envoy-Speech in the Pāṇḍava Camp
Ulūka-dūta-vākya
भवत्येव हि मे सूत बुद्धिर्दोषानुदर्शिनी । दुर्योधनं समासाद्य पुन: सा परिवर्तते,'सूत! मेरी बुद्धि उपर्युक्त दोषोंको बारंबार देखती और समझती है तो भी दुर्योधनसे मिलनेपर पुन: बदल जाती है
bhavaty eva hi me sūta buddhir doṣānudarśinī | duryodhanaṃ samāsādya punaḥ sā parivartate ||
«Wahrlich, o Sūta, mein Verstand erkennt diese Fehler immer wieder; doch sobald ich Duryodhana begegne, kehrt eben dieses Urteil erneut um.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when one’s intellect clearly perceives wrongdoing, proximity to a powerful attachment or influence can cause that discernment to reverse; ethical clarity must be guarded against personal bias and fascination with power.
The speaker confesses to the Sūta that he can see the faults plainly in reflection, but whenever he actually meets Duryodhana, his judgment shifts—suggesting Duryodhana’s persuasive force or the speaker’s own weakness in maintaining principled counsel.