Shloka 28

अध्याय २२ — अमर्याद-युद्धवर्णन

Unrestrained Battle Description and Śakuni’s Rear Assault

Devanagari script

उलूकस्तु महेष्वासं नकुलं युद्धदुर्मदम्‌

Transliteration

ulūkas tu maheṣvāsaṃ nakulaṃ yuddha-durmadam

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then Ulūka confronted Nakula, the great archer, whose pride and fierce confidence were heightened by battle.

Word by Word

• उलूकः: Ulūka (a warrior named Ulūka)
• उलूकः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: उलूक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• महेष्वासम्: great bowman
• महेष्वासम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महेष्वास
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• नकुलम्: Nakula
• नकुलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नकुल
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• युद्धदुर्मदम्: fierce/insolent in battle
• युद्धदुर्मदम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युद्धदुर्मद
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Ulūka
• Nakula
• Sañjaya

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how warfare can inflame durmada—overbearing pride and reckless confidence—even in a skilled warrior, reminding readers that martial prowess must be governed by self-control and dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Ulūka comes up against Nakula, describing Nakula as a mighty bowman and as one made fiercely overconfident by the intensity of battle, setting the stage for their encounter.