Shloka 15

Adhyāya 160: Arjuna’s Envoy-Message—Critique of Borrowed Valor and Pre-dawn Mobilization

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मे धनुषि चाचार्य वेदयोरन्तगं द्वयो: । युधि धुर्यमविक्षो भ्यमनीकचरमच्युतम्‌

Transliteration

brāhme dhanuṣi cācārya vedayor antagaṁ dvayoḥ | yudhi dhuryam avikṣobhyaṁ anīkacaram acyutam ||

Translation

Ulūka sprach: „Lehrer Droṇa ist vollendet in beidem: in der heiligen Erkenntnis (brahma-vidyā) und in der Wissenschaft des Bogens (dhanur-veda). Im Kampf trägt er die Last des Krieges — unerschütterlich, mitten durch die Reihen schreitend und niemals vom Schlachtfeld weichend. Darum, o Pārtha, ihn, den strahlenden Droṇa, besiegen zu wollen, ist nur fruchtlose Vermessenheit.“

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मे: in the Brahma- (sacred) [knowledge/veda]
• ब्राह्मे: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्राह्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• धनुषि: in archery / in the bow(-science)
• धनुषि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• आचार्यः: the teacher (Drona)
• आचार्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वेदयोः: of the two Vedas (sciences)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Dual

• अन्तगम्: one who has reached the end; fully proficient
• अन्तगम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्तग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• द्वयोः: of the two
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Dual

• युधि: in battle
• युधि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युध् (प्रातिपदिक/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-शब्द)
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• धुर्यम्: fit to bear the yoke; capable of bearing the burden
• धुर्यम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धुर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अविक्षोभ्यम्: unshakable; not to be disturbed
• अविक्षोभ्यम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अविक्षोभ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अनीकचरम्: moving amid the army (ranks)
• अनीकचरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनीकचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अच्युतम्: Acyuta (Krishna)
• अच्युतम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अच्युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

उलूक उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Ulūka
• Droṇa
• Pārtha (Arjuna)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the ideal of steadiness and mastery: true authority in war is grounded in disciplined knowledge (sacred and martial) and unwavering resolve. It also warns against reckless overconfidence when facing a superior, seasoned opponent.

What is happening in the narrative?

Ulūka, acting as a messenger and provocateur for the Kauravas, attempts to intimidate Arjuna by extolling Droṇa’s unmatched competence and steadfastness in battle, portraying any attempt to defeat him as futile audacity.