Shloka 166

उलूकदूतवाक्यम् / Ulūka’s Message to the Pāṇḍavas

Devanagari script

अक्षौहिण्या महावीर्य: पाण्डवान्‌ क्षिप्रमागमत्‌ । महापराक्रमी भोजराज रुक्मी एक अक्षौहिणी विशाल सेनासे घिरा हुआ शीघ्रतापूर्वक पाण्डवोंके पास आया

Transliteration

akṣauhiṇyā mahāvīryaḥ pāṇḍavān kṣipram āgamat | mahāparākrāmī bhojarāja rukmī ekākṣauhiṇī-viśāla-senā-samāvṛtaḥ śīghratāpūrvakaṃ pāṇḍavān upāgamat |

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: The mighty hero Rukmī, king of the Bhojas and renowned for great valor, quickly came to the Pāṇḍavas, surrounded by a vast force amounting to one akṣauhiṇī.

Word by Word

• अक्षौहिण्या: with an akshauhini (army division)
• अक्षौहिण्या: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षौहिणी
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• महावीर्यः: of great valor
• महावीर्यः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महावीर्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पाण्डवान्: the Pandavas
• पाण्डवान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• क्षिप्रम्: quickly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्षिप्र

• आगमत्: came/arrived
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम्
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Pāṇḍavas
• Rukmī
• Bhojas
• akṣauhiṇī (army division)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

As the Kurukṣetra war nears, power consolidates through alliances; the ethical dimension lies in discerning which side aligns with dharma, since military strength is portrayed as consequential but morally charged.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana reports that Rukmī, the Bhoja king, swiftly approaches the Pāṇḍavas accompanied by a large force—one akṣauhiṇī—signaling the gathering of supporters and resources before the conflict.